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New Life Version

1 Peter 2:14

Obey the men who work for them. God sends them to punish those who do wrong and to show respect to those who do right.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Citizens;   Commandments;   Example;   Government;   Rulers;   Self-Denial;   Thompson Chain Reference - Citizens, Duties of;   Civic Duties;   Duties;   Nation;   Nation, the;   The Topic Concordance - Government;   Submission;   Will of God;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Magistrates;   Titles and Names of the Wicked;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Government;   King;   Nation;   Praise;   Punishment;   Rome;   Ruler;   War;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Authority;   Government;   Vengeance;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Taxes;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Herodians;   Slave;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Governor;   Obedience;   Vengeance;   1 Peter;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Governor;   Peter, First Epistle of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Discipline;   Malefactor;   Peter Epistles of;   Punishment;   Roman Law in the Nt;   Socialism;   Vengeance;   Worldliness;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Apostolic Age;   Church Government;   Governor;   Peter, the First Epistle of;   Praise;   Punishments;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good.
King James Version (1611)
Or vnto gouernours, as vnto them that are sent by him, for the punishment of euil doers, and for the praise of them that doe well.
King James Version
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.
English Standard Version
or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
New American Standard Bible
or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.
New Century Version
and the leaders who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.
Berean Standard Bible
or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.
Contemporary English Version
You must also obey governors, because they are sent by the Emperor to punish criminals and to praise good citizens.
Complete Jewish Bible
or to governors as being sent by him to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do what is good.
Darby Translation
or to rulers as sent by him, for vengeance on evildoers, and praise to them that do well.
Easy-to-Read Version
And obey the leaders who are sent by the king. They are sent to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do good.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Or vnto gouernours, as vnto them that are sent of him, for the punishment of euill doers, and for the praise of them that doe well.
George Lamsa Translation
Or to judges because from them officers are sent for the punishment of offenders, and to bestow honour on those who do good.
Good News Translation
and to the governors, who have been appointed by him to punish the evildoers and to praise those who do good.
Lexham English Bible
or to governors as those sent out by him for the punishment of those who do evil and the praise of those who do good.
Literal Translation
or to governors, as through Him having indeed being sent for vengeance on evildoers, but praise on well doers,
Amplified Bible
or to governors as sent by him to bring punishment to those who do wrong, and to praise and encourage those who do right.
American Standard Version
or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well.
Bible in Basic English
And those of the rulers who are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and for the praise of those who do well.
Hebrew Names Version
or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to those who do well.
International Standard Version
or to governors who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.Romans 13:3-4;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
and to judges, because from him they are sent for the punishment of transgressors, and for the commendation of good works.
Murdock Translation
and to judges, because they are sent by him for the punishment of offenders, and for the praise of them that do well.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Other vnto rulers, as vnto them that are sent of hym for the punyshment of euyll doers, but for the laude of them that do well.
English Revised Version
or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil–doers and for praise to them that do well.
World English Bible
or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to those who do well.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
as sent by him, for the punishment of evil-doers, and the praise of them that do well.
Weymouth's New Testament
or to provincial Governors as sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and the encouragement of those who do what is right.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
ethir to duykis, as to thilke that ben sent of hym to the veniaunce of mysdoers, and to the preisyng of good men.
Update Bible Version
or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to those that do well.
Webster's Bible Translation
Or to governors, as to them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do well.
New English Translation
or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good.
New King James Version
or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.
New Living Translation
or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.
New Revised Standard
or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Or unto governors, as, through him, sent - for vengeance on evil-doers, but praise to such as do good;
Douay-Rheims Bible
Or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of the good.
Revised Standard Version
or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
other vnto rulars as vnto them that are sent of him for the punysshment of evyll doars: but for the laude of them that do well.
Young's Literal Translation
whether to governors, as to those sent through him, for punishment, indeed, of evil-doers, and a praise of those doing good;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
or vnto rulers, as vnto them that are sent of him, for the punyshment of euell doers, but for the prayse of the that do well.
Mace New Testament (1729)
as supreme; or to governors, as being deputed by him to punish those who do ill,
Simplified Cowboy Version
or an elected official. The king has sent them to dole out punishment on those who do wrong and give a pat on the back to those who do right.

Contextual Overview

13 Obey the head leader of the country and all other leaders over you. This pleases the Lord. 14 Obey the men who work for them. God sends them to punish those who do wrong and to show respect to those who do right. 15 This is what God wants. When you do right, you stop foolish men from saying bad things. 16 Obey as men who are free but do not use this to cover up sin. Live as servants owned by God at all times. 17 Show respect to all men. Love the Christians. Honor God with love and fear. Respect the head leader of the country. 18 Servants, you are to respect your owners and do what they say. Do this if you have a good and kind owner. You must do it even if your owner is hard to work for. 19 This shows you have received loving-favor when you are even punished for doing what is right because of your trust in God. 20 What good is it if, when you are beaten for doing something wrong, you do not try to get out of it? But if you are beaten when you have done what is right, and do not try to get out of it, God is pleased. 21 These things are all a part of the Christian life to which you have been called. Christ suffered for us. This shows us we are to follow in His steps. 22 He never sinned. No lie or bad talk ever came from His lips.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

for the punishment: Romans 13:3, Romans 13:4

Reciprocal: Numbers 16:12 - General Judges 18:7 - magistrate 1 Samuel 10:25 - General 2 Chronicles 19:5 - General Nehemiah 13:21 - I will lay Isaiah 53:2 - he hath no Daniel 6:1 - Darius 1 Corinthians 11:17 - I praise 1 Thessalonians 2:2 - shamefully 2 Timothy 2:9 - as 1 Peter 4:2 - no 2 Peter 2:10 - despise

Cross-References

Genesis 10:11
He went into Assyria from the land, and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah
Genesis 10:22
The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram.
Genesis 15:18
The Lord made an agreement with Abram on that day. He said, "I have given this land to your children and to their children's children, from the river of Egypt as far as the big Euphrates River,
Genesis 25:18
His people lived from Havilah as far as Shur, east of Egypt on the way toward Assyria. He lived away from all his brothers.
Deuteronomy 1:7
Get ready to travel now. Go to the hill country of the Amorites, and to all their neighbors in the Arabah, in the hill country and in the valley, in the Negev and by the sea, the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the big river, the river Euphrates.
Deuteronomy 11:24
Every place where your foot steps will be yours. Your land will be from the desert to Lebanon, and from the River Euphrates to the sea in the west.
Daniel 10:4
On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was standing by the side of the wide Tigris River.
Revelation 9:14
The voice said to the sixth angel who had the horn, "Let the four angels loose that have been chained at the big river Euphrates."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Or unto governors,.... Inferior magistrates, such as were under the Roman emperor; as proconsuls, procurators, c. such as Pontius Pilate, Felix, and Festus, who had under the emperor the government of particular nations, provinces, and cities:

as unto them that are sent by him either by the king, the Roman emperor, by whom they were sent, from whom they received their commission, and derived their authority, under whom they acted, and to whom they were accountable; or by God, by whom they are ordained, and whose ministers they are, and for the ends hereafter mentioned; so that this contains an argument or reason why they should be submitted to:

for the punishment of evildoers; the breakers of the laws of God and men, on whom punishment is to be inflicted, by the civil magistrates, for the breach of them, by lines, scourgings, imprisonment, and death itself, according as the crimes are:

and for the praise of them that do well; who behave according to the laws of God and nations, and are obedient to magistrates, and subject to every ordinance; these have praise of men, of magistrates, and are rewarded by them; by protecting their persons, defending their properties, and preserving them in the peaceable enjoyment of their estates and possessions; see Romans 13:3.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Or unto governors - Subordinate officers, appointed by the chief magistrate, over provinces. Perhaps Roman proconsuls are here particularly intended.

As unto them that are sent by him - By the king, or the Roman emperor. They represent the supreme power.

For the punishment of evil doers - One of the leading ends of government. “The Roman governors had the power of life and death in such conquered provinces as those mentioned in 1 Peter 1:1“ - Doddridge. Ulpian, the celebrated Roman lawyer, who flourished two hundred years after Christ, thus describes the power of the governors of the Roman provinces: “It is the duty of a good and vigilant president to see to it that his province be peaceable and quiet. And that he ought to make diligent search after sacrilegious persons, robbers, man-stealers, and thieves, and to punish everyone according to their guilt.” Again, “They who govern whole provinces, have the power of sending to the mines.” And again,” The presidents of provinces have the highest authority, next to the emperor.” Peter has described the office of the Roman governors in language nearly resembling that of Ulpian. See Lardner’s Credibility, (Works, i. 77, edit. 8vo., Lond. 1829)

And for the praise of them that do well - Praise here stands opposed to punishment, and means commendation, applause, reward. That is, it is a part of their business to reward in a suitable manner those who are upright and virtuous as citizens. This would be by protecting their persons and property; by defending their rights, and, perhaps, by admitting those to share the honors and emoluments of office who showed that they were worthy to be trusted. It is as important a part of the functions of magistracy to protect the innocent, as it is to punish the wicked.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 14. Or unto governors — By king as supreme, the Roman emperor is meant; and by governors, ηγεμοσιν, are meant, leaders, governors, presidents, proconsuls, and other chief magistrates, sent by him into the provinces dependent on the Roman empire.

For the punishment of evil doers — This was the object of their mission; they were to punish delinquents, and encourage and protect the virtuous.


 
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