2:16 free. Submission does not mean a denial of Christian freedom, but is the act of God’s truly free people.

not . . . as a cover-up for evil. Christian freedom must not be used as a pretext for rebellion (1 Cor. 7:20–24) or a license to sin (Gal. 5:13; 2 Pet. 2:19, 20).

as servants of God. Christian freedom rests not on escape from service but on a change of masters (Rom. 6:22).