Romans 13:1-7

1: Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
2: Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
3: For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;
4: for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
5: Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. 6: For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.
7: Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

*** 

Having just spoken of vengeance belonging to God, and for believers not to execute vengeance for themselves but to leave it to the Lord and overcome evil with good, Paul then spoke of the Christian’s proper attitude toward ruling authorities. Both the Jewish and Gentile convert to Christ may have had a tendency to resist the authorities. The Jews had long been oppressed by the Romans which they considered to be a pagan system opposed to God, and the Gentiles would have looked at that pagan system as the sinful thing they were just freed from. Yet Paul instructed them to be in subjection to these civil authorities.

Note that this is subjection, not necessarily absolute obedience. In those cases where obedience to civil authorities would violate the higher authority of God, we obey Him (Acts 5:27-29). Yet God does give authority, and establishes certain positions of authority. To resist the authority He establishes is to resist Him.

This godly authority is a minister of God for good, not evil. It brings wrath on evil so those who practice evil should be afraid of this authority. True godly authority is one that freely allows good behavior while punishing those who practice evil, and this good behavior is as God defines it, not man. Isaiah 5:20 says “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;”

We also read in Romans 12:18 “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” The goal of godly authority is to allow people to live in peace, in good behavior, while keeping evil in check. We subject ourselves to authorities with this goal in mind, and not just out of fear of their wrath, but for conscience’ sake—in reverence to God. With this attitude, give what is due to the civil authorities whether in the form of tax or respect.

 

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