Submission to Authorities
Peter commands believers to submit for the Lord's sake to governing institutions, whether the emperor or subordinate authorities. This submission is not based on naïve confidence in rulers but on the conviction that doing good is God's will and is a fitting answer to foolish ignorance. Freedom, therefore, cannot be used as a cloak for evil but must be lived as service to God. The paragraph closes with a compact ethic of broad honor, family love, reverence toward God, and civil respect.
S13ubmit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, 14or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
Peter then addresses servants, calling them to respectful submission not only under kind masters but even under unreasonable ones. Such endurance is praiseworthy when it arises from consciousness of God and when the suffering involved is unjust rather than deserved punishment. The paragraph does not glorify wrongdoing or abuse; instead it distinguishes between suffering for evil and suffering for good, and it locates moral commendation in steadfast, God-aware endurance.
18Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but even to those who are unreasonable. 19For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended. 20How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.