The cross and injustice
In Peter's first major reference to the cross in this letter (1.18-19), he demonstrates how it is to be the supreme incentive to holy living. He points to the greatness and the costliness of the cross, and shows how, in the light of this, Christians are to be a godly people.
Colin Tamplin
Chapter 2 verses 18-25 is part of a wider section on how Christians are to respond to worldly authorities. This was obviously a very real dilemma for the early believers, as almost all of those in authority over them were still completely pagan. How were they to behave in godly ways in an environment that was inevitably so ungodly?
