1 Peter 2:14
1 Peter 2:14
“Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Submission extends to governors, who are sent to punish wrongdoers and commend those who do good.
What Does 1 Peter 2:14 Mean?
Peter explains the purpose government is meant to serve: to restrain evil and to honor good. Governors are pictured as sent for this work, agents of a basic order.
When authority functions as intended, it protects the upright and checks the wicked, and a quiet, good life has nothing to fear from it. Peter is not naive about rulers, but he holds up the office's God-given purpose as the reason to honor it. The believer who does well aligns with what authority exists to praise, and so lives at peace where peace is possible.