What Romans 13 Says About Submission to Government Authority

A lot of people have questions about Romans 13 verses one to seven, which tells Christians to submit to the governing authorities and that God has put the governing authorities in place basically to keep order in the world and to keep evil at bay and to reward those who do what is good.

Now we all know and Paul certainly knew that not all governments are good. In fact there are many governments in the world today that are quite bad. The question down through Christian history for Christians who consider scripture to be authoritative is, "how could I obey this particular passage, Romans 13, one to seven and yet also obey the many, many parts of scripture that talk about not oppressing the poor? That talk about reaching out to the disenfranchised and the marginalized to welcoming and showing hospitality to the stranger? How can I obey all the many passages of scripture that speak of extending love and kindness to others, especially those who are not like me when my government may be putting laws into place that say I should not show that love and kindness to people?"

In this video, New Testament Scholar, Frank Thielman explains this controversial scripture.

[David..]

If government wants me to disobey God, I'll choose to disobey government no matter what the consequences.

[magandangaraw]

My understanding is that we obey the governing authorities as long as it does not keep us from following our faith. The apostles continuously rebelled against governing authorities when they told them not to preach.

[bikerstrong]

Acts 5:29- but Peter and the Apostles answered " we must obey God, rather than man". Its time to pick a side. Either be a soldier to the cross or an enemy of it.

[kellye]

everyone wants to quote Paul endorsing authorities of man, but no one wants to address Jesus when he said only serve one master (Go). Funny.... Statists ....

[sheepdog]

Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God

[yvonnecamacho]

Thank you for this. Many people are confused, more like deceived, and do not understand whose laws to obey. We as humans created by God have to obey His laws first then man’s and be like Peter... “Be still and know that I am God”. Worship God, not man, he does not have to lie and he never dies, plus he does not think like us, his thoughts are far greater and better than ours. Remember those things before you decide whose laws to follow.

[joannaferrara]

Romans 13, 1-5
If leaders are wanting you to do evil and not of Our Father, then disobey and follow Our Father, the leaders should not terrorize our good works.

[jayare]

Are governments exempt from Gods laws and punishment?

[firstbaptistchurchaugustaw]

We are to obey the governmental laws as long as they are not contrary to Gods Divine Law.

[spiritedtruth]

Indeed, the Bible is full of dichotomies! To blindly submit n disavow biblical truths in its entirety is a demonstration of selective obedience or rather an easy way out of a difficult dilemma. Obedience to God comes first before man!

[isabs]

Welcoming and showing hospitality to the stranger, notice that it is THE stranger, single, or very few. Welcoming 500 000 strangers is a different thing, specially if they want to force you in their religion.

[williamgillette]

Nowhere in Romans 13 or anywhere else doesvthe bible give absolute obedience to the government.

[danw.]

So there's basically no way around romans 13:1-2 contradicting other aspects of the good book? Just gotta pick and choose which one holds priority?

[LALady]

Paul told them we are to obey God not man!

[cleancutimage]

What blm doesn’t get is that you can obey man’s law as long as it doesn’t break God’s law but you cannot, absolutely cannot break man’s law for your own selfish reasons.

[JonathanGrandt]

Staying home is fear. The mask is fear. We are not defined by fear. Fear is not for Gods people. Let the goats huddle afraid.

[tyroneaugustine]

I disagree with Romans 13??? Why should I submit to those demons?? With all the fuckery going on NOT RIGHT NOW!!! NOT RIGHT NOW!!!

[unusuallyordinary]

The word "government" literally means "to control the mind". If we were meant to be controlled, we would have been born with remote controls. Did God not give us free will, and in free will the consequences of good or bad behavior? And with that, learning from our experiences in order to grow?

[thewilderness]

In the USA, we are given a Constitution which tells us who government is by and for, The People. Govermnment (so-called) "authorities" even call themselves "Public Servants" (although recently they like to call themselves, "Leaders") and just about every police car has the words, "To Protect and Serve." This being the case, government is the servant and the People are the Master. According to Romans 13, it's government that is ordered to serve the People. Thank you, YHVH and thank you, Founding Fathers.

[shenanigansofmannanan]

You've been "licensed" into submission.... your Religious Rights and Beliefs have been oppressed for decades.... yet you still submit.... 501C3....is getting permission from "The State" for something God has commanded.... you all fundamentally misinterprete and incorrectly apply scripture in everyday life....