1 Peter 2:21

Contextual Overview

¹³Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, ¹³ Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, ¹³ Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, ¹³If you want to honor the Lord, do what those in authority on earth tell you to do. I don't care if he is a king, a governor, ¹³ Keep all the laws of men because of the Lord; those of the king, who is over all, ¹³ Be in subjection [therefore] to every human institution for the Lord's sake; whether to [the] king as supreme, ¹³ Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme; ¹³ Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether it be to the king as supreme, Or to governors, ¹³ Submit, for the Lord's sake, to every authority set up by man, whether it be to the Emperor as supreme ruler, ¹³ Submit your selues to euery ordinance of man for the Lordes sake, whether it be to the King, as supreme,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

even: Matthew 10:38, Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, Mark 8:35, Luke 9:23-25, Luke 14:26, Luke 14:27, John 16:33, Acts 9:16, Acts 14:22, 1 Thessalonians 3:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:2, 2 Timothy 3:12

because: 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 Peter 4:1, Luke 24:26, Acts 17:3, Hebrews 2:10

for us: Some read, for you. 1 Peter 1:20

leaving: Psalms 85:13, John 13:15, Romans 8:29, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Ephesians 5:2, Philippians 2:5, 1 John 2:6, 1 John 3:16, Revelation 12:11

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 21:4 - shall strike 1 Samuel 25:21 - Surely Psalms 89:51 - footsteps Psalms 119:47 - I will delight Proverbs 26:4 - General Proverbs 27:18 - shall be Ecclesiastes 7:8 - the patient Daniel 9:26 - Messiah Matthew 3:15 - for Matthew 11:29 - for Matthew 12:15 - great Matthew 26:52 - Put Mark 6:46 - General Luke 2:51 - and was Luke 9:56 - And Luke 10:37 - Go Luke 22:51 - And he John 5:41 - General John 10:4 - he goeth Acts 1:1 - of Acts 8:32 - and like Acts 26:25 - I am not Romans 1:6 - the called Romans 4:12 - in the steps Romans 12:14 - General 2 Corinthians 12:18 - in the same steps Colossians 3:13 - even 1 Thessalonians 1:10 - Jesus 1 Thessalonians 4:7 - God 2 Thessalonians 3:9 - to make 2 Timothy 1:9 - called 1 Peter 3:9 - called 1 Peter 5:9 - the same 2 Peter 1:3 - called

Cross-References

Genesis 15:12
As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.

Genesis 15:12
As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.

Genesis 15:12
Now it happened that when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him.

Genesis 15:12
Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him.

Genesis 15:12
And whe the sunne was downe, there fell a deepe sleepe vpon Abram: and lo, an horrour of great darknesse fell vpon hym.

Genesis 15:12
The sun began to go down and Abram got very sleepy. While he was asleep, a very terrible darkness came over him.

Genesis 15:12
As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram; and lo, a dread and great darkness fell upon him.

Genesis 15:12
And whanne the sunne was gon doun, drede felde on Abram, and a greet hidousenesse and derk asaylide him.

Genesis 15:12
And when the Sunne was going downe, a deepe sleepe fell vpon Abram: and loe, an horrour of great darkenesse fell vpon him.

Genesis 15:12
And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For even hereunto were ye called,.... Both to well doing, of which none but those who are called with an holy and effectual calling are capable; and which they are fitted for, and are under obligation to perform, and to suffer for so doing, which they must always expect, and to patience in suffering for it, which highly becomes them. This being then one end of the saints' effectual calling, is made use of as an argument to engage them to the exercise of the grace of patience in suffering for well doing; and another follows:

because Christ also suffered for us; in our room and stead, to fulfil the law, satisfy the justice of God, and make reconciliation for sin; and not only for our good, or merely as a martyr, to confirm the truth of his doctrine, or barely as an example to us, though this also is true: the Alexandrian copy, and some others, read, "for you"; for you servants, as well as others, and therefore should cheerfully and patiently suffer for the sake of Christ, and his Gospel; and the rather, because he suffered,

leaving us, or "you", as the same copies, and the Vulgate Latin version read,

an example that ye should follow his steps: Christ is an example to his people in the exercise of grace, as of faith, love, zeal, meekness, and humility; and in the discharge of duty, in his regard to the commands of the moral law, and positive institutions of religion; in his constancy in prayer; in frequent attendance on public worship; in his submission to the ordinance of baptism, and his celebration of the supper; and likewise in his sufferings; and in his meekness, patience, courage, and resignation to the will of God, which is what is here intended, and in which his people are to fellow and imitate him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For even hereunto were ye called - Such a spirit is required by the very nature of your Christian vocation; you were called into the church in order that you might evince it. See the notes at 1 Thessalonians 3:3.

Because Christ also suffered for us - Margin, “some read, for you.” The latest editions of the Greek Testament adopt the reading “for you.” The sense, however, is not essentially varied. The object is, to hold up the example of Christ to those who were called to suffer, and to say to them that they should bear their trials in the same spirit that he evinced in his. See the notes at Philippians 3:10.

Leaving us an example - The apostle does not say that this was the only object for which Christ suffered, but that it was an object, and an important one. The word rendered “example” (ὑπογραμμὸν hupogrammon) occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means properly “a writing copy,” such as is set for children; or an outline or sketch for a painter to fill up; and then, in general, an example, a pattern for imitation.

That ye should follow his steps - That we should follow him, as if we trod exactly along behind him, and should place our feet precisely where his were. The meaning is, that there should be the closest imitation or resemblance. The things in which we are to imitate him are specified in the following verses.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 21. Hereunto were ye called — Ye were called to a state of suffering when ye were called to be Christians; for the world cannot endure the yoke of Christ, and they that will live godly in Christ must suffer persecution; they will meet with it in one form or other.

Christ also suffered for us — And left us the example of his meekness and gentleness; for when he was reviled, he reviled not again. Ye cannot expect to fare better than your master; imitate his example, and his Spirit shall comfort and sustain you. Many MSS. and most of the versions, instead of Christ also suffered for US, leaving US, &c., read, suffered for YOU, leaving YOU, &c. This reading, which I think is genuine, is noticed in the margin.