Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - 1 Peter 2:14 - 2:14

Online Resource Library

Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | Download

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - 1 Peter 2:14 - 2:14


(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)

This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

14. βασιλεῖ = here primarily the Emperor. If, as seems probable, the Epistle was written during the later years of Nero, loyalty to such an Emperor would be extremely difficult for Christians unless they regarded him, despite his unworthiness, as the representative of a divine institution.

With St Peter’s language about obedience to civil rulers cf. Rom 13:1-4.

ὑποτάγητε … ὡς ὑπερέχοντι εἰς ἐκδίκησιν κακοποιῶν ἔπαινον δὲ ἀγαθοποιῶν (see Introd. p. lxii). ὑποτασσέσθω ἐξουσίαις ὑπερεχούσαις ἔκδικος … τῷ τὸ κακὸν πράσσοντι τὸ ἀγαθὸν ποίει καὶ ἕξεις ἔπαινον

ὑπερέχοντι, as supreme, i.e. as compared with subordinate magistrates; cf. 1Ti 2:2.

ἡγεμόσιν refers chiefly to provincial governors.

διʼ αὐτοῦ. Such governors are here regarded not as sent by the king, but by God through the king as His agent. Cf. Joh 19:11, also Rom 13:1-2; Rom 13:4; Rom 13:6.

ἐκδίκησιν … ἔπαινον. The retribution on crime inflicted by the magistrates, and the praise which well-doers receive in consequence of their recognition by the magistrates is only an earthly echo of God’s retribution or approval.