Chapter 13 builds an interesting transition to Paul’s instructions. Romans Bible Study (The Righteousness of God Revealed) Romans 13:1-7, The Christian and Government. Brent Kercheville May 23, 2010 Click here to listen to this lesson. Also, Christians easily could have taken Jesus’ teaching about the coming kingdom of God to mean that they should work for the overthrow of the secular, morally corrupt government in order to help bring in Christ’s kingdom. If Romans 13 does not mean "obey the State," what does it mean? (Romans 13:1-2) What the King James Version translates as “higher powers” the NIV translates as “governing authorities.” The word thus translated is exousia (#1849). The Christian and government. Be rigidly just; withhold neither from the king nor his ministers, nor his officers of justice and revenue, nor from even the lowest of the community, what … While it does contain the meaning of power and authority, it also contains the meanings of privilege, freedom, mastery, and liberty. Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. In Romans 13:7, Paul lists four duties that we have to government officials: Tribute (direct taxes like income taxes), Custom (indirect taxes like sales taxes), Fear (because of … 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 . Romans 13:1–7 has often been used to justify an unseemly conformity to the status quo in this country and in others. This word is used in Ephesians 5:22 to encourage husbands and wives to submit to one another, and it … Texts such as Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; and Titus 3:1 presenting a more positive view of the state. There is an obligation we owe to the state. Clarke's Romans 13:7 Bible Commentary Render therefore to all their dues - This is an extensive command. When Romans 13 is interpreted against its traditional meaning, 1 Peter 2 v. 13 is usually used by supporters of obedience to the government as a trump card. As a result, I included a short analysis of 1 Peter to illustrate how it reinforces this "new" interpretation of Romans 13, rather than contradicts it. In fact, when Paul wrote Romans, Nero, one of the most evil rulers of all time, was on the throne. Romans 13:1-7 is treated as if it contains all that the New Testament has to say regarding the Christian attitude toward the state. Romans 13 means, "Remember them which have the rule over you," as you will also find at Hebrews 13:7. The New Testament alludes to the state in diverse ways. 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. He was specifically addressing the body of Christ in Rome. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Read Introduction to Romans 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.. 7 Render [give] therefore to all their due: “Render” means to give back.This presupposes that what we pay to government in taxes presumes a value has been received. Romans 13 – A Christian’s Obligation to Government A. Dunn (1988: 758) also mentions the phrases ekdikew / ekdikoV (12:19; 13:4) and pantwn anqrwpwn / pasin (12:17-18; 13:7) to provide evidence for a link between the two passages, before demonstrating links between Romans 2:7-11 and 13:3-4 in order to refute the claims of some that this passage is a non-Pauline insertion. This simple meaning of "social orderliness" would have been understood by original readers, but it is a little obscured in our English translation. 1. Chapter 12 concluded with Paul instructing Christians to not repay evil with evil. (1-2) Government’s legitimate authority and the Christian’s response. It could be used to keep the church docile to the Nazi regime in Germany, and to impede the efforts of those in our own land who worked …