Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

1 Peter 2:16

As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

KJV

ὡς ἐλεύθεροι, καὶ μὴ ὡς ἐπικάλυμμα ἔχοντες τῆς κακίας τὴν ἐλευθερίαν, ἀλλ’ ὡς θεοῦ δοῦλοι.

Greek NT

quasi liberi, et non quasi velamen habentes malitiæ libertatem, sed sicut servi Dei.

Vulgate

as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.

ASV

As free and not as making liberty a cloak for malice, but as the servants of God.

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

12 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

δοῦλος
doulos
noun · 124×
θεός
theos
noun · 1311×
καί
kai
conjunction · 8973×
κακία
kakia
noun · 11×
μή
me
particle · 1033×
ἀλλά
alla
conjunction · 636×
ἐλευθερία
eleutheria
noun · 11×
ἐλεύθερος
eleutheros
adjective · 23×
ἐπικάλυμα
epikaluma
noun · 1×
ἔχω
echo
verb · 707×
ὁ
o
article · 19778×
ὡς
os
adverb · 502×

Textual variants

1 variant unit attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.

minor
SBLGNT: θεοῦ δοῦλοι | WH/Treg/NIV: θεοῦ δοῦλοι | RP: δοῦλοι θεοῦ
  • θεοῦ δοῦλοι — SBLGNT
  • θεοῦ δοῦλοι — Westcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • δοῦλοι θεοῦ — Robinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus

Themes

Historic Christian voices

7 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§1899The authority required by the moral order derives from God: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment."17
§2238Those subject to authority should regard those in authority as representatives of God, who has made them stewards of his gifts:43 "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution.... Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God."44 Their loyal collaboration includes the right, and at times the duty, to voice their…
Perfect righteousness was conferred neither by circumcision nor by any other legal ceremonies. The Decalogue, however, was not cancelled by Christ, but is always in force: men were never released from its commandments. 1. Moreover, we learn from the Scripture itself, that God gave circumcision, not as the completer of righteousness, but as a sign, that the race of Abraham might…
Men are possessed of free will, and endowed with the faculty of making a choice. It is not true, therefore, that some are by nature good, and others bad. 1. This expression [of our Lord], How often would I have gathered your children together, and you would not, Matthew 23:37 set forth the ancient law of human liberty, because God made man a free [agent] from the beginning, pos…

Cross-references

  • 1Cor 7:22 — For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.
  • 1Cor 7:22 — For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.
  • 1Cor 8:9 — But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
  • 1Pet 2:1 — Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
  • 1Thess 2:5 — For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
  • 2Pet 2:19 — While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
  • 2Pet 2:19 — While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
  • Acts 16:17 — The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
  • Col 3:24 — Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
  • Eph 6:6 — Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
  • Gal 2:4 — And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
  • Gal 4:26 — But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
  • Gal 5:1 — Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
  • Gal 5:1 — Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
  • Gal 5:13 — For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
  • Gal 5:13 — For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
  • Jas 1:25 — But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
  • Jas 1:25 — But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
  • Jas 2:12 — So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
  • John 8:32 — And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
  • John 8:32 — And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
  • John 15:22 — If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
  • John 15:22 — If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
  • Jude 1:4 — For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our
  • Lev 25:10 — And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession,
  • Matt 23:13 — But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
  • Ps 119:32 — I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
  • Rom 6:1 — What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
  • Rom 6:18 — Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
  • Rom 6:18 — Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
  • Rom 6:22 — But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
  • Rom 6:22 — But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.