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.
3:13 For 4 who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good? 3:14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer 5 for doing what is right, 6 you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them 7 or be shaken. 8
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 tn Grk “those sent by him.”
3 tn Grk “for the punishment…and the praise.”
4 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “For” to indicate that what follows gives an explanation.
5 sn The Greek construction here implies that such suffering was not the norm, even though it could happen, and in fact may well have happened to some of the readers (cf. 4:4, 12-19).
6 tn Grk “because of righteousness.”
7 tn Grk “do not fear their fear,” referring to those who cause their suffering. The phrase “their fear” may mean “what they fear” (subjective genitive), but in a situation of persecution it more likely means “fear of them” (objective genitive).
8 sn A quotation from Isa 8:12.