Peter continues teaching behaviors of perfect unity in his zeal for evangelizing the lost sheep of Israel. Ironically, his words have great implications for us today in the face of increasingly severe governmental mandates related to the Covid pandemic, election fraud, and more. The previous blog ended with encouragement for us to act with honorable conduct, even under persecution, so that when Christ returns, our rulers will for the first time in their lives glorify God. Peter’s next words could weigh heavily on us if we do not expand our horizons beyond the current difficulty to the goal of being with Jesus in heaven:
“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor” (2 Pet 2:13-17).
We are told to be subjected to every human institution, that is, every type of government, including dictatorships. This is hard to swallow for people who are accustomed to political and religious freedom. Peter’s advice (or command?) is that doing good in difficult situations is the will of God for the purpose of silencing the ignorance of foolish rulers.
The message is that God knows rulers of all kinds, all the way up to an emperor, are foolish in God’s eyes when they demand obedience to themselves only. How do we accomplish this?
We are to live as people who are free, even if we are not. But we are servants of God first, who outranks every human ruler including an emperor. We are not to pursue evil against evil, but rather to honor everyone, especially the brotherhood in Christ, and to fear God as we would in perfect political freedom. Okay so far, but now, honor the emperor?
This is a great moment to go back and read the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament, substituting your name wherever you see Daniel’s. God was with Daniel every step of the way, and he will be with us, too. Daniel honored the Emperor, resulting in his own glory, and we can, too.
But remember, in America we do not have emperors. Loew & Nida describe “emperor” as translated to mean “one who has absolute authority within a particular area and is able to convey this power to a successor” (LN 37.67). Conveying to a hand-picked successor is not peaceful transfer of power through democratic elections! Honoring a dictator is to respect and obey in submission. Peter continues:
“Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 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 [and] you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered , he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on a tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but now have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1 Pet 2:18-25).
Honor an emperor, but fear God!