Greetings!

To Continue:

1 Peter 2:17

17. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

17. Omnes honorate, fraternitatem diligite, Deum timete, regem
honorate.


This is a summary of what is gone before; for he intimates that God is
not feared, nor their just right rendered to men, except civil order
prevails among us, and magistrates retain their authority. That he bids
honor to be rendered to all, I explain thus, that none are to be
neglected; for it is a general precept, which refers to the social
intercourse of men. [29] The word honor has a wide meaning in Hebrew,
and we know that the apostles, though they wrote in Greek, followed the
meaning of words in the former language. Therefore, this word conveys
no other idea to me, than that a regard ought to be had for all, since
we ought to cultivate, as far as we can, peace and friendship with all;
there is, indeed, nothing more adverse to concord than contempt.

What he adds respecting the love of brethren is special, as contrasted
with the first clause; for he speaks of that particular love which we
are bidden to have towards the household of faith, because we are
connected with them by a closer relationship. And so Peter did not omit
this connection; but yet he reminds us, that though brethren are to be
specially regarded, yet this ought not to prevent our love from being
extended to the whole human race. The word fraternity, or brotherhood,
I take collectively for brethren.

Fear God I have already said that all these clauses are applied by
Peter to the subject he was treating. For he means, that honor paid to
kings proceeds from the fear of God and the love of man; and that,
therefore, it ought to be connected with them, as though he had said,
"Whosoever fears God, loves his brethren and the whole human race as he
ought, and will also give honor to kings." But, at the same time, he
expressly mentions the king, because that form of government was more
than any other disliked; and under it other forms are included.
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[29] It is better to take it in this wide sense, than to limit it, as
some have done, to rulers or magistrates, because honor to magistrates
is included in the last clause, "Honour the king." -- Ed.