Keraia
1 Peter 2

1 Peter 2:13

Submission to Authorities · 1 Peter 2:13–20
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Translations

Modern
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority,
Traditional
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
Literal
Be in subjection to every human creation because of the Lord, whether to the king as being supreme,
Latin
Subjecti igitur estote omni humanæ creaturæ propter Deum: sive regi quasi præcellenti:

Original

Greek
English
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority,

Notes

1 Peter 2:13

During Peter's time, the Roman emperor was the king. Christians were suffering under the government and would soon face harsher persecution under Emperor Nero.

1 Peter 2:13–3:7

This section focuses on the key instruction to submit to all human authority. Peter applies this instruction to several relationships:

  • Christians should accept the authority of those in government (2:13–17).

  • Christian slaves should accept the authority of their masters (2:18–25).

  • Christian wives should accept the authority of their husbands (3:1–6).

Peter appears to follow an early Christian use of the traditional household code. This code gave a series of instructions for different members of a household. Similar examples appear in Ephesians 5:21–6:9, Colossians 3:18–4:1, 1 Timothy 5:1–6:2, and Titus 2:1–10.

Parallels

Romans 13:1–7

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Obedience Peter, First Letter of Titus, Letter to

Topics

Authority Citizens: Duties of Civil Disobedience Commandments: Other Apostles: Precepts of, Explicitly Stated or Implied in Didactic Epistles Example: Good Governing Government: Duty of Citizens To Kings: should be Obeyed Magistrates: should Subjection to Their Authority Enjoined Obeying Authority Obeying Man's Law Ordinance: A Decree Respecting Authorities Rulers: Character and Qualifications of Self-Denial: General Scriptures Concerning Submission to Authority Submission to God