Fear God, not people

Read 1 Peter 2:17

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This section about submission to rulers (2:13-17) concludes with four specific commands. We are to live good lives among “our unbelieving neighbours” (2:12 NLT) and that is rooted in giving “honour to all” i.e. treating them with courtesy and respect. The same word honour is then used in “honour the king”. “With mild irony Peter has put the emperor on the same level as ‘all people’” (Grudem).

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Honouring all is one aspect of loving our neighbour, the primary command for our dealings with everyone (Mt.22:39-40). But there is an even greater obligation to love those who are our brothers and sisters in the family of God (Gal.6:10). Peter has already stressed that this is an essential part of holy living: “Have sincere love... love one another deeply” (1:22).

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Love for God is the source of all such love and of our respect for others (1:8; Mt.22:38). But we need also to “fear God”, not just love him (1:17; Mt.10:28). The two are not incompatible but a recognition that God is awesome both in love and in holiness. In fact, our own holiness is perfected out of fear of God (2 Cor.7:1; Ph.2:12). “Fear him, you saints, and you will then have nothing else to fear” – emperor included.