Submission to Authority

1 Peter 2

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. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, x mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But y if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For z to this you have been called, y because Christ also suffered for you, a leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 b He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 c When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, d but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 e He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we f might die to sin and g live to righteousness. h By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For i you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to j the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

  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.
  11. Cross References
    1 Peter 3:14
    But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled.
    1 Peter 3:17
    For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.
    1 Peter 4:16
    Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
  12. Cross References
    1 Peter 3:17 - 18
    For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.
    1 Peter 4:13
    But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
    1 Peter 4:16
    Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
  13. Cross References
    1 Peter 3:9
    Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
    Acts 14:22
    Strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
  14. Cross References
    1 Peter 2:20
    For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
  15. Cross References
    Matthew 11:29
    Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
  16. Cross References
    Isaiah 53:9
    And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
    2 Corinthians 5:21
    For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
    Hebrews 4:15
    For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
    1 John 3:5
    You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
  17. Cross References
    1 Peter 3:9
    Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
    Isaiah 53:7
    He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
    Hebrews 12:3
    Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
  18. Cross References
    Luke 23:46
    Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last.
  19. Cross References
    Isaiah 53:4
    Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
    Isaiah 53:11
    Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.
    Matthew 8:17
    This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.
    Hebrews 9:28
    So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
  20. Cross References
    Romans 6:2
    By no means! How can we who died to sin still l...
    Romans 6:11
    So you also must consider yourselves dead to si...
    Romans 7:4
    Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to th...
    Romans 7:6
    But now we are released from the law, having di...
    Colossians 2:20
    If with Christ you died to the elemental spirit...
    Colossians 3:3
    For you have died, and your life is hidden with...
  21. Cross References
    Romans 6:13
    Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
  22. Cross References
    Isaiah 53:5
    But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.
  23. Cross References
    Isaiah 53:6
    All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned - every one - to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
    Psalms 119:176
    I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.
    Ezekiel 34:6
    My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.
    Luke 15:4
    What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
  24. Cross References
    John 10:11
    I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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