The Meaning of 1 Peter 2:14 Explained

1 Peter 2:14

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.

YLT: whether to governors, as to those sent through him, for punishment, indeed, of evil-doers, and a praise of those doing good;

Darby: or to rulers as sent by him, for vengeance on evildoers, and praise to them that do well.

ASV: or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does 1 Peter 2:14 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Peter 2:11-17 - The Christian Pilgrim's Walk
Strong desires must be kept under the stronger hand of the Christian soul-not extirpated but turned into right directions as God's providence points the way. Our desires ultimately rule our prayers and our life. We must therefore keep them above all else, for out of the heart are the issues of life. "Cleanse thou the thoughts of our heart by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee." God does not wish the extirpation of any element of our nature, but its consecration. We must not allow wrong things; and we must not allow the abuse or excess of right ones. The silent witness of a holy life or a well-ordered home is of incalculable worth. Oh that people in contact with us may turn from us to glorify God! See 1 Peter 2:12.
Though we do not belong to this world, but are passing through it to our home, we should show ourselves willing to conform to the institutions and customs of the world around us, so far as we can do so without injury to conscience or betrayal of the rights of Christ. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Peter 2

1  He exhorts to put away wickedness;
4  showing that Christ is the foundation whereupon they are built
11  He beseeches them also to abstain from sinful desires;
13  to be obedient to authorities;
18  and teaches servants how to obey their masters;
20  patiently suffering for well doing, after the example of Christ

Greek Commentary for 1 Peter 2:14

Unto governors [ηγεμοσιν]
Dative again of ηγεμων — hēgemōn a leader (from ηγεομαι — hēgeomai to lead), old and common word (Matthew 10:18). [source]
As sent by him [ως δι αυτου πεμπομενοις]
Present passive participle of πεμπω — pempō Δι αυτου — Di' autou is “by God,” as Jesus made plain to Pilate; even Pilate received his authority ultimately “from above” (John 18:11).For vengeance on evil-doers (εις εκδικησιν κακοποιων — eis ekdikēsin kakopoiōn). Objective genitive with εκδικησιν — ekdikēsin for which see Luke 18:7.For praise to them that do well Objective genitive again, αγατοποιος — agathopoios a late word (Plutarch, Sirach) from αγατον — agathon and ποιεω — poieō here only in N.T. Found in a magical papyrus. [source]
For vengeance on evil-doers [εις εκδικησιν κακοποιων]
Objective genitive with εκδικησιν — ekdikēsin for which see Luke 18:7. [source]
For praise to them that do well [επαινον αγατοποιων]
Objective genitive again, αγατοποιος — agathopoios a late word (Plutarch, Sirach) from αγατον — agathon and ποιεω — poieō here only in N.T. Found in a magical papyrus. [source]
Sent [πεμπομένοις]
The present participle. In the habit of being sent: sent from time to time. [source]
By him []
The king; not the Lord. [source]
Punishment [ἐκδίκησιν]
Not strong enough. Better, vengeance, as Rev. Compare Luke 18:7; Romans 12:19. [source]
Them that do well [ἀγαθοποιῶν]
Only here in New Testament. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Peter 2:14

John 18:30 If this man were not an evil-doer [ει μη ην ουτος κακον ποιων]
Condition (negative) of second class (periphrastic imperfect indicative), assumed to be untrue, with the usual apodosis This is a pious pose of infallibility not in the Synoptics. They then proceeded to make the charges (Luke 23:2) as indeed John implies (John 18:31, John 18:33). Some MSS. here read κακοποιος — kakopoios (malefactor) as in 1 Peter 2:12, 1 Peter 2:14, with which compare Luke‘s κακουργος — kakourgos (Luke 23:32.; so also 2 Timothy 2:9), both meaning evil-doer. Here the periphrastic present participle ποιων — poiōn with κακον — kakon emphasizes the idea that Jesus was a habitual evil-doer (Abbott). It was an insolent reply to Pilate (Bernard). [source]
2 Corinthians 7:11 Earnest care [σπουδην]
Diligence, from σπευδω — speudō to hasten. Cf. Romans 12:11. Yea (αλλα — alla). Not adversative use of αλλα — alla but copulative as is common (half dozen examples here). Clearing of yourselves In the old notion of απολογια — apologia (self-vindication, self-defence) as in 1 Peter 3:15. Indignation (αγανακτησιν — aganaktēsin). Old word, only here in N.T. From αγανακτεο — aganakteo (Mark 10:14, etc.). Avenging Late word from εκδικεω — ekdikeō to avenge, to do justice (Luke 18:5; Luke 21:22), vindication from wrong as in Luke 18:7, to secure punishment (1 Peter 2:14). Pure (αγνους — hagnous). Kin to αγιος — hagios (αζω — hazō to reverence), immaculate. [source]
2 Corinthians 7:11 Clearing of yourselves [απολογια]
In the old notion of απολογια — apologia (self-vindication, self-defence) as in 1 Peter 3:15. Indignation (αγανακτησιν — aganaktēsin). Old word, only here in N.T. From αγανακτεο — aganakteo (Mark 10:14, etc.). Avenging Late word from εκδικεω — ekdikeō to avenge, to do justice (Luke 18:5; Luke 21:22), vindication from wrong as in Luke 18:7, to secure punishment (1 Peter 2:14). Pure (αγνους — hagnous). Kin to αγιος — hagios (αζω — hazō to reverence), immaculate. [source]
2 Corinthians 7:11 Avenging [εκδικησιν]
Late word from εκδικεω — ekdikeō to avenge, to do justice (Luke 18:5; Luke 21:22), vindication from wrong as in Luke 18:7, to secure punishment (1 Peter 2:14). Pure (αγνους — hagnous). Kin to αγιος — hagios (αζω — hazō to reverence), immaculate. [source]
1 Peter 4:19 Well-doing [ἀγαθοποιίᾳ]
Only here in New Testament. Compare 1 Peter 2:14. The surrender to God is to be coupled with the active practice of good. [source]
1 Peter 2:12 That [ινα]
Final conjunction with δοχασωσιν — doxasōsin (they may glorify, first aorist active subjunctive of δοχαζω — doxazō the purpose of the Christians about the Gentiles.Wherein (εν ωι — en hōi). “In what thing.”As evil-doers As they did and do, old word (from κακον — kakon and ποιεω — poieō John 18:30), in N.T. only here and 1 Peter 2:14 in correct text. Heathen talk against us “Out of (as a result of) your good (beautiful) deeds.”Which they behold Present active participle of εποπτευω — epopteuō old verb (from, εποπτης — epoptēs overseer, spectator, 2 Peter 1:16), to be an overseer, to view carefully, in N.T. only here and 1 Peter 3:2.In the day of visitation (εν ημεραι επισκοπης — en hēmerāi episkopēs). From Isaiah 10:33. Cf. its use in Luke 19:44, which see for the word επισκοπη — episkopē (from επισκοπεω — episkopeō to inspect (Hebrews 12:15). Clear echo here of Matthew 5:16. [source]
1 Peter 2:12 As evil-doers [ως κακοποιων]
As they did and do, old word (from κακον — kakon and ποιεω — poieō John 18:30), in N.T. only here and 1 Peter 2:14 in correct text. Heathen talk against us “Out of (as a result of) your good (beautiful) deeds.”Which they behold Present active participle of εποπτευω — epopteuō old verb (from, εποπτης — epoptēs overseer, spectator, 2 Peter 1:16), to be an overseer, to view carefully, in N.T. only here and 1 Peter 3:2.In the day of visitation (εν ημεραι επισκοπης — en hēmerāi episkopēs). From Isaiah 10:33. Cf. its use in Luke 19:44, which see for the word επισκοπη — episkopē (from επισκοπεω — episkopeō to inspect (Hebrews 12:15). Clear echo here of Matthew 5:16. [source]
1 Peter 2:16 As free [ως ελευτεροι]
Note nominative again connected with υποταγητε — hupotagēte in 1 Peter 2:13, not with πιμοιν — phimoin in 1 Peter 2:14 (a parenthesis in fact). For this ethical sense of ελευτερος — eleutheros see Galatians 4:26. [source]
1 Peter 3:17 If the will of God should so will [ει τελοι το τελημα του τεου]
Condition of the fourth class again Accusative plural agreeing with πασχειν — humās understood (accusative of general reference with the infinitive αγατοποιεω — paschein (to suffer) of the participles from κακοποιεω — agathopoieō (see 1 Peter 2:15) and κακοποιος — kakopoieō (Mark 3:4, and see 1 Peter 2:14 for kakopoios). [source]
1 Peter 3:17 For well-doing than for evil-doing [υμας]
Accusative plural agreeing with πασχειν — humās understood (accusative of general reference with the infinitive αγατοποιεω — paschein (to suffer) of the participles from κακοποιεω — agathopoieō (see 1 Peter 2:15) and κακοποιος — kakopoieō (Mark 3:4, and see 1 Peter 2:14 for kakopoios). [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Peter 2:14 mean?

or to governors as by him being sent for vengeance to evildoers praise then to well-doers
εἴτε ἡγεμόσιν ὡς δι’ αὐτοῦ πεμπομένοις εἰς ἐκδίκησιν κακοποιῶν ἔπαινον δὲ ἀγαθοποιῶν

ἡγεμόσιν  to  governors 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: ἡγεμών  
Sense: a leader of any kind, a guide, ruler, prefect, president, chief, general, commander, sovereign.
πεμπομένοις  being  sent 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: πέμπω  
Sense: to send.
ἐκδίκησιν  vengeance 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἐκδίκησις  
Sense: a revenging, vengeance, punishment.
κακοποιῶν  to  evildoers 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: κακοποιός  
Sense: an evil doer, malefactor.
ἔπαινον  praise 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἔπαινος  
Sense: approbation, commendation, praise.
ἀγαθοποιῶν  to  well-doers 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ἀγαθοποιός  
Sense: acting rightly, doing well, virtuous.

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