2:17a–d

Commentators do not agree about how the four commands in this verse relate to each other:

(1) There are four separate commands. The same punctuation should therefore separate the commands. For example:

Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. (Revised Standard Version)

(King James Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, Good News Translation, God’s Word, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, Revised Standard Version)

(2) The first command is a summary of the other three. This is shown by a colon at the end of 2:17a. For example:

Give due honor to everyone: love your fellow-Christians, reverence God, honor the emperor. (Revised English Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New Century Version, Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) and the majority of English versions.

2:17a

Treat everyone with high regard: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Treat…with high regard is literally “honor.” Believers are to honor all people. Some other ways this clause has been translated are:

Give due honor to everyone (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Honor all people (NET Bible)

2:17b

Love the brotherhood of believers: The word Love refers to a strong feeling of affection and concern for a person. Use a natural expression or idiom for this word.

the brotherhood of believers: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the brotherhood of believers is literally “the brotherhood.” The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the words of believers to make it explicit that Peter was not talking about a human family. He was referring to the members of the church, all Christians. They were a brotherhood in the sense that God was their heavenly father. It is also possible to translate this as:

your brothers and sisters ⌊in Christ⌋
-or-
your brothers and sisters in the faith (God’s Word)

2:17c

fear God: The phrase fear God means to hold God in awe or to respect God. See how you translated the same word occurring as a noun in 1:17c.

2:17d

honor the king: See how you translated the phrase “high regard,” which is literally “honor,” in 2:17a.

the king: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as king here refers to the Roman emperor, as in 2:13b.

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