1 Peter 2:17
Four Commands
on Honor, Love, and Fear

This verse is found in the first letter from Peter, which was written to the Christians who lived spread-out over the region now known as Turkey. The verse comes right after Peter commands Christians to submit themselves to their governing authorities.

Verse 17 has four verbs in the imperative tense. It is an obvious chiastic structure, which means that the emphasis is placed on the central elements (Love the brotherhood and Fear God).

The external elements use the same verb, ‘timao’, which comes from ‘time’, which means to value, price, or honor. So when used for things, it means to estimate the price of the thing, but when used for people, it means to honor them, to treat them with high regard. We have to honor everyone, and we have to honor the king. Does that mean we treat everyone the same as we would treat the king? In one way, yes. James 2 makes it clear that we should not treat people of different social stature in different ways. All people should be treated with honor, regardless of their status. But of course, we do have to obey the king, but we don’t have to obey all people. Honor and obey is not always the same thing.

The more important elements are in the center. We have to love (‘agape’) the brotherhood (‘adelphotes’), and we have to fear (‘phobeo’) God.

Greek has four different words for love, and here we have the one for other-centered, self-sacrificial love. The kind of love God has for us (John 3:16 - For God so agape-loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life). It is the kind of love in which you want so badly what is good for others that you gladly sacrifice yourself for them.

The word for brotherhood comes from ‘adelphos’, which means brother. It refers to our brothers in Christ, our fellow Christians. This is interesting. So we have to honor all people, but we have to self-sacrificially love our fellow Christians. Love is higher than honor.

And we have to fear God. The word for fear comes from ‘phobos’, from which we get our phobia, and it comes from a word that means being so afraid you want to run away. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). Being fearful of someone who can create universes is a logical thing, God’s power is infinite compared to ours. You really truly want Him on your side and you don't want Him to be upset with you. So our fear of God should motivate us to do the things that please Him. If you obey God, you show that you love Him (John 14:15) and when you love Him perfectly, then you no longer have to fear His judgment (1 John 4:18). So we have to honor and respect the king, but more importantly, we have to fear God.

Are you agape-loving your fellow Christians? What are you sacrificing for them?

Do you fear God? Is the fear of God motivating you to obey Him?

Godspeed!