“For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.” 1 Peter 2:15-16
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Some say Peter could not have written his letter because they don’t believe in adult learning. After Peter’s education as a disciple of Jesus, Peter was privileged and had ample opportunity to learn advanced rhetoric. But the wording here is simple and pure. God is holy. God is exalted and above the sin of which people are immersed. In order to deal with sin, it is important not to deal in sin, but to look for God. The simplicity of the words is what informs those who claim Peter could not have written it.
Peter was named by Christ as the rock of the Church This letter may not have been written by him, but was written in his name, probably a decade after the fall of Jerusalem. Peter would have been dead, but still remembered in Rome where this letter probably originated. Christians were being persecuted on the pretext of amoral behaviour.
The structure of the second chapter is 'The enduring word,' 'The chosen stone and his people,' 'living before the world.' 'submission to government,' and 'submission to masters.' This verse relates to submission to government.
Note, Peter is saying Christians should live as God's slaves, not as mere slaves.
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