1 Pedro 2:14

14 o a los funcionarios que él ha nombrado. Pues a ellos el rey los ha mandado a que castiguen a aquellos que hacen el mal y a que honren a los que hacen el bien.

1 Pedro 2:14 Meaning and Commentary

1 Peter 2:14

Or unto governors
Inferior magistrates, such as were under the Roman emperor; as proconsuls, procurators such as Pontius Pilate, Felix, and Festus, who had under the emperor the government of particular nations, provinces, and cities:

as unto them that are sent by him;
either by the king, the Roman emperor, by whom they were sent, from whom they received their commission, and derived their authority, under whom they acted, and to whom they were accountable; or by God, by whom they are ordained, and whose ministers they are, and for the ends hereafter mentioned; so that this contains an argument or reason why they should be submitted to:

for the punishment of evildoers;
the breakers of the laws of God and men, on whom punishment is to be inflicted, by the civil magistrates, for the breach of them, by lines, scourgings, imprisonment, and death itself, according as the crimes are:

and for the praise of them that do well;
who behave according to the laws of God and nations, and are obedient to magistrates, and subject to every ordinance; these have praise of men, of magistrates, and are rewarded by them; by protecting their persons, defending their properties, and preserving them in the peaceable enjoyment of their estates and possessions; see ( Romans 13:3 ) .

1 Pedro 2:14 In-Context

12 Procuren llevar una vida ejemplar entre sus vecinos no creyentes. Así, por más que ellos los acusen de actuar mal, verán que ustedes tienen una conducta honorable y le darán honra a Dios cuando él juzgue al mundo.

13 Respeto por las autoridades
Por amor al Señor, respeten a toda autoridad humana, ya sea al rey como jefe de Estado

14 o a los funcionarios que él ha nombrado. Pues a ellos el rey los ha mandado a que castiguen a aquellos que hacen el mal y a que honren a los que hacen el bien.

15 La voluntad de Dios es que la vida honorable de ustedes haga callar a la gente ignorante que los acusa sin fundamento alguno.

16 Pues ustedes son libres, pero a la vez, son esclavos de Dios, así que no usen su libertad como una excusa para hacer el mal.