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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1Pe_2:13-17
13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. 15For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. 17Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.
1Pe_2:13 "submit" This is an aorist passive imperative, but NASB and NKJV translate it as a middle (cf. 1Pe_2:18). "Yourselves" is not in the Greek text. It implies that they are to make a decisive choice to submit (cf. 1Pe_2:18; 1Pe_3:1). This is a military term used for the chain of command. It literally means "to arrange oneself under authority." This is a common theme of Peter (cf. 1Pe_2:13; 1Pe_2:18; 1Pe_3:1; 1Pe_3:5; 1Pe_3:22; 1Pe_5:5). Submission does not imply inequality, for Jesus is described by this term. It is an attitude of service under authority. In Eph_5:21 it is one of the five characteristics of the Spirit-filled life (mutual submission to one another in Christ).
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▣ "for the Lord's sake" This is the motive for all of our actions (cf. 1Pe_4:11; 1Co_10:31; Col_3:17; Eph_6:5).
▣ "to every human institution" For "institution" see Special Topic at Mar_10:6. From what follows, this is an admonition to submit to governmental or civil authority, much like Rom_13:1-7 and Tit_3:1. This is all the more significant in light of the governmental persecution these believers faced. It is uncertain whether the persecution was Jewish, pagan, local government, or Empire wide. Our strongest witness to the power of the gospel is in times of persecution. Our attitude, words, and actions when unfairly treated cause unbelievers to take notice.
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▣ "as the one in authority" This term in Classical Greek meant "the human founder of a city"; however, in the NT it is always used of God's authority (cf. Mat_22:21; Rom_13:1-7; 1Ti_2:1-7; Tit_3:1-8), which is often given to human organizations. God prefers order over anarchy.
1Pe_2:14 "or to governors as sent by him" This is a Present passive participle. God is in control of all things. This text does not teach "the divine right of Kings," but affirms that God supports law and order (i.e., a stable society) over anarchy.
The pronoun "him" could refer to (1) God or (2) the governor.
▣ "for the punishment of evildoers" Government has the God-given authority to maintain order and to restrain and punish disorder. Capital punishment is one form of this mandate (cf. Rom_13:4; Act_25:11).
1Pe_2:15 "For such is the will of God" See Special Topic below.
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▣ "silence" This is literally "muzzle" (cf. Mar_1:25; Mar_4:39).
▣ "the ignorance" This refers to someone who lacks spiritual discernment (cf. 1Co_15:34).
▣ "of foolish men" This term is listed in a series of sins in Mar_7:22. It describes unbelieving Jewish teachers in Rom_3:20, but it is used to describe believers in Eph_5:17. Therefore, it implies a lazy mental state that affects both the saved and the unsaved. Here it refers to uninformed pagans who are accusing believers of things which are not true (cf. 1Pe_2:12).
1Pe_2:16 "Act as free men" This is an implied imperative (cf. NASB, TEV, NIV). It is in contrast to the pagans who are slaves to sin. Believers have the choice. Jesus has freed them from the mastery of sin (cf. Romans 6), but often they use their new freedom to choose sin again.
▣ "do not use your freedom as a coverage for evil" This is literally "having" (a present active participle) negated, used as an imperative. How often our freedom becomes a license (cf. 1Co_8:9; Gal_5:13) instead of a sacrificial living witness (cf. Rom_14:1 to Rom_15:13). Freedom always brings responsibility but be careful of legalism or ritualism (cf. 1 Corinthians 8-10; Col_2:16-23). Believers are now free from sin to serve God (cf. Romans 6) and each other (cf. 1Co_9:19-23).
▣ "but use it as bondslaves of God" Believers have been freed from sin and are now free to serve God (cf. Rom_6:22).
1Pe_2:17 "Honor all people" This is an aorist active imperative, the first of four stark summary commands in 1Pe_2:17. This means to recognize the worth of all humans in God's sight (cf. Gen_1:26-27; Joh_3:16) and to live so as to attract them to faith in Christ (cf. Mat_28:18-20; Luk_24:47; Act_1:8).
▣ "love the brotherhood" This is a present active imperative. Christians must continue to love each other (cf. 1Pe_1:22; Joh_13:34; Joh_15:12; Joh_15:17; Rom_12:10; 1Th_4:9; Heb_13:1; 1Jn_2:7-8; 1Jn_3:11; 1Jn_3:23; 1Jn_4:1; 1Jn_4:11; 2Jn_1:5). Love is the true evidence that we know God, that we have trusted Christ, and that we are guided by the Spirit. It is the family characteristic of God. Believers are to love all humans for the sake of the gospel and love other Christians because they are part of the family of God.
▣ "fear God" This is a present middle (deponent) imperative (cf. Job_28:28; Psa_111:10; Pro_1:7; Pro_15:33). We get the English word "phobia" from this Greek word. It is used in the sense of awe and respect. All believers' actions must issue from their relationship with and respect for God!
▣ "honor the king" These last two present imperatives may be an allusion to Pro_24:21. Remember in Peter's day that the Emperor was Nero (cf. 1Pe_2:13)!