He is God’s minister: Paul describes government officials as God’s minister. Even though they are loyal to God before they are loyal to the state, Christians are good citizens because they are honest, give no trouble to the state, pay their taxes, and - most importantly - pray for the state and the rulers.ī. Do what is good, and you will have praise: Paul’s idea is that Christians should be the best citizens of all. But if you do evil, be afraid for he does not bear the sword in vain for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.Ī. For he is God’s minister to you for good. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. ( Romans 13:3-4) The job of government: to punish and deter evildoers.įor rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Government can be an effective tool in resisting the effects of man’s fallenness.Ģ. Those who resist will bring judgment on themselves: God uses governing authorities as a check upon man’s sinful desires and tendencies. Then, we are commanded to obey God before man (as in Acts 4:19).Į. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God: Since governments have authority from God, we are bound to obey them - unless, of course, they order us to do something in contradiction to God’s law. And neither our Lord nor His Apostle denied or reviled the ‘authority!’” (Newell)ĭ.

“Your Savior suffered under Pontius Pilate, one of the worst Roman governors Judea ever had and Paul under Nero, the worst Roman Emperor. It was no democracy, and no special friend to Christians - yet he still saw their legitimate authority. We remember that Paul wrote this during the reign of the Roman Empire. Sometimes it is to judge the people or to ripen the nation for judgment. No authority except from God: God appoints a nation’s leaders, but not always to bless the people. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God: We subject ourselves to governing authorities because they are appointed by God and serve a purpose in His plan. This was in contrast to groups of zealous Jews in that day who recognized no king but God and paid taxes to no one but God.Ĭ. Paul simply says that we should be subject to the governing authorities. Every soul: This certainly includes Christians. If the Christian is not to seek personal vengeance, it does not take away the government’s authority to punish wrongdoers.ī. Subject to the governing authorities: The connection between Romans 12 and Romans 13 is clear. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.Ī. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities.

( Romans 13:1-2) Government’s legitimate authority and the Christian’s response.

Bible study notes on romans