1 Peter 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 Peter 3:13-14

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 

[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.”

[3:13]  ⁴ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “For” to indicate that what follows gives an explanation.

[3:14]  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).

[3:14]  ⁶ tn Grk “because of righteousness.”

[3:14]  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).

[3:14]  ⁸ sn A quotation from Isa 8:12.