“God,” of course, is the “Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” who “caused us to be born again to a living hope” (1 Peter 1:3). This gracious God was mighty to do more than “cause us to be born again”: he could translate the “elect exiles” immediately out of this life into the “inheritance” to come (1 Peter 1:4). In his wisdom he leaves his own in this world, where they are “sojourners and exiles.” One’s circumstances, then, come from his hand. “Fearing” the God who did this means to accept and respect how he’s led your circumstances, and so to obey his instructions in the circumstances and submit to them. The word “fear” also has in it the notion of dread at the penalty that must follow on defying God’s commands (Matthew 10:28). It’s exactly because the Christian “fears God” that he is to “honor everyone.”
17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.