Romans 13 Part 1
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Submission to Authorities
Submission to Authorities
1 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.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,
4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.
5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.
7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
Now comes and interesting, and at times unpopular, subject - submission to the governing authorities. We are told, as Christians to submit to the governing authorities who rule.
So, what does it mean to submit?
To yield, resign, or surrender to power, will, or authority. This is easy to do when we have governing bodies that follow the will of God, but sometimes harder to do when they are seemingly outside the will of God.
Who are our rulers?
Those who are placed in positions of authority - locally, state wide, and federally.
To give some background information, Paul is writing this to the church of Rome at the beginning of Nero’s reign. Previously, during the time of Claudius (41-54 A.D.), it appears the church was not supported, were persecuted, and were martyred. During 41, Claudius forbade the Jews to migrate to Alexandria, but then declared religious liberty for the Jews.
Around 49-50, the Jews were expelled from Rome and it wasn’t until 54 that Jews were allowed back in. Basically, there was government sponsored terrorism against Christians throughout his rule. It was Paul’s prayer that things would change - but we have the luxury of history which shows us that one of the worst persecutors of Christians was Nero (A.D. 54-68). He falsely declared the burning of Rome in 64 as being caused by the Christians. Tacitus records, “Nero substituted as culprits, and punished with the utmost refinements of cruelty, a class of men, loathed for their vices, whom the crowd styled Christians … Vast numbers were convicted, not so much on the count of arson as for hatred of the human race”.
Yet, Paul still pleads with the Christians to submit to governmental authority. We see that there were some people within Nero’s close companionship that would come to know Christ as their Savior.
22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.
2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
Paul goes on to describe WHY they are to submit. God appoints those who are in positions of authority. God sets “order” in society and we should deliberately allow ourselves to be under those He allows into the roles of government.
Why should we NOT rebel against authorities?
If we allow ourselves to rebel against authority, in essence we rebel against God and as a result we should expect punishment. This can be from the governmental authorities OR from God.
4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.
5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
Furthermore, rulers are seen as God’s servants. He puts them in place to punish the wrongdoers and praise those who do right.
14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
We are told there are consequences for disobeying governmental rulers - be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. This apparently is speaking of the ease of corporal punishment during this time.
Should we obey unGodly rulers?
In the basic tenet and principles they oversee, yes. If they overstep and disobey God’s commands and rule then NO.
Daniel sets a good example for disobedience of unGodly actions by rulers.
12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?
15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.
Here we see the decree to worship Darius. It was in direct conflict with God’s command to worship only ONE God, the true God.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
David also shows a respect towards King Saul by sparing his life, even though Saul was out to kill David.
1 When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.”
2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks.
3 And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave.
4 And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’ ” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
5 And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord’s anointed.”
7 So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.
8 Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage.
9 And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’?
10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’
11 See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it.
12 May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you.
13 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness.’ But my hand shall not be against you.
We find Peter and the apostles setting the example:
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
If what they decree comes in direct conflict with God’s commands, then we should NOT blindly follow. But, in the essence of this scripture, the government as a WHOLE has been ordained by God and we are to respect that position and authority as being given by God. We have to understand there are times God allows leaders to be put into place to either support OR to punish believers or other authorities.
16 Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them.
32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—
33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
Overall, we are to follow God’s commands by following our leaders in general obedience simply because God has placed them there as His servant.
5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
What two things does Paul re-emphasize?
Paul again reiterates his position. We must submit to the will of government authorities because:
We face God’s wrath if we do not
And because it is the right thing to do.
6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.
7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
What does Paul say the responsibilities of the Christian is to the government?
Because of this - Paul says, because you know it is right this is why we should:
Pay taxes - Taxes are to be used by the government to support the general needs of the populous. It is right to pay taxes as it agrees with God’s purpose for our lives BECAUSE it is necessary for the upkeep of the nation so that normal living is possible. It supports our ability to have and maintain our infrastructure, including churches and the believers. Remember, God even required the Israelites to pay “taxes” to support its priests and the temple.
Pay what is owed - We have a responsibility to pay our bills, including taxes. We should NOT extend ourselves beyond our ability to pay for the items in which we receive. It is the responsibility of all Christians to be honest, truthful, and faithful in paying our debts.
Revenue to whom revenue is owed - As the Roman empire expanded, it was able to take over the assets from the invasion and what was seized. Once the expansion slowed, it required a reliable source of income. This came in the form of various taxes. We find reference to the following Roman taxes:
Poll tax - a flat tax on each individual in the population who were non-land owners.
Land tax- a tax on the land owned (mainly farm land - what was under cultivation). Pasture, woodland, grape vines and olive trees in particular that was self-reported by the land owner. Slaves were a part of the wealth of the estate and had to be included also.
Urban tax - to those who owned property not under cultivation paid a tax on their properties and wages.
Women - were not exempt, but were taxed at 1/2 rate.
Respect to whom respect is owed - We not only are to give our tax monies to the government, but also our respect due to the position they hold.
Honor to whom honor is owed - We are also to honor them because of their devotion to the task (vs. 6 authorities are ministers of God).
At times, it seems like it becomes harder and harder to think of our government as being a Godly establishment. But remember we only control our own actions, and cannot dictate how others act, rule, or govern, but we are still required to give respect and honor to those God has placed in those positions. They are God’s ministers.