Equipping Pastors International, Inc. Dr. Jack L. Arnold
Lesson 11
1 Peter 2:13-17
There are two subjects which will always spark a healthy discussion, sometimes
even a heated argument: religion
and politics. Most people try to keep these subjects separate, but this is
impossible for a Christian because he believes God is sovereign over all, even
in the political realm. To remove God from politics is to leave this area of life
to atheistic and humanistic thinkers which will ultimately bring chaos to any
society. A case in point is the
French Revolution which was led by brilliant intellectuals who were infidels.
Only about seventeen years after this bloody revolution, when the aristocracy
was thrown out, the French accepted another monarch, Napoleon, a dictator.
Christians need to know what relationship they sustain to the
government they find themselves under, for Christians are in every nation on
this earth. They need to know how deeply they should get involved in the
political arena and what limitations should be placed on their political
activities. They need to know when then can revolt and when they must submit.
While the Bible does not specifically support any form of government per se, it does give principles whereby
Christians can live under any government, whether a monarchy (rule by a
dictator), aristocracy (rule by a privileged class), republic (rule by the
people through representatives) or democracy (rule by the people).
By way of review, we should seek to understand 1 Peter 2:13-17 in light
of the context. These verses are only a part of one section of the epistle,
2:11—3:12. The first part of
the section calls these Christians “aliens” and “strangers,” because they were
heavenly citizens moving through this world on a journey to heaven. As aliens
and strangers, they might conclude that they had no social or political responsibilities
on the earth. Perhaps they thought that because they belonged to heaven, they
could remove themselves from the mainstream of society.
In 2:12, Peter tells these Christians that they are to keep their “behavior excellent among the Gentiles”
and continually do “good deeds” to keep down slander against them from the
unsaved Gentiles and the Roman government which accused them of being “evil
doers.” Then in 2:13—3:7, Peter begins to tell them in specific ways how
they are to live as Christians on this earth, even though they are citizens of
heaven. They are to live in a Christian way towards civil government (2:13-17),
towards slaves and masters—in modern language employer-employee relations—(2:18-25)
and towards wives and husbands—in marriage—(3:1-7).
The good deeds the unsaved are to see are many, but at the base of it
all is the concept of submission. This is a foundational principle for all
Christian living. In 2:13, we read, “Submit
yourselves . . . to every human institution.” In 2:18, it says, “Servants (slaves) be submissive to your masters.”
In 3:1, it says, “Wives be submissive to
your own husbands.”
The word “submit” means “to put oneself under another” or “to rank
oneself under another.” Submission is a voluntary decision, an act whereby one
puts himself under another person or group. Submission in any realm is not just
getting along with someone with whom we agree. No, submission is voluntarily
placing oneself under someone or some group when we disagree. With this
background, let us proceed to expound the text.
SUBMISSION TO
GOVERNMENT (2: 13-14a)
“Submit
yourselves . . . to every human institution”
Submission is to be given by the Christian to every human institution,
and in this context Peter is speaking about civil government. “Human
institutions” may refer to the state, the family, the household, social groups
within society and the church, even though the immediate context is about submission
to government. Christians are not
only heavenly citizens, they are also earthly citizens, and they can be and
should be better citizens of the state than unbelievers. Actually they show
their fidelity to Christ by their loyalty to the state.
To put this command into modern English we might say, “Be subject to
the establishment.” The Apostle Paul, in Romans 13:1, said essentially the same
thing: “Let every person be in subjection to the governing
authorities.”
Whatever kind of government a Christian finds himself under, be it
dictatorship, proletariat, republic or democracy, he is to be in submission to
it. This statement by Peter and the statement by Paul have profound
significance when we realize that these men were writing to Christians who were
living under one of the most imperial monsters and tyrannical dictators of all
time—Nero, Emperor of Rome. This
statement is even more potent when we realize that both Peter and Paul were
executed by the state under Nero’s bloody reign. Peter was crucified upside
down and Paul was beheaded.
“for the Lord’s
sake.”
Christians are to submit to government for the Lord’s sake. This is the
motive for such dutiful obedience and conformity to government, good or bad,
because our Lord has asked us to do it. Some have translated this “because of
the Lord’s cause.” If this is correct, then the Lord’s cause is ultimately to
win men to Christ. If Christians get the reputation of being political
reactionaries, then they may bring a bad name on Christ and lose their
testimony to the unsaved world.
“whether to a
king as one in authority or to governors”
The “king” here is a reference to the Roman emperor and Nero in
particular (John 19:15). The “governors” refer to the Roman provincial
governors such as Felix, Festus and Pontius Pilate.
To put this on our level as Christians in any country of the world, we
are required to obey and submit to all civil rulers. Our Lord made this very plain when He said, “Then render to Caesar the things that are
Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s.”
SOVEREIGN
APPOINTMENT BY GOD (2:14b)
“as sent by
him”
This reference may be to the Roman emperor who set chief magistrates
over various provinces, delegating his sovereign stately authority to
them. It may, however, refer to
God who is the supreme sovereign over all human governments which have come
into existence through His divine plan. This interpretation is probably
correct, and it is consistent with Romans 13:1 which says, “For there is no authority except from God,
and those which exist are established by God.”
All governmental rulers are in power and are ruling because God
appoints all rulers either by direction or permission. The authority behind all
government on earth is God. Good government as well as bad government derives
its authority from God. Whether democratic, fascist or communistic, all are
ordained of God. This does not mean, however, that God approves of everything
which goes on in these governments, for He hates sin wherever it is found. Yet,
there is one thing worse than being under a bad government, and that is to be
under no government where anarchy reigns.
Absolutely no one gets into political office without God somehow being
in control to bring about His ends.
“By me
kings reign, and rulers decree justice” (Prov.
8:15).
“He removes
kings and establishes kings” (Dan. 2:21).
“That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it
on whom He wishes, and sets over it the lowliest of men” (Dan. 4:17).
“The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He
turns it wherever He wishes” (Prov. 21:1).
God raised up Pharaoh to sit on the throne of Egypt. He placed cold-blooded Nebuchadnezzar on
his throne. Cruel Pilate operated within God’s sovereign control. Remember. Christian,
the worst kind of government is better than no government at all.
From the Bible we understand that it is not elections or revolutions
which put governments into power; it is God. Elections and revolutions are only
the instruments by which God works His will. Every government which exists is
held in the palm of God’s hand; it can only go as far as He wills; it is under
His control because it has been ordained by Him.
The reason a Christian is to submit to the government over him, whether
good or bad, is that government is from God. When the Christian is obeying
government, he is obeying God. By obeying the government, He is a testimony to
the governing officials that salvation in Christ makes one a better citizen of
the state.
Obedience to government is a hard pill to swallow, for men would like
to think that God is behind governments like America, England and France, but
has nothing to do with governments like Russia, China and Cuba. There is no
doubt that some governments are better than others and provide a more wholesome
seedbed for Christianity to flourish. Yet, because all government is ordained
of God, Christians inside of Russia, China and Cuba must be in subjection, even
when they do not agree with it, if they are going to be faithful to God.
Christians are placed in various countries to be a witness to the
saving grace of God in Christ Jesus the Lord. Obviously, if a Christian is in
trouble with his government, he cannot be an effective witness to his
countrymen. Christians are the salt of the earth and are lights to the world;
their primary task in life is to reach as many people as possible with the message of Christ.
When Carol and
I were in communist Romania in 1977, we had dinner with a lovely Christian
family. They had two boys. Mircha was studying to be a doctor and Radu was a
printer, but he had just come out of the Romanian army. In their front room,
which was ever so small, we sat around and sang songs while the young men
played their guitars. We sang “Amazing
Grace” and “How Great Thou Art” and other Christian songs. They sang in
Romanian and we in English. Perhaps sweeter fellowship I will never have this
side of glory.
After we
stopped singing, I got into a conversation with Radu who spoke some English. He
told me about how he suffered as a Christian in the Romanian army. Then I asked
him, “Do you love your country?” He said, “Yes.” I then asked, “Would you go to
war against the USA?” He answered, “I would if my government told me to do so.”
Then I said, “Radu, if I were an American soldier and you knew I was a
Christian, could you kill me?” He said, “I would not want to kill you or anyone
in war, but if I had to it would be an act of war. If you were a Christian, I
would just have to place you and me into the hands of God, for heaven is our
destiny.”
This conversation showed me more than all the books that have been
written on the subject that the spiritual nation of God transcends all
political, economic and military barriers. Surely these verses make it
very clear that Christians are not to have any part in an armed revolution
against an established government. This is true even when the government is
unjust.
No civil government or political regime will always conform to the will
of God. Yet, at the core of all civil government, there is some justice. That
is what keeps things stable. In Romans 13:2, Paul says, “Therefore, he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God;
and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.” This
is quite clear; the Christian is to have no part in armed rebellion or
revolution against his government. Within national entities, government
establishes order for society so the sinful human race can survive. Revolution
means the breakdown of all political, economic and social order and this
results in national chaos. Revolution is not God’s way because it sets in
motion terrible forces in society which will rend and destroy it.
Because we live in a fallen society, and men would otherwise devour one
another, there needs to be some agency to maintain law and order and justice.
Civil government provides order. Therefore, for a Christian to rebel and try to
overthrow the government is to rebel against God. Never does Scripture offer
armed rebellion as an option. David would not strike Saul because Saul was the
Lord’s anointed. Saul was the power that ruled. Daniel and his friends obeyed
God but without raising their fists at the king of Babylon. Likewise, the early
Christians did not bow to the emperor as god, but neither did they seek to
overthrow him by violence.
If Christians are to submit to the government over them, does this
imply blind submission? Should they take the attitude, “What will be will be”?
No, there are times when a Christian will have to oppose his government, not
primarily for political reasons but for religious reasons. Should there ever be
a law which prohibits something God Himself commands, or should there be one that
commands something God prohibits, then we must respectfully disobey our
government and obey God as did the Apostles.
“And when they
had brought them, they stood them before the Council. And the high priest
questioned them, saying, ‘We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in
this name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend
to bring this man’s blood upon us.’ But Peter and the apostles answered and said, ‘We must obey
God rather than men.’” (Acts 5:27-29).
If the state should say we Christians can no longer tell people about
Christ, pray, read the Bible or meet together collectively, then we must
disobey in order to give allegiance to our God. If the state should command us
to support murder through abortion, force our children to be instructed in
paganism and humanism, or insist that we should bow down to the state or man as
god, then we would have to disobey, knowing full well the consequences, but it
is better to obey God than man. It would be better to be thrown into prison or
martyred than to break any of God’s moral laws.
Does this mean that Christians are to have nothing to do with politics?
Absolutely not. We are citizens of the state and as citizens we must seek to
move our state to a moral posture which would be consistent with or tolerant to
our Christian faith but which would also tolerate the multitude of unbelievers
in our state. Submission to government does not mean that a Christian cannot
agitate legally for better government if the steps do not lead to violence.
Where the social law is hard and unreasonable, legitimate protest, not
disobedience, is the duty of the Christian. Submission to
government does not mean that a Christian cannot lawfully protest against evil
and corruption in his government.
Christians, of all people, should be interested in politics because God
is interested in politics. However, a Christian must be careful not to get the
reputation of being a political agitator or reactionary because this will hurt
his testimony before the unsaved world.
SOCIAL ORDER
MAINTAINED BY GOVERNMENT (2:14c)
“for the
punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right”
Government exists to put down evil acts and maintain order, but it also
exists to reward those who are good citizens by protecting their persons and
property, by defending their rights and perhaps by putting them in office
because they are loyal to the state. Again, the Apostle Paul says the same
thing in Romans:
“For rulers
are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no
fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; for
it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid;
for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an
avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil” (Rom. 13:3-4).
SILENCING
FOOLISH MEN (2:15)
“For such is
the will of God”
It is the will of God for Christians to be in subjection to the
government they find themselves under.
We do not have to pray as to the fact that we are to be obedient to
government because the Bible has already commanded it. We may have to pray for
grace to be obedient or ask God for the removal of bitter spirits over things
done poorly by our government, but the fact of obedience is an established
one.
“that by doing
right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.”
Usually men in government are ignorant of the beliefs and practices of
Christians; therefore, Christians are to live such good lives that government
officials will take notice and stop their unfounded slandering of Christians.
Good works will put the Christian on the best side of the government. The
Christian should become a good citizen of the state so as to live all false
charges down.
SETTING ASIDE
FREEDOMS (2:16)
“Act as free
men”
How could these Christians be free? Many were slaves and all were under
the political yoke of the tyrant Nero. They were free internally, not
externally, for they had been set free from the dominance and power of sin and Satan.
They were, in the eyes of God, free men because they were part of the great spiritual
nation chosen by God, that is, the Church (2:9). These Christians were free
people and really had to subject themselves only to God.
When a man knows he is free internally from sin’s dominion and that the
forces of hell can no longer
captivate him, this gives a strong motivation for one to reach out for external
(social and political) liberty. Christians are free in the highest sense and
that spiritual liberty is an invaluable blessing. Christians are free
indeed. “. . and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. .
. If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed” (John
8:32, 36).
Even though they may have been slaves, or placed under the political
yoke of Rome, these Asian Christians were freemen. This is why Christianity has always been the friend
and promoter of political and social liberty. Its influence emancipated the slaves throughout the Roman
Empire. Christianity has always
taken the side of the poor, the aged, the weak, the helpless and the oppressed.
Most of the civil freedoms which the world enjoy today, can be traced to the
influence of Christianity.
“and do not
use your freedom as a covering for evil”
The Christian has spiritual freedom and is a freeman in God’s sight,
but he does not always use or demand his political and social freedoms because
he has a higher end in view. Surely as this verse says, we are never to use our
freedoms to further evil or to camouflage evil. The Christian is not to be a
political reactionary, even though he has freedom in Christ. The Christian
should never give opportunity, by his actions or words, for someone to speak
evilly of him. He is never to abuse his spiritual and political freedoms.
It is interesting that, in the New Testament, Christians are not
presented as social reformers, but they were in subjection to the government
and to institutions, such as slavery, under which they found themselves, regardless
of whether they were right or wrong. We never have Jesus or the Apostles
telling Christians, “Rise up, shake off your bondage, cry out against
injustices and demand your civil rights!”
The first century Christians were freemen in Christ but they set aside
their freedoms for the higher good of reaching men and women for Christ.
However, as men and women trusted Christ as their Savior and Lord, many social
liberties came along with the
spread of the gospel because the gospel truly produces freemen and
freewomen.
“but use it as
bondslaves of God.”
Christians are free, but they are also slaves of God. There are ever so
many humanists today who believe freedom is the casting off of all moral
restraints, but these people actually become the slaves of their own evil
passions. They are in slavery to sin which has complete control over them. Yet,
Christians are freemen spiritually. It is only as we are slaves to Christ that
we are really free. God saved us in Christ; He did not set us free to do as we
please, but to do what pleases God. As Christians we must remember that we are
free-slaves, slaves to Christ who set us free to serve God.
SENSIBLE COMMANDS
(2: 17)
“Honor all men”
Literally this says, “Keep honoring all men as a fact of life. This is to be a settled state of mind,
whether those being honored deserve it or not. Christians do have a general
relationship and responsibility to all men. We are to value and respect all men
because they are creatures of God made in His image. We do not have to agree
with all men, but we must respect their persons, rank, office and ideas.
All people are to be honored, and if we must disagree with people, then
let it be done respectfully.
“love the
brotherhood”
While all men should be treated with respect, we Christians should show
a peculiar affection and care for those who are one with us in Christ. We are
to love all Christians continually as a testimony to the world.
“A new
commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you,
that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My
disciples, if you have love for one another” (John . 13:34-35).
“fear God”
Christians are to have a reverential awe toward God. In one respect,
Christianity springs out of a fear of God, but in another sense it springs out
of the love of God. This kind of fear is not fear of punishment but of
disapproval, not so much the dread of suffering, but the dread of doing wrong.
As Christians we are to reverence God, put Him in the center of all
things. We are to give God the honor due His name because He is the sovereign
Lord in the moral order of the universe.
“honor the
king”
Now Peter comes back to his original thoughts on government. This is
the punch line, for he wants to drive home a point. Those who love the
brotherhood and fear God also honor the king. They were to respect the emperor
who was Nero, the most monstrous ruler the world has ever known. He probably
was responsible for more murders than any other man in history, including
Hitler. He was a cruel, vicious, amoral, insane tyrant. Yet, Peter told these Christians
to honor the emperor. They had every right to be filled with bitterness,
resentment and hostility toward the Roman government, and Nero in particular,
because they were being persecuted, but God said they were to honor the
king.
CONCLUSION
If you are not a Christian, there is good news for you. You can be set
free by believing that Christ died for your sins and that He rose to be your
Lord. He will set you free to serve God even though your external circumstances
may seem oppressive. Do you want to be a free person? Trust Christ who said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall
set you free.” He also said, “I am
the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me”
(John 14:6)..