1 Peter 2:20, commentary and pictures

There is no glory or credit in taking punishment patiently when it comes for one's own faults and wrongdoing, but when one does well and suffers for it wrongfully and takes it patiently for conscience toward God, this is thankworthy and acceptable with God. Believers are called to this kind of suffering in following Christ, who suffered for them and left an example that they should follow His steps. His example was that He did no sin and had no guile in His mouth, did not revile again when reviled nor threaten when He suffered, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. Therefore servants are to remain subject even to harsh masters, and when those in trust act unjustly there is no excuse to answer back or retaliate, for retaliation only adds a greater sin and it is better to suffer injustice than to do wrong. In all relations with others this calls for forbearance under wrong rather than being ruled by wounded feelings, not living to guard feeling or reputation but to save souls, with every word and thought brought into captivity to Christ in justice, kindness and circumspect conduct.

What the Verse Distinguishes

There is no glory or special credit in taking punishment patiently when buffeted for one's own faults and wrongdoing. Patient endurance of deserved punishment brings no credit because it is only the due result of fault, distinguishing it sharply from suffering wrongfully. But when a person does well and suffers for it and takes it patiently, enduring grief and suffering wrongfully for conscience toward God, this is thankworthy and acceptable with God. The calling held out is to this patient suffering for doing well, not to patient bearing of deserved reproach.

The distinction means that feeling friendless and being judged unfavorably because one's own fruits testify against one is deserved suffering that gives no cause for surprise or complaint. Only patient endurance while doing well is acceptable with God, while suffering caused by one's own conduct brings no credit. What is acceptable requires reform and learning the first principles of faith so that truth takes hold of the heart and makes the receiver meek and patient even under undeserved censure, purified, refined in taste, sanctified in judgment, forbearing, cheerful, contented and happy, and thus beloved.

Patiently enduring suffering that is not caused by one's own fault glorifies God, and this includes those born with weak constitutions glorifying God through patient endurance. The verse belongs to the instruction in 1 Peter 1-2 on living a godly life and on the manner and right principles in which to labor.

Following Christ's Example

Believers are called to this kind of patient suffering for doing well, following Christ who suffered for them and left an example that they should follow in His steps. That calling rests on the distinction that there is no special credit in patiently taking punishment for one's own faults, while patiently suffering while doing right for conscience toward God is thankworthy and acceptable with God. It applies to servants enduring wrongful treatment from harsh and difficult masters out of conscience toward God, and it gives no excuse for retaliation when those in positions of trust act unjustly and unreasonably, since retaliation only adds a greater sin to the one already committed.

Christ's example is that He did no sin and had no guile in His mouth, never spoke harsh unbecoming words, when reviled did not revile again, when He suffered did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. Though blameless He suffered wrongfully and endured patiently, entrusting Himself to the righteous Judge. Personal responsibility therefore requires obeying the holy precepts of God's law and doing the works of Christ, speaking no harsh, unbecoming words and letting no word of guile escape the lips.

His blameless wrongful suffering also bore the sins and guilt of the guilty, so that through faith in His merits they may go free, receive His righteousness, and live righteously. Following Him therefore requires having the mind of Christ, bringing every word and thought into captivity to Him, allowing no word of selfishness or guile. It requires treating others with respect and kindness, doing justice and judgment, and being a savor of life unto life by circumspect words and actions. God will judge not by profession but by the fruit borne, as weighed in the golden scales of the heavenly sanctuary.

Enduring Wrong Without Retaliation

Servants are to remain subject even to harsh and difficult masters, enduring wrongful treatment out of conscience toward God, for there is no special credit in bearing punishment patiently when it is deserved for one's own faults, but suffering patiently while doing right is acceptable to God. This calling to endure grief and suffer wrongfully for conscience toward God follows Christ, who suffered without sin or retaliation, entrusted Himself to Him who judges righteously, and bore sins so that through faith people might live righteously. When men in positions of trust act unjustly and unreasonably, that gives no excuse to answer back or retaliate, for retaliation adds a greater sin to the one already committed, and it is better to suffer injustice than to commit a wrong. The standard is to do no sin and allow no guile in the mouth, to speak no harsh unbecoming words, when reviled not to revile again and when suffering not to threaten, but to commit oneself to Him who judges righteously. Every worker must therefore have the mind of Christ, bringing every word and thought into captivity to Him, allowing no word of selfishness or guile, treating others with respect and kindness, doing justice and judgment, and being a savor of life unto life by circumspect words and actions, for God will judge not by profession but by the fruit borne as weighed in the golden scales of the heavenly sanctuary.

God regards contempt shown to His trusting children as contempt shown to Himself and will vindicate them. In relations with others the verse calls for forbearance under wrong and patience rather than being ruled by wounded feelings or passion. Feelings are not to be easily wounded by what others think or do, and life is not to be spent guarding feelings or reputation but saving souls, ceasing to mind little differences arising in association with others through interest in salvation, and keeping oneness with Christ and fellowship of the Spirit undisturbed by others' words or actions. What is acceptable with God is doing well and suffering for it and taking it patiently, which requires reform and learning the first principles of faith so truth takes hold of the heart. Then the receiver becomes meek and patient even under undeserved censure, purified, refined in taste, sanctified in judgment, forbearing, cheerful, contented and happy, and thus beloved, while feeling friendless and being judged unfavorably because one's own fruits testify against one is deserved suffering that gives no cause for surprise or complaint.

Under pressure to violate God's law and when serving God brings opposition or unjust treatment, believers are to remain calm and faithful with integrity and patient endurance rather than retaliate or act defiantly. Such endurance refines the sufferer like gold and leads to a share in the glorious reward. The arrest and locking in prison at Perekop was such suffering for doing well and not for faults, because those held had preached, baptized, kept the Sabbath, and refused to sign a false confession of teaching Jewish heresy, yet followed cheerfully when led to the courthouse and prison even after the officer turned angry. The injustice was made plain by the fact that Sunday observers themselves kept market wagons going and a large market in progress at 1 P.M. on Sunday, showing little regard for the Sunday Sabbath, while they were very zealous to interfere if a Sabbath-keeper worked on that day.

In the relation between physicians and their brethren, the verse belongs to the instruction in 1 Peter 1 and 2 on the manner and right principles in which to labor. It shows medical missionary work bound up with the gospel ministry and not made the body, with God's people remaining separate from the world while living in the world. Medical workers are to be molded after the similitude of Christ, standing on the platform of truth and laboring unitedly with the church and ministers in soul-saving work. In the conduct of employers and workers, Christian service requires integrity and doing duty as to the Lord, while employers must not be overbearing or unfair, especially in demanding labor or paying wages.