1 Peter 2:13 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man Greek, παση ανθρωπινη κτισει, to every human constitution of government, under which you are placed by Divine Providence, and which is formed instrumentally by men, and relates to you as men, and not as Christians. Macknight translates the clause, Be subject to every human creation of magistrates; observing that “the abstract word creation is put for the concrete, the person created; just as governments and powers are put for persons exercising government and power. The phrase, human creation of magistrates, was formed by St. Peter with a view to condemn the principles of the zealots, who maintained that obedience was due to no magistrates but to those who were appointed by God, as the Jewish kings had been.” Whether to the king That is, to the emperor; as supreme For though at Rome the name of king was odious, the people in the provinces gave that name to the emperor, John 19:15; Acts 17:7. When this epistle was written, Nero was emperor. Or to subordinate governors Or magistrates, in the different provinces of the empire. “From this we learn that it is the duty of Christians, residing in foreign and even in infidel countries, to obey the laws of those countries in all things not sinful, without considering whether the religion of the magistrate and of the state be true or false.” That are sent by him Commissioned by the emperor from Rome; for the punishment of evil-doers The Roman governors had the power of life and death in such conquered provinces as those mentioned 1 Peter 1:1. There is, therefore, the exactest propriety in the apostle's style. And for the praise of them that do well For protecting and rewarding them who give due obedience to the good laws of the state. For so is the will of God As I assure you by inspiration; that by well-doing By your due subjection to magistrates, and the performance of all other Christian duties; you may put to silence Φιμουν, may bridle in, or restrain by a bridle or a muzzle, (so the word signifies,) the ignorance The calumnies proceeding from the ignorance of foolish men Of men destitute of the fear of God, who blame you because they do not know you, affirming that your religion makes you bad subjects.