1 Peter 2:16 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

As servants of God, you should live as free people, but do not use this freedom to cover up your wrongdoing.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

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

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

[Live] as free people, [yet] without employing your freedom as a pretext for wickedness; but [live at all times] as servants of God.

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Common English Bible

Do this as God’s slaves, and yet also as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil.

Catholic Public Domain Version

in an open manner, and not as if cloaking malice with liberty, but like servants of God.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

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

1 Peter 2:16 Cross References

Matthew 23:13

“But it is too bad for you hypocritical experts in the Law of Moses and [you] Pharisees! [It is] because you withhold the kingdom of heaven from people, for you do not enter it yourselves, nor [do you] allow those who are trying to enter it to get in.

John 15:22

The person who hates me hates my Father also.

Romans 6:18

And when you were freed from [the practice of] sin, you became slaves to doing what is right.

Romans 6:22

But now, since you have been freed from [the practice of] sin and have become slaves to God, the benefits you receive are a holy life [here] and never ending life in the future.

1 Corinthians 7:22

For the person who was a slave when called by the Lord is [now] the Lord’s freed person. In the same way, the person who was free when he was called [by the Lord] is [now] Christ’s slave.

Galatians 5:1

Christ set us free [from condemnation under the Law of Moses], so we could stay free! Remain where you are then, and do not get tangled up again in the enslaving harness [of the Law of Moses].

Galatians 5:13

For you brothers were called [by God] to enjoy your freedom; but do not use this freedom as an excuse for living a sinful life; instead, use it to render loving service to each other.

Ephesians 6:6

Do not serve them only when you are being watched, just to gain their approval, but as slaves of Christ, doing what God wants from your heart.

Colossians 3:24

knowing that you will receive from the Lord a [spiritual] inheritance as a reward, [for] you are [really] serving the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 2:5

For we were never found using flattering words at any time, as you know, nor did we try to cover up any greedy desires. God can testify [to this].

James 1:25

But the person who looks closely into the perfect law that brings freedom, and continues to do so, is not a listener who forgets [what he hears], but someone who does the work [it requires]. This person will be blessed for doing so.

James 2:12

So, you should speak and act as people who will be judged by a law that brings freedom.

2 Peter 2:19

[Although] these people promise “liberty,” they themselves are slaves to corrupting influences, for people are slaves to whatever controls them.

Jude 1:4

For certain men have secretly infiltrated [your ranks]; they are men who had been written about long ago that they should be judged [and condemned] for perverting the unearned favor of our God into [a license for] living unrestrained, indecent lives, and who deny [the identity and work of] our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.