Fathers

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What the Fathers say

1 Peter 2:13

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

He calls rulers appointed by kings a "human creation," and even the kings themselves, since they too are elected or appointed by people; and Scripture sometimes calls an institution a "creation" as well, as for example in the following passage: "to create in Himself one new man from the two" (Eph. 2:15). So then, he says, be subject to worldly authorities, but be subject for the Lord's sake, as the Lord commanded. And what did the Lord command? …

Commentary on 1 Peter ↗

Oecumenius

Therefore, be subject to every human creature for the Lord's sake: whether to the king as the supreme authority, or to governors as those sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do well. For it is the will of God that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. The human creature is said to be the leaders who have been appointed by kings, or even the kings themselves, because they too have been established and placed by men. …

Commentary on 1 Peter ↗

Western Saints

Bede

Whether to the king as excelling, etc. Therefore, he speaks only of the king and leaders, but not of masters, because in this place he particularly instructs, as we have said before, those who are masters of slaves. Subsequently, he also admonishes servants how they should serve their masters. He thus teaches the faithful servants of the eternal King also to be subjected to worldly powers, lest even in this the faith and religion of Christ be disparaged, that through it the rights of the human condition should be disturbed. …

Commentary on the Catholic Epistles ↗

Bonaventure

1 Peter 2: Be subject to every human creature for the sake of God: therefore the more efficaciously one does this, the more perfectly one acts; but he who subjects himself to another by vow does this most efficaciously: therefore such a person acts most perfectly. …

Disputed Questions on Evangelical Perfection, Question 4 ↗