or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
14 Or unto governors, or, Whether to presidents. He designates every kind of magistrates, as though he had said, that there is no kind of government to which we ought not to submit. He confirms this by saying that they are God’s ministers; for they who apply him to the king, are greatly mistaken.
Christians were slandered as seditionists, so the apostle settles Christian duty to magistrates clearly: submit to every human institution, whether king or provincial governor, because God ordained magistracy for the good of mankind. Obey not from fear of the rod but from conscience toward the Lord who requires it and whose honor depends on our subjection.
AI summary
Commenting on 1 Peter 2:13-25
For so is the will of God,.... Which refers not so much to what goes before; though it is a truth, that it is the will of God that men should be subject to magistrates, and that magistrates should encourage virtue, and discourage vice, reward the obedient, and punish delinquents; but to what follows: that with well doing; by doing good works, and those well...