Peter has been telling his readers that they are to submit to every human institution (2:13). He will mention several of them as he continues his letter, but he begins with the king and his governors, or the civil government (v. 14). We can assume that the injunction is consistent with the purpose of his letter, which is to instruct and encourage those Christians who are facing persecution from the unbelievers.

So why does he mention submission to authority here? He has already indicated in verse 13 that it is "for the Lord's sake" that we are to submit under every human authority. Our allegiance does not finally belong to any human nation or government but to God. Neither do we recognize any human institution as possessing inherent or ultimate authority, but we know that its authority is derived and relative. We submit to human authority for the Lord's sake – that is, because he has established it, because he has commanded it, and because we have the duty and the desire to promote his honor.

Peter further explains the purpose and the effect of our submission in verse 15: "For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men." We should not infer from this that submission to government is for a purely pragmatic reason, or that submission is morally neutral in itself.

Paul writes in Romans 13:1-2, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." So we are bound by God's command to submit under the government even if such submission does not silence the people's slander about our faith. As he continues in the same passage, "Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience" (v. 5). We submit not only for the practical effect, but "also because of conscience."

That said, Peter's letter intends to encourage and instruct Christians who would face false accusations, including their attitudes toward human government, and verse 15 mentions one effect of submission that corresponds to this purpose. Our response to false accusations is to contradict them not only by our words, but also by our actions. If it is said that our faith incites political unrest and even insurrection, then we must explain the teachings of our faith, which teaches that God is behind all human authority, and we must demonstrate this teaching by becoming model citizens of our countries and societies.

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