Romans 13:1-7
Principles of Authority (vv. 1-2)
- The hierarchy: God > government > us
- The responsibility: us < government < God
Provision of Authority (vv. 3-4)
- Protect the peaceful and the good
- Prosecute the criminal and the evil
Prescription of Authority (vv. 5-7)
- Obey the laws (unless against Scripture: Acts 5:29)
- Honor the leaders (Prov. 24:21, 1 Peter 2:17)
- Pay the levies (Matt. 22:21-22)
More to Consider
Rome was the imperial capital, the seat of the empire’s civil government. As residents in Rome, Paul’s initial readers were aware of both the glory and the shame of that city in the days of Nero, who reigned from a.d. 54 to 68. But they were also citizens of Christ’s kingdom (Phil. 3:20; Col. 1:13). Appropriately, therefore, Paul discussed a Christian’s relationship to his government and civil rulers. Both in its length and specific details this discussion is the key New Testament passage on the subject (cf. 1 Tim. 2:1–4; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13–17).
John A. Witmer, “Romans,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 490.
When the noted Dr. Pollich, of Mellerstadt, heard Martin Luther lecture at the University of Wittenberg, he said, 'That monk will confound all the learned doctors, propound a new doctrine, and reform the whole Roman church, for he studies the writings of the prophets and evangelists. He relies on the Word of Jesus Christ, and no one can subvert that, either with philosophy or with sophistry."
-True Stories
Paul urged Christians to be submissive and model citizens because God has installed the governing authorities to keep the civil order and punish wrongdoers. Peter gave similar instructions about submission (1 Pt 2:13–14, 17). However, submission to authorities is not absolute. Both Jesus and the writer of Acts established this central Christian principle. Jesus said, “Give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mt 22:21). Peter and the apostles declared that they must obey God rather than human beings (Acts 5:29). Any submission to the authorities must pass through the filter of God’s will and call upon a believer’s life.
Ted Cabal et al., The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2007), 1701.
Were I a sovereign, I would not have to do with atheistical courtiers whose interest it was to poison me; I should be under the necessity of taking an antidote every day. It is, then absolutely necessary for princes and people that the idea of a Supreme Being, creating governing, rewarding and punishing, be ingraven on their minds.
Voltaire, an Atheist
Bob Hope: I love to go to Washington—if only to be near my money.
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