Unreasonable (4646) (skolios from skéllō = to dry) refers to that which is bent or warped from dryness. Skolios - 4x in NT translated: crooked, 2; perverse, 1; unreasonable, 1. The opposite of orthos = straight. - Luke 3:5; Acts 2:40; Phil 2:15; 1Pet 2:18 Skolios literally refers to that which is bent, crooked, curved or winding. The more frequent use in the NT and the Septuagint (Lxx) is figuratively where skolios refers to a perversity for turning off from the truth and so that which is morally crooked, bent or twisted and thus unscrupulous (unprincipled), dishonest, unfair, perverse. In the present verse the context conveys the figurative use of severe, hard to deal with, overbearing, unjust, bad-humored, cruel, ill-tempered, unfair, dishonest, cross or harsh. MacArthur adds that skolios was used metaphorically of anything that deviates from a standard or norm, and in Scripture, it is often used of things that are morally or spiritually corrupt. (MacArthur, J. Philippians. Chicago: Moody Press or Logos) In secular Greek skolios was used literally of rivers and roads meaning “winding” or “twisted.” Skolios also referred to the movement of snakes. Secular Greek transferred the literal meaning to denote what is "crooked" or dishonest. Kittel adds that Deceit (of skolios) spoils things, bondage leads to crooked action, and an ambiguous oracle is skoliós. (Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Eerdmans) The medical condition scoliosis involves an abnormal curvature and misalignment of the spine. One’s Christianity does not give the right to rebel against one’s superior in the social structure no matter how unfair or harsh he may be. A Christian employee may be wronged by an unbelieving coworker or supervisor. For conscience’ sake, he must “take it” even though he is not in the wrong. A Christian’s relationship to God is far more important than his relationship to men. Remember Jesus' admonition & encouragement (Jn 16:33). A crooked master might used his power over a slave to inflict severe punishments, withhold wages or not pay fairly, force his slaves to live in squalor, or have other unreasonable expectations. It would take the indwelling Spirit's filling (Eph 5:18-note) and God’s grace (Php 2:12-note, Php 2:13-note, 2Cor 12:9-note, 2Cor 12:10-note, James 4:8-note) for Christian slaves to loyally and obediently serve such a master. Peter encouraged loyalty and perseverance even in the face of unjust treatment. These same principles apply to believers today & we too need the same enabling power and grace to comply. Wuest adds this note on the unreasonable masters: The masters had their faces dead set against these Christian slaves. We can understand that attitude when we remember that these slaves lived lives of singular purity, meekness, honesty, willingness to serve, and obedience in the households of their heathen masters. This was a powerful testimony for the gospel, and brought them under conviction of sin. All this irritated them, and they reacted in a most unpleasant way toward their slaves, whom they would punish without provocation. Yet they did not want to sell these Christian slaves and buy pagan ones, for the Christian slaves served them better. So they just had to make the best of the situation." There are 18 uses of skolios in the Septuagint (LXX) (Deut. 32:5; Job 4:18; 9:20; Ps. 78:8; Pr 2:15; 4:24; 8:8; 16:26, 28; 21:8; 22:5, 14; 23:33; 28:18; Isa. 27:1; 40:4; 42:16; Hos. 9:8) Skolios is used with its literal meaning in Luke (quoting Isa 40:3-5) who writes that Every ravine shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked (skolios) shall become straight, and the rough roads smooth. (Luke 3:5) Luke is referring to the tradition in which a monarch traveling in wilderness regions would have a crew of workmen go ahead to make sure the road was clear of debris, obstructions, potholes, and other hazards that made the journey difficult. In a spiritual sense, John was calling the people of Israel to prepare their "crooked" hearts for the coming of their Messiah. Peter had earlier used skolios figuratively in his sermon to the Jews at Pentecost, Luke recording that with many other words he solemnly (and earnestly) testified and kept on exhorting (and admonishing or warning) them, saying, “Be saved (aorist imperative = command to do this now) from (Apó indicates the separation of a person or an object from another person or an object with which it was formerly united but is now separated) this perverse (skolios - wicked, unjust, evil, unrighteous) generation! (Acts 2:40) Peter appears to be quoting from (Dt 32:5) and (Ps 78:8 see below) Some 40 years later, many thousands from that "skolios" generation were to perish during the Jewish revolt which culminated in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD. On that day on that day, 3,000 Jews repented, believed, and were saved from the perverse generation. Paul exhorts believers to "prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked (skolios) and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world." (Php 2:15-note) Paul also quotes from (Dt 32:5 see below) As noted above, skolios is used 18 times in the Septuagint (LXX) (Greek translation of the Hebrew OT) and most often in a figurative sense as in Proverbs where we read of men Whose paths are crooked (Lxx = skolios - devious or deceptive), and who are devious in their ways. (Pr 2:15) Again we read Put away (cause to go away) from you a deceitful (Lxx = skolios = here describes a mouth that speaks without integrity, that does not speak truth but rather falsehood, dishonestly and deception and thus a mark of an evil, worthless person) mouth (literally "crookedness of mouth"), and put devious lips far from you. (Pr 4:24) Moses describes Israel as those who have acted corruptly toward (God). They are not His children, because of their defect; but are a perverse and crooked (Lxx = skolios = wickedly cunning, distorted) generation. (Dt 32:5). In a similar description of faithless Israel, the psalmist describes Israel as a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not prepare its heart (“heart” refers to the mind as the center of thinking and reason, the emotions, the will and thus the whole inner being which is the depository of all wisdom and the source of whatever affects speech, sight, and conduct) and whose spirit was not faithful to God. (Ps 78:8) (See Spurgeon's Comment) Application: God expects us to do our job not primarily for our employer but for God himself. What is your attitude toward your job? What is your state of mind toward your boss? Perhaps you say, "Well, my boss is about the most unreasonable, unrelenting, implacable and merciless man you have ever seen. He makes demands that are not just. It is impossible to please him. No matter how much I extend myself he still isn’t pleased." Still, the believer is to give his employer a full day's work. It matters not whether the boss is fair or whether he has a miserable personality. 1 Peter 2:19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly (NASB: Lockman) Greek: touto gar charis ei dia suneidesin theou hupopherei (3SPAI) tis lupas paschon (PAPMSN) adikos. Amplified: For one is regarded favorably (is approved, acceptable, and thankworthy) if, as in the sight of God, he endures the pain of unjust suffering. (Amplified Bible - Lockman) KJV: For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. NLT: For God is pleased with you when, for the sake of your conscience, you patiently endure unfair treatment. (NLT - Tyndale House) Phillips: A man does something valuable when he endures pain, as in the sight of God, though he knows he is suffering unjustly. (New Testament in Modern English) Wuest: for this subjection to those who are against you is something which is beyond the ordinary course of what might be expected and is therefore commendable, namely, when a person because of the conscious sense of his relation to God bears up under pain, suffering unjustly. (Wuest: Expanded Translation: Eerdmans) Young's Literal: for this is gracious, if because of conscience toward God any one doth endure sorrows, suffering unrighteously; FOR THIS FINDS FAVOR: touto gar charis: (1Pe 2:20; Luke 6:32, Acts 11:23; 1 Co 15:10; 2 Co 1:12; 8:1) Related Resource: Persecution - see notes on Matthew 5:10-12 Spurgeon comments... There is no credit in suffering rightfully; the credit is in patiently enduring suffering, which you do not deserve. Not always “sticking up for his rights,” as an ungodly man says, but feeling that the greatest right in the world is the right to do without your rights. To suffer wrongfully, will often glorify God much batter than to stand up for what you have a right to be or to have. This is a correction of what we often hear a slandered person say. “So. and-so has been spreading an evil report against me, and I am in bad odour. I should not have minded it if it had been true, but I cannot bear the slander as it is false.” My dear friend, you ought not to mind it if it is not true; but “when ye do well, and suffer for it,” there is then an acceptableness with God if ye take it patiently. (1 Peter 2 Commentary) For (1063) (gar) explains "unreasonable" and provides a motivation for the submission Peter has just called for in (1Peter 2:18). Remember that every time you encounter a term of explanation, "PPP" (pause and ponder the passage). The word this is neuter, literally = “this thing,” namely, submission and obedience to harsh masters and patience under unjust punishment and even beatings (v20) meted out by these masters. Compare Jesus' last beatitude... Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. 12 "Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (see notes Matthew 5:10; 5:11; 5:12) "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/1_peter_218-25.htm#Unreasonable%20(4646)%20skolios