Bracket

NT

1 Peter 2:13-17

esv

net

n Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, 1 whether it be to the emperor 2 as supreme,

Be subject to every human institution 34 for the Lord’s sake,

(a) whether to a king as supreme

or to governors as sent by him o to punish those who do evil and p to praise those who do good.

(b) or to governors as those he commissions 35 to punish wrongdoers and praise 36 those who do good.

series

ideaexplanation

For this is the will of God, q that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

For God wants you 37 to silence the ignorance of foolish people

by doing good.

actionmanner

ground

r Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but s living as servants 1 of God.

Live 38 as free people,

not using your freedom as a pretext for evil,

but as God’s slaves. 39

negativepositive

t Honor everyone. u Love the brotherhood. v Fear God. Honor the emperor.

(a) Honor all people,

(b) love the family of believers, 40

(c) fear God,

(d) honor the king.

discourse

Study

1. The passage is a series of two commands to believers: a. Submission to every human institution (1 Peter 2:13a), and b. Living as free people (1 Peter 2:16a). 2. On submission, the first command, Peter lists two examples of human institutions believers are to submit to: a. the king (1 Peter 2:13b), and b. governors (1 Peter 2:14). 3. Peter says that the reason for submission (1 Peter 2:13-14) is to stop the mouth of accusers ( 1 Peter 2:15a ). He adds that this is is accomplished by doing good (1 Peter 2:15b). 4. On living freely, the second command, Peter elaborates by explaining what freedom is (positive) and what it's not (negative). It is not to be used as a cover up for doing evil (1 Peter 2:16b), it is being God's slave (1 Peter 2:16c). 5. Peter concludes by listing four manners in which living freely is practiced: a. honoring all people (1 Peter 2:17a) b. loving the family of believers (1 Peter 2:17b) c. fearing God (1 Peter 2:17c), and d. honoring the king (1 Peter 2:17d).

notes