1 Peter 2:13-17
Wycliffe Bible
13 Be ye subject to each creature of man, for God; either to the king, as to him that is higher in state [as precellent, or more worthy in state],
14 either to dukes, as to those that be sent of him to the vengeance of misdoers, and to the praising of good men [forsooth to the praising of good deeds, or good men].
15 For so is the will of God, that ye do well, and make the unknowingness of unprudent men to be dumb. [For so is the will of God, that ye doing well, make the unknowingness of unwise men to be dumb.]
16 As free men, and not as having freedom the covering of malice, but as the servants of God.
17 Honour ye all men, love ye brotherhood, dread ye God, honour ye the king.
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1 Peter 2:13-17
New Matthew Bible
13 Submit yourselves to every human authority, for the Lord’s sake – whether it be to the king as to the chief head, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, but for the praise of those who do well. 15 For so is the will of God, so that you put to silence the ignorance of foolish men – 16 as free, and not as having freedom for a cloak of evil, but even as the servants of God.
17 Honour all people. Love brotherly fellowship. Fear God, and honour the king.
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1 Peter 2:13-17
1599 Geneva Bible
13 (A)[a] Therefore submit yourselves unto [b]all manner ordinance of man [c]for the Lord’s sake, [d]whether it be unto the King, as unto the superior,
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent of him, [e]for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15 [f]For so is the will of God, that by well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of the foolish men.
16 As free, and not as having the liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
17 [g][h]Honor all men: (B)love [i]brotherly fellowship: fear God: honor the King.
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- 1 Peter 2:13 That which he spoke generally, he now expoundeth by parts, describing severally every man’s duty. And first of all he speaketh of obedience which is due both to the Laws, and also to the Magistrates both higher and lower.
- 1 Peter 2:13 By ordinance, is meant the framing and ordering of civil government: which he calleth ordinance of man, not because man invented it, but because it is proper to men.
- 1 Peter 2:13 The first argument: because the Lord is the author and revenger of this policy of men, that is, which is set amongst men: and therefore the true servants of the Lord must above all others be diligent observers of this order.
- 1 Peter 2:13 He preventeth a cavil which is made by some, that say they will obey Kings and the higher magistrates, and yet contemn their ministers: as though their ministers were not armed with their authority which sent them.
- 1 Peter 2:14 The second argument taken of the end of this order, which is not only most profitable, but also very necessary: seeing that by this means virtue is rewarded, and vice punished: wherein the quietness and happiness of this life consisteth.
- 1 Peter 2:15 He declareth the first argument more amply, showing that Christian liberty doth amongst all things least, or not at all consist herein, to wit, to cast off the bridle of Laws, (as at that time some altogether unskillful in the kingdom of God reported) but rather in this, that living holily according to the will of God, we should make manifest to all men, that the Gospel is not a cloak for sin and wickedness, seeing we are in such sort free, that yet we are still the servants of God, and not of sin.
- 1 Peter 2:17 He divideth the civil life of man, by occasion of those things of which he spake into two general parts: to wit, into those duties which private men owe to private men, and especially the faithful to the faithful, and into that subjection whereby inferiors are bound to their superiors: but so, that Kings be not made equal to God, seeing that fear is due to God, and honor to Kings.
- 1 Peter 2:17 Be charitable and dutiful towards all men.
- 1 Peter 2:17 The assembly and fellowship of the brethren, as Zech. 11:14.
1 Peter 2:13-17
Authorized (King James) Version
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 as free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
Read full chapter2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.