The authorities that exist have been established by God. Allen, contains what are perhaps the most important words ever written for the history of political thought." It does not necessarily follow that precisely the same attitude is incumbent upon the Christian now. There may be men in power who assume it of themselves, and are of themselves, and not of God; and others that abuse the power that is lodged in them; who, though they are by divine permission, yet not of God's approbation and good will. 2. By this, we are not to infer: Ro 13:1-14. Brent Kercheville May 23, 2010 Click here to listen to this lesson. However difficult we find the circumstances of life, within our family unit, or our national boundaries, we must never forget that God uses the difficulties of life to hone and strengthen our faith, and to draw us into closer fellowship with and dependence on Him. If the Christian is not to seek personal vengeance, it does not take away the government’s authority to punish wrongdoers. proceeding of all magistracy whatever from God, still more precisely defined, in respect of those magistracies which exist in concreto, detailed and emphatic inculcation of obedience towards the magistracy. Vicit patiendo. (B)The authorities that exist have been established by God. Romans 13:1–7 describes the responsibility for Christians to live in submission to the human authorities in government. God often claims and asserts that "He" sets up one, and puts down another; Psalm 75:7; Daniel 2:21; Daniel 4:17, Daniel 4:25, Daniel 4:34-35. Moreover, after this manner they explain (w) Proverbs 5:8, ""remove thy way far from her", this is heresy; "and come not nigh the door of her house", , "this is the power". of magistrates), for they do not suffer a man to come near them, but in necessity, and then they appear as friends for their own advantage, but will not stand by a man in the time of distress.''. “It is necessary to the very being of society that vices destructive of it should be punished as being so—the vices of falsehood, injustice, cruelty—which punishment, therefore, is as natural as society; and so is an instance of a kind of moral government, naturally established, and actually taking place. Romans 13 means, "Remember them which have the rule over you," as you will also find at Hebrews 13:7. He is, however, evidently speaking of the magistracy in its abstract or ideal form. NEVER!! Our attitude and actions are to be compliant to the higher powers without compromising the truth - we are to be as gentle as doves but as wise as serpents. Be subject - Submit. He has just forbidden taking vengeance and advocated treating with kindness those who mistreat us. Higher powers.—Authorities, i.e., magistrates, the abstract for the concrete. There is no power.—It is strange that the Apostle seems to go almost out of his way to include even usurped and tyrannical power. In the first verse of the foregoing chapter the body was put for the whole man; here, the soul; and when he says every person, it is plain that ecclesiastical persons are not exempted. The Apostle would be aware of this. Whatever the persons in authority over us themselves may be, yet the just … The government was established, and they were not to seek to overturn it. The book of Romans is the New Testament's longest, most structured, and most detailed description of Christian theology. I pray for the leaders and government of this nation and pray that You would expose and punish the evil-doers and being men and women of integrity to lead our country. What does romans 13:1 - 2 mean? This subjection must be limited only to lawful things; otherwise, we must answer as they did, Acts 4:19: or as Polycarpus did; when he was required to blaspheme Christ, and swear by the fortune of Caesar, he peremptorily refused, and said: We are taught to give honour to princes and potentates, but such honour as is not contrary to true religion. Tribute is to be paid to whom tribute is due. Rebellion against the state is mutiny against both God and government, 1:2a. There may possibly be a conflict of rights and duties, and the lower may have to yield to the higher. Romans 13:1 At the very least, Paul derived this from the example of Christ, who submitted to wicked and corrupt officials and authorities. The word denotes that kind of submission which soldiers render to their officers. And, since the certain natural course of things is the conduct of Providence or the government of God, though carried on by the instrumentality of men, the observation here made amounts to this, that mankind find themselves placed by Him in such circumstances as that they are unavoidably accountable for their behaviour, and are often punished and sometimes rewarded under His government in the view of their being mischievous or eminently beneficial to society.” In other words, the machinery of civil society is one of the chief and most conspicuous instruments by which God carries out His own moral government of mankind in this present existence. Sometimes we can be tempted to wonder if God has lost the plot, as we see evil men triumphing, while the children of God are in the midst of distress, and we wonder if Satan is winning. Romans 13:1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the {powers} that be are ordained of God. And there will be the further drawback, that in such cases the individual usually acts as judge in his own cause, where his conscience is pretty sure to be biased. *The correct ex-pression is “the Lord God omnipotent reigneth” Revelation 19:6. Since Paul was addressing the saints at Rome, it is logical that he would instruct them to submit to those who look after their souls. Every soul: Thi… He warned that those who are called by His name will receive the same treatment from religious worldlings... for in this fallen world-system we will suffer tribulation and trials. When the true meaning of Romans 13:1-7 is revealed, we understand Paul was writing, “To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints.” (Romans 1:7) He was not writing to the general population of Rome. Yahuwah has never commanded anyone to obey human law in violation of divine law. 3. One of the crucial issues before the church in America today is: Shall we be American with a pinch of religious flavoring? “It is very biblical to enforce the law.” – Sarah Sanders Romans 13 is in the news, and is being abused by the White House to enforce an unjust law. The Church at Rome was largely composed of Jews, and these would naturally be imbued with the fanatical spirit of their countrymen. But the question of political obedience cannot be rightly considered without taking into account the relation of Christianity to political life generally, neither can this isolated passage in an Epistle of St. Paul’s be considered apart from other teaching upon the same subjects in the rest of the New Testament. And, lastly, He finally submitted to the civil power, as the instrument divinely employed to inflict upon Him those sufferings which were to be the cause of our redemption. Same Subject Continued—Political and Social Relations—Motives. The former chapter is called by some St. Paul’s ethics, and this his politics. Jesus had every right to rebel. The exceptions to this principle are few and far between. b. Commentary on Romans 13:1-7 (Read Romans 13:1-7) The grace of the gospel teaches us submission and quiet, where pride and the carnal mind only see causes for murmuring and discontent. We must always remember that the power of every government, whether good or ill, is delegated authority from heaven, and the Lord will often use the effectual fervent prayers of His committed saints to accomplish His plans and purposes, through the good or evil choices of human rule. His informants at Rome may have told him of excitement prevailing among the Jewish portion of the community. In this sense, not only is the human system of society a part of the divinely-appointed order of things, but it partakes more especially in the divine attributes, inasmuch as its object is to reward virtue and to punish vice. They would denounce the "religion" of the pagans as abomination; and as that religion was interwoven with the civil institutions, there was danger also that they might denounce the government altogether, and be regarded as opposed to the laws of the land. Such interpretations, however, actually contradict Scripture. It undoubtedly here refers to the Roman magistracy, and has relation not so much to the rulers as to the supreme "authority" which was established as the constitution of government; compare Matthew 10:1; Matthew 28:18. Unto the higher powers: though he speaks of things, he means persons; and he calls them rulers in Romans 13:3, whom he calls powers in this verse. The whole pagan magistracy they regarded as founded in a system of idolatry; as opposed to God and his kingdom; and as abomination in his sight. So far as His practice was concerned, our Lord pursued a course of simple obedience; into the theory of political or civil obligation He absolutely refused to enter. Romans 13 . For there is no power but of, God: the powers that be are ordained of God, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers. Instead of this, they chose to suffer and die, and their sufferings did what force could never have done—they leavened and Christianised the world. magistracy and authority: and he says, it is of God; he instituted the office, and he appointeth or permitteth the person that executes it. In the first place it should be noticed that though the duty of obedience is here stated without qualification, still the existence of qualifications to it is not therefore denied or excluded. It appears that phóros applied to the tribute tax that the people of various nations under the dominion of Rome were required to pay as subjects of the Roman Empire. The powers that be are ordained of God: this passage is an exemplification of the former. but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God—"have been ordained of God. I pray that while I am here, You will take my life and use me in whatever way You choose, that I may be a faithful witness and bring glory to Your name, in my small corner of this world. The authorities that exist have been established by God. This does not mean that he "originates" or causes the evil dispositions of rulers, but that he "directs" and "controls" their appointment. At first glance, Romans 13:1-7 may seem to be out of context. Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-slaves of God. This word (as one observes) implieth two things; invention, and ratification. Christians professed supreme allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ; he was their Lawgiver, their Sovereign, their Judge. If Romans 13 does not mean "obey the State," what does it mean? That which hath God for its author, is to be acknowledged and submitted to; but magistracy hath God for its author: ergo. They would naturally look with abhorrence on the system of idolatry which they had just forsaken. And he forestalls the danger by an authoritative and reasoned description of the attitude which the Christian ought to assume. Although Paul undoubtedly changes topics at 13:1, the thematic links between 13:1-7 and 12:9-21 are difficult to ignore. This clause is attested and illustrated by Proverbs 8:15 Daniel 4:32 John 19:11. It implies "subordination;" a willingness to occupy our proper place, to yield to the authority of those over us. It is one thing to say that a conflict of duties may arise, and that the higher is to be obeyed. Says Mar Ukba, there are two daughters which cry out of hell, and say in this world, give, give, and they are heresy, "and the civil power". Orgh (“wrath”) is mentioned in 12:19 and 13:4, 5. 13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities,(A)for there is no authority except that which God has established. Whether it was the cities of Babylon, Rome, Greece, or the nation into which we ourselves have been born, God is in control, "for there is no power but of God and the powers that be, are ordained by God.". (4) nor was the case much different with the "Gentile" converts. God invented and devised this order, that some should rule, and others obey; and he maintaineth and upholdeth it. Generally speaking, human government serves to rein in and punish those who do evil. From exhorting the believers at Rome to a life of entire devotedness to God, and the various duties of brotherly kindness, the apostle now proceeds to inculcate upon them that subjection and obedience which they owed to their civil rulers, and those duties of justice and benevolence which were due from them to all men.

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