Submission

Christian Duty to governing authorities

The church in these times seems to be confused about our duty towards the government. We need a clear understanding of what the Bible says and what are our subsequent actions, are and how are we to carry out these actions.

A key verse on this subject is in Romans and its interpretation leads to very different understanding within the church and consequently can drive us toward very different behaviors. In Romans 13:1–2 (ESV) 13 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

The problem is that many Bibles translate this verse as Romans 13:1–2 (HCSB) 13 Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God. 2 So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves.

The confusion results from the English translation of the Greek word “hupotasso” which in English can mean either submit or be subject to. Some Bibles use the word submit others say subject. The interpretation of this word can result in different actions. Also this word in in the Greek present imperative active tense, which means that it is a command. So it is important to understand what this word commands us to do.

The one Greek word has dual English meanings. The meaning depends upon being used in the transitive or intransitive or sense.

The transitive use means that a person is subject to someone or something else. A person is subject to the will of another.So a citizen could be under or subject to the laws of the land, much as in the military a private is subject to a general, an employees subject to a boss.. So one person is considered under the authority of another, which in turns can affect responsibilities and functions.

The intransitive use is different in two ways.

1. It is the opposite, the negation, of being subject to will. Other examples of negations are incomplete vs. complete, indecent vs. decent, independent vs dependent,incoherent vs coherent, etc. So intransitive is the negation of being under some will.

2. Also, the intransitive sense does not correlate to an external object or person. So the intransitive,since it does not refer to some external object, applies to yourself. It has the meaning of you are not subject to your even own will. You have abdicated your will, your desire. In other words, in this sense you have surrendered yourself or you have giving up. This is meaning is better reflected in the English word “submitting”.

So how do we know which meaning to use; submit or subject?

Meaning of a word or a verse within the Bible is often determined by the context in which it is used. To best understand a verse or word. it should always be viewed in context. Contest can refer to the neighboring verses and situation. Context can also refer to the similar meanings that are found throughout the entire Bible.

Since God is truth, and the scriptures are authored by God, then the entire word of God is true as well as the individual verses within the Bible. Truth by definition and according to the Law of Non-contradiction cannot contain contradictions. Therefore, to understand truth [without any contradictions] we need to interpret single verses within the context of of verses nearby the verse in question. Also, meanings should also align as with similar meanings found throughout the entire Bible. Understanding of both the macro view and the micro view should be consistent and without any contradiction.

A third less robust tool that might assist us is to appreciate any figure of speech that might apply during the time that Romans was written. One of the structures or figures of speech used in writing 13:1 is called “epitasus”. This is a manner of Greek speech that emphasized the importance of the conclusion of a sentence or verse. The end of verse 3:1 reads no authority except from God. So the important conclusion of this “submission or subjection “ verse says that this comes from God. It is God who designated authority to the governing authorities.God is prescribing this order. So God is the primary or highest authority and dictated this command.

Prior to 13:1 , Paul addresses submission in Romans 12. We’ll touch on that later.

In 13:1 Paul says that this designated authority is good for us and and protects us. So we are subject or under authority to conduct ourselves according to laws and we are to honor those in authority. So does a believer surrender or recognize authority? Paul is telling us to pay what is due and treat them honorably. Peter wrote a couple of years later 1 Peter 2:13–14 (HCSB) 13 Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the Emperor as the supreme authority 14 or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. It should be pointed out that the persecution of Christians started about 7 years after the writing of Romans and about 2 years or so after 1 Peter was written. In the same way or honoring authirity 1 Peter 2:18–20

18 Household slaves, submit with all fear to your masters, not only to the good and gentle but also to the cruel. 19 For it brings favor if, mindful of God’s will, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly. And wives are to recognize the authority of husbansd1 Peter 3:1–2 3 In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the Christian message, they may be won over without a message by the way their wives live 2 when they observe your pure, reverent lives.

This context does not support the meaning of submission. In the larger context of the entire Bible, the relationship with God can be “subject to” or "submitted”. In fact it is often not an either/or answer,but both. Throughout the Bible, God is recognized as the ultimate authority as the creator in Genesis 1:1 Genesis 1:1 (HCSB) 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. , in the 10 commandments Deuteronomy 5:7 7 Do not have other gods besides Me. to Revelation 22:12–13 (HCSB) 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. God is referred to the ultimate authority and conversely there is nothing that is not subject to Him. There are no contradictions or exceptions to the authority of God [Jesus]being over man and the ultimate authority over all creation.

Not only is everything subject to God, but throughout the Bible, we are also told to submit ourselves before God, to humble ourselves before God, i.e., surrender to God. In fact in the greeting of many of the new testament books, the writers of the New Testament refer to themselves as slaves of God [ 2 Peter, Revelation, Jude, James, Titus, Philippians, and Romans]. We are called to submit, to surrender to

Subjection:

When we look at the concept of subjection, we are talking of one person or thing which is subject to a higher thing. This structure is often represented by a hierarchy . One reason for a hierarchy is that it promotes order and can help in define purpose and function . If we look at the nearby context of our key verse Romans 13.1, we see a couple of things. Paul begins to address the order [ the subjection of one thing to another]

Then in Romans 12, Paul writes about the order within the church.o have Ome body many people, many gifts all same level -=honor wone another, love one another, all of the same family

next is order sor subjection in governance. we are subject as citizens orbey laws, But ultimately suject to God. We do not surrender to the or gie in to the world govetnments

subjection of wife to husband, but sumission is primarilhy to God

Subjection of children to parents

Submission:

1, We are told that we are not to surrender or condone the beliefs of this age Romans 12:1–2 (HCSB) 12 Therefore, .......... I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

We are not just to deny the thoughts of this world, but to not surrender to them. And we are to take those false thoughts and change them,rescind them, and demolish them.We a told that our thoughts are not to be like the world. 2 Cor 10:4–5 (HCSB) 4 since the weapons of our warfare are not worldly, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments 5 and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to obey Christ. So we do not surrender to the world but actually change the thinking of this world to conform to Christian concepts.

This means that part of our duty is to bring the thoughts of the world under subjection to the knowledge of God.

don’t submit to the human philosophies Colossians 2:20–22 (HCSB)

20 If you died with the Messiah to the elemental forces of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations: 21 “Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch”? 22 All these regulations refer to what is destroyed by being used up; they are commands and doctrines of men.

Submit to God James 4:7–10 (HCSB)

7 Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people! 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep. Your laughter must change to mourning and your joy to sorrow. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

John 17:14 (HCSB)

Paul shifts from the prominence of Christian thought to order.society

14 I have given them Your word.

The world hated them

because they are not of the world,

as I am not of the world.

John 15:18–20 (HCSB)

Persecutions Predicted

18 “If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. 20 Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will also keep yours.

Matthew 10:18–24 (HCSB)

18 You will even be brought before governors and kings because of Me, to bear witness to them and to the nations. 19 But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you should speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour, 20 because you are not speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you.

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will even rise up against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of My name. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered. 23 When they persecute you in one town, escape to another. For I assure you: You will not have covered the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 A disciple is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master.

Hebrews 1:3–4 (HCSB)

3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 4 So He became higher in rank than the angels, just as the name He inherited is superior to theirs.

Romans 16:26–27 (HCSB)

26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic Scriptures, according to the command of the eternal God to advance the obedience of faith among all nations— 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ—to Him be the glory forever! Amen.

2 Timothy 1:8 (HCSB)

Not Ashamed of the Gospel

8 So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me His prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God.

2 Timothy 4:2–5 (HCSB)

2 Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new. 4 They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But as for you, be serious about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.