1 Peter 2:13-18

Submission to Authority

13 n Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, 1 whether it be to the emperor 2 as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him o to punish those who do evil and p to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, q that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 r Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but s living as servants 3 of God. 17 t Honor everyone. u Love the brotherhood. v Fear God. Honor the emperor.

18 w Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.

  1. Cross References
    Romans 13:1
    Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
    Titus 3:1
    Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work.
  2. Cross References
    Romans 13:4
    For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.
  3. Cross References
    Romans 13:3
    For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval.
  4. Cross References
    1 Peter 2:12
    Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
  5. Cross References
    James 1:25
    But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
  6. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 7:22
    For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ.
    Romans 6:22
    But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
  7. Cross References
    Romans 12:10
    Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
    Romans 13:7
    Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
  8. Cross References
    Hebrews 13:1
    Let brotherly love continue.
  9. Cross References
    Proverbs 24:21
    My son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise.
  10. Cross References
    Ephesians 6:5
    Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ.
    Colossians 3:22
    Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
    1 Timothy 6:1
    Let all who are under a yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.
    Titus 2:9
    Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.