John Calvin Commentary 1 Peter 2:14

"or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well." — 1 Peter 2:14 (ASV)

Or unto governors, or, Whether to presidents. He designates every kind of magistrate, as if he had said that there is no kind of government to which we ought not to submit. He confirms this by saying that they are God’s ministers; for those who apply him to the king are greatly mistaken. There is, then, a common reason that extols the authority of all magistrates: that they rule by the command of God and are sent by him. It therefore follows (as Paul also teaches us) that those who do not obediently submit to a power ordained by him resist God.

For the punishment: this is the second reason why we ought to reverently regard and respect civil authority, because it has been appointed by the Lord for the common good of mankind. For we must be extremely barbarous and brutal if the public good is not regarded by us. This, then, in short, is what Peter means: that since God keeps the world in order by the ministry of magistrates, all those who despise their authority are enemies to mankind.

Now he assumes these two things, which belong, as Plato says, to a commonwealth, that is, reward to the good and punishment to the wicked; for, in ancient times, not only was punishment allotted to evildoers, but rewards were also given to those who do good.

But though it often happens that honors are not rightly distributed, nor rewards given to the deserving, yet it is an honor, not to be despised, that the good are at least under the care and protection of magistrates: they are not exposed to the violence and injuries of the ungodly; they live more quietly under laws and better retain their reputation than if everyone, unrestrained, lived as he pleased.

In short, it is a singular blessing of God that the wicked are not allowed to do what they like.

However, it may be objected here that kings and magistrates often abuse their power and exercise tyrannical cruelty rather than justice. Such were almost all the magistrates when this Epistle was written.

To this I answer that the abuse by tyrants and those like them does not subvert God’s ordinance; instead, it always remains in force, just as the institution of marriage is not subverted even if the wife and husband were to act in an unfitting manner. Therefore, however much people may go astray, the end fixed by God cannot be changed.

If anyone were again to object that we ought not to obey princes who, as far as they can, pervert the holy ordinance of God and thus become savage wild beasts, while magistrates ought to bear the image of God, my reply is this:

Government established by God ought to be so highly valued by us that we honor even tyrants when in power.

There is another, even more evident reply: there has never been a tyranny (nor can one be imagined), however cruel and unbridled, in which some portion of equity has not appeared. Furthermore, some kind of government, however deformed and corrupt it may be, is still better and more beneficial than anarchy.