And it is observable, that the apostle speaks of powers, and not persons, at least, not of persons, but under the name of powers, to show that he means not this, or the other particular prince or magistrate, but the thing itself, the office and dignity of magistracy itself; for there may be some persons, who may of themselves usurp this office, or exercise it in a very illegal way, who are not of God, nor to be subject to by men. His informants at Rome may have told him of excitement prevailing among the Jewish portion of the community. The Lord Jesus was the perfect example of a Man who subjected Himself to the established earthly authorities. 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. 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. He speaketh not here of the person, nor of the abuse, nor of the manner of getting into power, but of the thing itself, viz. Yet in what cases this was to be done, where the line was to be drawn, was a question of deep importance, and one which was not easily settled. Hence Bishop Butler feels himself justified in taking the principles which regulate civil society as an analogy for those which will regulate the ultimate divine disposition of things. Romans 13 is the thirteenth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The book of Romans is the New Testament's longest, most structured, and most detailed description of Christian theology. We sometimes feel that we are surrounded by evil leaders who seem to have an anti-God agenda and we find it difficult to understand why. When the true meaning of Romans 13:1-7 is revealed, we understand Paul was writing, âTo all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints.â (Romans 1:7) He was not writing to the general population of Rome. For - The apostle gives a "reason" why Christians should be subject; and that reason is, that magistrates have received their appointment from God. Brent Kercheville May 23, 2010 Click here to listen to this lesson. Their religious hopes took a political form. 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 Lord God established a number of divine institutions at the beginning including marriage, the family, nationalism, and governmental authority, and down through history, we see that basest of men are often those the Lord sets in positions of authority. Romans 13:1. Use this table to get a word-for-word translation of the original Greek Scripture. '', ""the horse leech hath two daughters, crying, give, give", Proverbs 30:15, it is asked, what is the meaning of give, give? In Romans 13, the first thing he says is, we are to submit to government. (6) in the "changes" which were to occur in human governments, it would be an inquiry of deep interest, what part Christians should take, and what submission they should yield to the various laws which might spring up among the nations. "Let every soul"-"The thirteenth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, according to J.W. As Christians, therefore, are to be subject to God, so they are to honor "God" by honoring the arrangement which he has instituted for the government of mankind. What Does Romans 13:1 Mean? The order of magistracy is of God; it is of his ordination and appointment, and of his ordering, disposing, and fixing in its proper bounds and limits. Whatever the persons in authority over us themselves may be, yet the just ⦠IMO. 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. See on set under authority, Luke 7:8. 13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities,(A)for there is no authority except that which God has established. See on Mark 2:10; see on John 1:12. Chapter 13 builds an interesting transition to Paulâs instructions. How far they should submit, if at all, to heathen magistrates, was a question of deep interest; and there was danger that the "Jewish" converts might prove to be disorderly and rebellious citizens of the empire. And yet as a general principle, the injunctions of the Apostle entirely hold good. Allen, contains what are perhaps the most important words ever written for the history of political thought." Wesley's Notes for Romans 13:1. The word used here does not designate the "extent" of the submission, but merely enjoins it in general. (b) Be distributed: for some are greater, some smaller. What does romans 13:1 - 2 mean? There are other inferior powers, which are also of God, as parents, masters, &c.; but of these he doth not speak in this place. The Believer's Civil Duty: The True Meaning of Romans 13 Romans 13 is widely used to deceive Christians into obeying unrighteous laws and giving support to tyrannical governments. Romans 13:1 At the very least, Paul derived this from the example of Christ, who submitted to wicked and corrupt officials and authorities. Erasmus thinks it was inserted by some interpreter, by way of explanation; but it is found in all ancient copies, therefore that conceit of his is without foundation. This is equally true at all times, that the powers that exist, exist by the permission and providence of God. 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 . It is an expression of this deliberate policy (if by that name it may be called) which we find in these first seven verses of Romans 13. God sets them "in order," assigns them their location, changes and directs them as he pleases. With them politics and religion were intimately blended. But in the context, Paul is speaking about how believers are to live in love and to get along peaceably with all people. We who are His children are also told to be of good cheer, for by His death and resurrection He has overcome the world, and although we will inevitably face difficulties and dangers in this fallen world, the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us - Praise His Holy Name. And though He instructed His children to give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars, He never once deviated from His overriding life-principle, to give unto God the things that belong to God. Now that is a powerful verse. The general principle will be seen to be, that we are to obey in all things which are not contrary to the Law of God. Generally speaking, human government serves to rein in and punish those who do evil. (3) Another argument of great force: because God is author of this order: so that those who are rebels ought to know that they make war with God himself: and because of this they purchase for themselves great misery and calamity. We are to give unto Ceasar the things that are Ceasars and to God the things that are HIS and when we trust Him in every situation of life we will find that His grace is sufficient and that His power is perfected in our weakness. 2. All that is alleged is that, primâ facie, the magistrate can claim the obedience of the subject. "Romans 13:1-6 Subjection to magistrates enforced.Romans 13:7 We must render to all their dues,Romans 13:8-10 only love is a debt we must always owe, and virtuallycontaineth the whole law.Romans 13:11-14 Rioting, drunkenness, and other works of darknessmust be put away, as much out of season under the gospel. Verse 1 reads, "Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. The significance of this comes out very strikingly when it is contrasted with the state of feeling and opinion current among the Jews at the same time. The passage at hand only makes sense within the overarching context of Romans 12:9-13:10. They say (x), that, "no man is made a governor below, except they proclaim him above;''. The dominion of the Messiah was to be not a spiritual, but a literal dominion, in which they, as a people, were to share. Whatever the circumstances of your life or the decisions made in the global corridors of earthly rule, God is firmly and eternally in control, both of your life and over the governments of the world, and He has scheduled a time when He will put all principalities and powers under His feet. He is, however, evidently speaking of the magistracy in its abstract or ideal form. a. Every soul: Thi⦠But this still leaves the question open, whether in any particular case tribute is rightfully due or not. They would regard all as opposed to God. but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God—"have been ordained of God. It was practically a refusal to reply at all. The answer, “Render to Cæsar,” &c., left matters precisely as they stood, for the real question was, “What was Cæsar’s, and what was not?” The ambiguity of the reply was intended. But here is the rub: Romans [â¦] Where the precept is appealed to, “Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, and to God the things that are God’s,” one man will say that the particular point in question comes under the first head, another that it comes under the second. 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. 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. The powers that be are ordained of God. If the Christian is not to seek personal vengeance, it does not take away the governmentâs authority to punish wrongdoers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. As Robert Parhamâs recent editorial, âRomans 13 Is Weak Proof-Text for Anti-Immigration Church Members,â illustrates, Romans 13 is often the go-to proof-text for urging compliance with and allegiance to government authority. 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. 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 in Luke 12:11, Christ tells his disciples, they should be brought before magistrates and powers; it is the same word, and it is plain he means persons in power. Honour all men; love the brotherhood; fear God; honour the king.". 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". Rebellion against the state is mutiny against both God and government, 1:2a. 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. Yet the Jews had long been under Roman oppression, and had borne the foreign yoke with great uneasiness. It might be that those in power had not a proper title to their office; that they had secured it, not according to justice, but by oppression; but into that question Christians were not to enter. Devotional Questions â Romans 13:1-14 1. Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. It is another thing to say that in a certain given case such conflict has arisen, and that the duty which commends itself to the individual is the higher of the two. Lit., the existing. 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. Yahuwah has never commanded anyone to obey human law in violation of divine law. The authorities that exist have been established by God. What does this verse really mean? Whether Christians were to acknowledge the laws of such kingdoms and of such men, was a serious question, and one which could not but occur very early. Any such seemingly direct collision of duties must be at the very lightest a most serious and difficult matter; and though the burden of deciding falls ultimately on the individual, still he must be careful to remember that his particular judgment is subject to that fallibility to which, all individual judgments are liable. Are ordained of God - This word "ordained" denotes the "ordering" or "arrangement" which subsists in a "military" company, or army. 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. For there is no power but of God: this is a reason of the foregoing injunction: q.d. Rather, he was establishing the principle that we should all be subject to the higher powers, in spite of their faults and failings, because there is no authority except that which God Himself has permitted, and the powers that exist do so by God's sovereign appointment. In Romans 13:6, 7, the terms that designate types of âtaxâ were common in the Greco-Roman world, but their precise meaning is not known today. he who resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God. A great example of this was the prophet Daniel. The several forms of government are of human will and pleasure; but government itself is an order of God. We are not called upon to enter into the casuistry of the subject. For such is the will of God.. that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. For there is no power but of, God: the powers that be are ordained of God, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers. Such interpretations, however, actually contradict Scripture. Or: Shall we be Christ's people with a pinch of American flavoring? He wished to purify and to spiritualise their conception of the “Kingdom of Heaven,” which He came to found. Higher powers.—Authorities, i.e., magistrates, the abstract for the concrete. 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. 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. that is, with a magistrate, which oftentimes is dangerous. 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