“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:”
For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. — The logic is pragmatic: the magistrate (archontes) is en phobō (in/for fear) not for agathos (good, right) but for kakos (evil, wrong). This suggests that if Christians obey laws and do good, they avoid conflict with authorities. The commendation (epainos, praise) from authority follows moral conduct.
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