1 Peter 2:14
Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him dfor the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
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.
εἴτε ἡγεμόσιν, ὡς δι᾽ αὐτοῦ πεμπομένοις εἰς ἐκδίκησιν μὲν κακοποιῶν, ἔπαινον δὲ ἀγαθοποιῶν.
Textual key: no entry
d:
Romans 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
he seems immediately to intend the governors of provinces under the Roman emperors, such as Pilate, Felix, Festus were in Judea, Sergius Paulus in Cyprus, Act 13:7; and other places; see Luk 3:1; but so as to imply, under the name of governors, all inferior magistrates, as under the name of king he doth all supreme.
either:
1. By the king, or supreme magistrate, and then the next words show what should be his end in sending, or appointing officers, or subordinate rulers under him: or rather:
2. Sent by God, from whom all rulers, subordinate as well as supreme, have their authority, and which is the great motive on which they are to be obeyed; and then the following words show what is God’s end in appointing them, and another reason for yielding obedience to them, viz. their being set up for the common good of the societies which they rule.
praise is a kind of reward, and is here to be taken by a synecdoche for all sorts of rewards given to those that do well, and are obedient to the laws: see Rom 13:3,4.