1 Peter 2:12-15

2:12 and maintain good conduct ¹  among the non-Christians, ²  so that though ³  they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears. ⁴ 

Submission to Authorities

2:13 Be subject to every human institution ⁵  for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme 2:14 or to governors as those he commissions ⁶  to punish wrongdoers and praise ⁷  those who do good. 2:15 For God wants you ⁸  to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good.

[2:12]  ¹ tn Grk “keeping your conduct good.”

[2:12]  ² tn Grk “the Gentiles,” used here of those who are not God’s people.

[2:12]  ³ tn Grk “in order that in what they malign you.”

[2:12]  ⁴ tn Or “when he visits.” Grk “in the day of visitation,” denoting a time when God intervenes directly in human affairs, either for blessing (Luke 1:68, 78; 7:16; 19:44) or for judgment (Isa 10:3; Jer 6:15). This phrase may be a quotation from Isa 10:3, in which case judgment is in view here. But blessing seems to be the point, since part of the motive for good behavior is winning the non-Christian over to the faith (as in 3:1; also apparently in 3:15; cf. Matt 5:16).

[2:13]  ⁵ 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]  ⁹ tn Grk “those sent by him.”

[2:14]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “for the punishment…and the praise.”

[2:15]  ¹³ tn Grk “because thus it is God’s will.”