1 Petrus 2:13-14

Submission to Authorities

2:13 Be subject to every human institution ¹  for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme 2:14 or to governors as those he commissions ²  to punish wrongdoers and praise ³  those who do good.

1 Petrus 2:17

2:17 Honor all people, love the family of believers, ⁴  fear God, honor the king.

[2:13]  ¹ tn Or “every human being”; Grk “every human creation,” denoting either everything created for mankind (NRSV mg: “every institution ordained for human beings”) or every creature who is human. The meaning of the verb “be subject” and the following context supports the rendering adopted in the text.

[2:14]  ² tn Grk “those sent by him.”

[2:14]  ³ tn Grk “for the punishment…and the praise.”

[2:17]  ⁴ tn Grk “love the brotherhood.” The Greek term “brotherhood” is used in a broad sense to connote familial relationships within the family of God. BDAG 19 s.v. ἀδελφότης 1 suggests “a fellowship,” but in the present context “love the fellowship of believers” could be taken to mean “love to participate in fellowship with believers,” whereas the present verse suggests the Christian community as a whole, in familial terms, is in view. This same word occurs in 5:9; there it has been translated “brothers and sisters.”