Submission to Authority

13 (A)Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,[a] whether it be to the emperor[b] as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him (B)to punish those who do evil and (C)to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, (D)that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 (E)Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but (F)living as servants[c] of God. 17 (G)Honor everyone. (H)Love the brotherhood. (I)Fear God. Honor the emperor.

18 (J)Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, (K)mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But (L)if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:13 Or every institution ordained for people
  2. 1 Peter 2:13 Or king; also verse 17
  3. 1 Peter 2:16 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface

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