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.
Parallel translations
- WEB or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do well.
- KJV 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.
- BSB or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.
- NKJV 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.
- NASB or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Governors are sent to punish wrongdoers and commend those who do good, so believers should submit to them. Civil authority serves God's purpose of restraining evil and encouraging good.
Overview
Peter describes the proper function of governing officials: punishing evil and praising good. Because they serve this God-ordained role, believers rightly submit to them. This aligns with Paul's teaching in Romans 13, presenting government as a servant of God for the public good, even when imperfect.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- Rom 13:3–4For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same,
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Original language
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