fear God, honor the king
1 Peter 2:17.
Honor the king. Really? Give him honor? What does that really mean?
Merriam Webster’s Online dictionary defines honor as, a good name or public esteem. Under synonyms it gives the comment that honor may apply to the recognition of one’s right to great respect or to any expression of such recognition.
The Greek word used in 1 Peter 2:17 for honor, is timao, given in the imperative mood, meaning it is a command. This Greek word really is best translated… honor. To revere, respect, prize, fix value upon. But Peter certainly could not have been asking us to fix value upon and revere a king who doesn’t hold our position on marriage or the sanctity of life or taxes or economics or war or welfare or… (list your most favorite political issues here).
Well, to give us some perspective, Nero was the king that Peter was referring to in this passage. How do I know this? Nero began his reign in October of 54 (when the former emperor Claudius was poisoned and Nero succeeded him as king), and ceased reigning in June of 68 (when Nero committed suicide). It is quite sure that Peter wrote his second epistle during this time. Peter refers in his letter to Paul’s letters as Scripture (2 Peter 3:15-16). This makes it extremely unlikely that 2 Peter was written much before 60 (when the letters of Paul were regularly being collected, copied and moved around). In addition to this, according to all the ancient witnesses, Peter died by the hands of Nero somewhere between 65 and 67 A.D. It is hard to find a well thought out argument that argues for a dating of 2 Peter earlier than that of Nero’s reign, and most conservative scholars date it in the 60’s, during Nero’s later reign.
Nero is the one that killed both Peter, the writer of the above verse, and Paul. The ancient historians Tacitus, Suetonius and Cassius Dio all tell us the stories of the way that Nero would torture Christians, and brought the most severe Christian persecution the world ever knew up until that time. Nero was notorious for his sexual exploits, and ended up killing his own mother while in power. There is much more that can be said about the evils of Nero’s reign, but what I have already said will suffice to make my point.
Honor this king? Give him reverence and worth? Give him public esteem, and make his name good in the way we respect him? Unthinkable. Yet the inspired text of Scripture demands it.
Trying to wrap our minds around this puts things in perspective in our current day. Yes. It is an understatement to say that it is a grievous thing that the leaders of our nation will not stop the killing of millions of unborn children. In fact, it is chilling. We do not support this, but rather we cry out against it, and… we honor the king. We do not slam him. We do not shame him as we talk about him with our friends, neighbors and co-workers. We do not bring personal attack against his character. We thank God for him, and we honor him.
Though you may not be excited about an Obama Presidency, nor are you required to be, you are commanded to honor him – to grant him respect and reverence. The more strongly you disagree with him or his policy, the more you have an opportunity to take a step of radical discipleship to Jesus Christ, the one who bought you with His own blood. The more disappointed by the results of this election you are, the more pleasing to God it will be that you honor Obama, the one God has placed into office by His sovereign hand and infinite wisdom.
Fear God, honor the king.
more on politics to come…
You are a true Christian, sir, and kudos to you.
Very nicely done. Fear God AND honor the king. Of course, we are further blessed in America that Barack is not a king. Thanks for the good work.
You are so right. That’s exactly what God expects of us. Romans 13 is another good reminder of how we are to interact with our government.
While I am most certain I will be voicing much displeasure and opposition of our president-elect in the future on upcoming issues, I am in complete agreement with our Christian obligation, as stated in this article, toward our earthly rulers. To outright neglect God’s command to us in Rom. 13 is to express our disbelief in the sufficiency of the sovereignty of God in fulfilling His good pleasure. Great reminder Thanks!
Great post Jeff. This is going to be difficult to do in the upcoming weeks, months, and years.
Jeff, good stuff. Our posts tied together nicely, didn’t they? Keep spreading the Truth.
Matt
Great post, Jeff.
The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. Prov 21:1
Very good post Jeff. Great research and argument to honor our leaders. I think that the God who commands us to honor the king is the same God who in the book Revelation, my conclusion, asked the 7 Churches to be Holy. This was His command while they suffered greatly like Paul and Peter did. No matter what Christians face we are still expected to live out God’s Word, and especially when it is, or becomes, tough going.
As an American, I also say, we are at war. I didn’t agree with President Clinton’s policies, but whenever he took military action I stood behind him. This is the way that I was raised. President Obama deserves the same respect. I am glad to respect our Presidents.
Thank you so much for this reminder and exhortation. By His grace I hope to follow through with this opportunity to live out what pleases God.
Jeff,
I would like to some blogging on patriotism. It seems to me that Christians need to hear a biblical perspective on this issue, since it is assumed by many Christians that “honoring the king” includes, at least in the US, patriotism. I have not thought a lot about this but at first blush, it appears that much is done and believed in the name of patriotism that is assumed to be supported by the Bible. I don’t think the early Christians were patriotic, should we?
Chris,
You are going to force me to tip my hand. I also plan to do some blogging on the very thing you just mentioned.
While I am reformed in my doctrine, I have been very influenced by anabaptistic and ante-nicean understandings of politics and the non-resistance of a believer, particularly in their readings/interpretation of the gospels and the sermon on the mount.
Concerning politics:
It has been a struggle for me every election cycle to see Christians loose their focus on the cross and be reinvigorated to invest in mechanisms of the world to enact change.
Concerning patriotism:
Every time I see a sign that says, “God bless our troops” I am reminded to pray that God would bless the troops of our nations enemies as well. I have been tempted to make a sign that says “God bless their troops”, turn their hearts towards you through the precious blood of Christ, and let them experience the blessing of Your glory! I think of the missionaries in Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan who are on their knees, praying for God to bless those in their country… including the troops.
The early church has a lot to say on these subjects…. you got me wanting to pump out another post, but I think I’ve already spent too much time blogging today
. I’m eager to consider your thoughts on the matter… get that post up!