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

¹⁶ 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

¹⁶ as free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹⁶ [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)

¹⁶ as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.

Common English Bible

¹⁶ 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

¹⁶ in an open manner, and not as if cloaking malice with liberty, but like servants of God.

1 Peter 2:16 Cross References

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.

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.

Romans 6:18

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

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].

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.

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.

2 Peter 2:19

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

Colossians 3:24

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

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.

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.

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].

John 15:22

The person who hates me hates my Father also.