Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Peter 2:18

"Servants, [be] in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward." — 1 Peter 2:18 (ASV)

It is difficult for twentieth-century Christians to understand the slavery of the ancient world. During the time of the NT writings, slavery was not as bad as that practiced in America before the Civil War. Ancient slaves had fairly normal marital lives. Often people sold themselves into slavery (for a period of time) as a way to get ahead in the world. Nevertheless the lot of a slave could be very hard if the master was unkind. Here “slaves” (GK 3860) means “houseservants”—i.e., domestic slaves. Their Christian duty was submission and loyalty to their master, even if he was harsh.