1 Peter 2:13-17 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments

They Are To Be Obedient To The Authorities (1 Peter 2:13-17).

He emphasises here that being sojourners does not mean that Christians are rebels or that they deny their responsibilities towards authority. Nor does being ‘free' mean that they think that they can now do as they like. For after all in their freedom they are bondservants to God. They are therefore to recognise that in general God has put authorities in place in order to preserve peace and control evil, and thus Christians will cooperate with the authorities in as far as they can. For while they themselves are under a higher authority, that does not give them freedom to ignore authorities instituted by God, rather it gives them a responsibility to support them in what is their main aim, to preserve peace and control evil. Note also how he especially emphasises their loyalty to ‘the king', i.e. Caesar.

1 Peter 2:13-17

13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

16 As free, and not usingd your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

17 Honour alle men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.