1 Peter 2:13-17

The Christian and Government

Peter had received some personalized instruction from the Lord as to his attitude toward governments and may have heard what Christ told Pilate (Matthew 17:24-27; John 19:8-11). Evidently, the early church was frequently accused of being an enemy of the Roman empire, as Christ had been (Acts 17:5-9; John 19:12). Peter encouraged the brethren to obey man-made laws "for the Lord's sake." Such was certainly the Lord's will and their actions would show they were not following a Lord who encouraged rebellion. Of course, Peter's own actions and words suggest one should submit only until man's law would cause him to violate God's law (Acts 4:18-20; Acts 5:28-29).

The king, in Peter's time, would have been the emperor of Rome, the supreme civil authority of his day. Governors, like Pilate, Felix and Festus, ruled as he directed. The basic purpose of human government was, and is, to keep order, punish evil doers and praise good works (compare Romans 13:1-7).

The apostle indicates it is both God's will that governments keep control and that Christians live lives full of good deeds. Woods notes the word "silence" literally comes from a word that means "to muzzle." Thus, the false accusations raised against Christians by evil men, who were purposefully ignorant as to their conduct, would be muzzled by the good deeds so obvious in their lives. So, Peter said Christians were freed from the law, from the bondage of sin and from death (Galatians 4:21-31; Galatians 5:1-6; John 8:32-36). They were freed from sin to serve God (Galatians 5:13; Romans 6:1-2; Romans 6:16-18). Their daily dealings with all men should have been designed to show each a personal respect and allow him to maintain his dignity. In addition, their love for the brotherhood should have been readily apparent (compare Galatians 6:10; Romans 12:10; Hebrews 13:1). Christians were to hold God in respect, or awe (Proverbs 1:7; Ecclesiastes 12:13). Further, the king was to be afforded the respect due his office (1 Peter 2:13-17).