EXPLORE THE TEXT
Believers are to use their freedom to serve God.
13 Submit to every human authority because of the Lord,
whether to the emperor as the supreme authority
14 or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good.
15 For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good.
16 Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil,
but as God’s slaves.
17 Honor everyone. Love the brothers and sisters.
Fear God. Honor the emperor.
The Greek word translated authority in verse 13 can also mean “creature” or “creation.”
Scholars suggest Peter was emphasizing that all earthly leaders are humans.
Their exalted status could not change the fact that they, like Peter’s readers, were created by God and subject to His rule.
This would have been important for Christians in Asia Minor, where the worship of the emperor as a god was common and even expected.
So, while believers were called to honor the emperor because of his position (v. 17),
they needed to reject any pressure to worship him as a deity.
direct adults to make a list of their government leaders
Challenge them to pray for these individuals, regardless of their affiliation.
Highlight the two levels of government leaders mentioned in 1 Peter 2:13-14.
Discuss their roles and responsibilities.
Civil government being ordained of God,
it is the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all things not contrary to the revealed will of God.
(See Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-2.)
list Peter’s commands in these verses and record them on the chart.
The Greek word means to make oneself subject to another or to place someone at a rank higher than oneself.
While it refers to showing respect or deference, it is stronger than that.
other uses in the New Testament suggest a voluntary obedience (Luke 2:51; Rom. 8:7; Eph. 5:24; Jas. 4:7).
Consistently, New Testament writers encourage believers to honor every human authority for the same reason Peter gives here:
It is God’s will that we respect and obey them (v. 15; see Rom. 13:1-7).
Yet, when earthly authorities compel Christians to disobey God’s will, believers must inevitably resist and submit to the Lord.
Peter’s reference to ignorance was not a reference to intellect, but to spiritual condition.
Pagans criticize the One they do not know or understand, but the consistent good actions of Christians can lead unbelievers to question their own assumptions and worldview.