| 3. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the explanatory particle gar {γὰρ | gár}, linking this instruction to the call for submission to governing powers. The nominative noun phrase hoi archontes {οἱ ἄρχοντες | hói árkhontes} serves as the subject, followed by the verb eisin {εἰσίν | eisin} and the predicate noun phobos {φόβος | phóbos} “fear.” The dative phrases tō agathō ergō {τῷ ἀγαθῷ ἔργῳ | tôi agathō̂ érgō} and tō kakō {τῷ κακῷ | tôi kakō̂} indicate respectively the spheres of right conduct and wrongdoing that attract or lack fear. The rhetorical question theleis de mē phobeisthai tēn exousian {θέλεις δὲ μὴ φοβεῖσθαι τὴν ἐξουσίαν | théleis de mē phobeîsthai tēn exousían} employs an infinitive-object construction to express the desire not to fear authority. This is immediately followed by the imperative poiei to agathon {ποίει τὸ ἀγαθόν | poíei tó agathón} “do what is good,” which sets up the result clause hexeis epainon ex autēs {ἕξεις ἔπαινον ἐξ αὐτῆς | héxeis épainon ex autês}, where the future hexeis assures the outcome of praise sourced from the authority. The Greek structure thus creates a logical sequence: right action obviates fear and elicits commendation. |