Bible Study Romans 13

Submission to Government Authorities

Question: What is the context, context, context… Why would Paul even ask this????

Question: How tough is this one?

Question: How are we in submission to our government

Romans 13:1 NIV

1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Question: Who is the “everyone”

Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament Submit to Authorities (13:1–7)

13:1 Paul first grounds worldly authority in the authority of God. Paul’s approach here has two sides. On the one hand, Paul subjects worldly rulers to the authority of God, from whom all authority derives. Thus, for believers, submission to God always trumps submission to the state.

13:1 Paul first grounds worldly authority in the authority of God. Paul’s approach here has two sides. On the one hand, Paul subjects worldly rulers to the authority of God, from whom all authority derives. Thus, for believers, submission to God always trumps submission to the state.

Question: How does this work in today’s world… China, North Korea, Congolese Democratic Republic?

Question: Can we honestly believe this passage from Paul?

Romans

Romans 13:2 NIV

2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

Question: What defines “rebelling”

Question: Has God really instituted the horrible rulers in our world?

Question: Why is Paul on this tirade (Think about the Gospel)

Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament Submit to Authorities (13:1–7)

13:2 On the other hand, Paul affirms that worldly government has actual moral authority under God. Like Jesus, Paul does not counsel rebellion against Rome, which likely would be both futile and contrary to his own mission—the spread of the gospel.

Romans 13:3 NIV

3 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.

Question: Is the advice here to fly under the radar and continue on preaching the Gospel?

Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament Submit to Authorities (13:1–7)

13:3 Although worldly authorities have lost ultimacy in light of Christ, they still fulfill an important ordering function in the unredeemed world. While this statement may sound naïve, Paul is being pragmatic.

Ro

Romans 13:4 NIV

4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

Question: Make this verse fit our current context?

Question: What is the sword? What is punishment in the original context and now in our context?

Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament Submit to Authorities (13:1–7)

13:4 Government benefits its citizens by putting limits on evil. Paul does not deal in this passage with governments who fail to fulfill or exceed their divine mandate.

Romans 13:5 NIV

5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

Question: Submission… seems to be a “dirty” word in our vocabulary. “Yes,” “no”

Question: What is the “conscience” element here refer to?

Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament Submit to Authorities (13:1–7)

13:5 Having stated pragmatic reasons to submit to the state, Paul adds a Christian one. In submitting to government, believers are acknowledging the authority of God behind it. This is not to say that believers should obey the state when the state commands something contrary to God’s will. One’s conscience will presumably guide one in such cases.

Romans 13:6 NIV

6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.

Question: Why do we pay taxes?

Question: Are we suppose to obey blindly?

Question: There is a mandate to pay those who give there “full time” to governing. Why do we bark so loudly?

Romans 13:7 NIV

7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Question: Flesh each of those out; taxes, revenue, respect and honor

Love Your Neighbor/Love Fulfills the Law

Romans 13:8–10 NIV

8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Romans 13:8 NIV

8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.

Question: Are we not to have home mortgages? Car loans/Leases?

The “continuing debt “ here is the most important debt

Question: How can we fulfill the law by loving

Leviticus 19:18 NIV

18 “ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

Lev19.0

The Day is Near

Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament Prepare for the End (13:11–14)

In their interactions with the world, Paul tells the Romans, they should remember that the present age is passing away. The new age is dawning, so believers must prepare themselves to greet it.

Romans 13:11 NIV

11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

Question: What is the context of the “present time”

Question: When does Paul anticipate the return of the Lord?

Question: What is the “slumber” that Paul talks about

Question: Is “salvation” nearer now than when we first believed?

Romans 13:12–14 NIV

12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

Romans 13.

Question: What is almost over?

Question: “deeds of darkness,” and “armour of light?”

Question: “Carousing,” “drunkenness” “sexual immorality” “debauchery”

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἀσέλγεια

lack of self-constraint which involves one in conduct that violates all bounds of what is socially acceptable,

Examples…for today?

ro

Romans 13:14 NIV

14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

WOW!!!

Question: “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ” What does that look like?

Question: “Do not” … sounds like a command?