{"id":662,"date":"2020-12-05T12:23:02","date_gmt":"2020-12-05T12:23:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/?p=662"},"modified":"2024-01-17T13:19:18","modified_gmt":"2024-01-17T13:19:18","slug":"romans-131-7-to-what-extent-if-any-must-a-21st-century-christ-follower-be-subject-to-a-governmental-authority-article-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/?p=662","title":{"rendered":"Romans 13:1-7: To What Extent, if any, Must a 21st Century Christ-follower be Subject to a Governmental Authority – ARTICLE 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

DISCLAIMER: This series of articles reflects the results of my exegetical exercise to answer the following questions: (1) what did Paul intend to convey to his original audience by what he wrote in Romans 13:1-7? And (2) in light of Paul\u2019s authorial intent, how ought Romans 13:1-7 apply to a 21st<\/sup> Century Christ-follower?  In no way, shape or form is this series intended to influence in any way, or cause or be a catalyst for any person to disobey a governmental authority whether it be local, state or federal.   This series is merely the exercise of my right to free speech and to practice my religion under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

INTRODUCTION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bible study must begin with the text.  For this study, Romans 13:1\u20137 (ESV) reads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

1<\/sup> Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2<\/sup> Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3<\/sup> For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4<\/sup> for he is God\u2019s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God\u2019s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5<\/sup> Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God\u2019s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6<\/sup> For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7<\/sup> Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The Graph\u014dble Bible Study Journal is a unique way to study the Bible. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the very helpful features of the Graph\u014dble Bible Study Journal is the visual representation page by which one draws or sketches the passage.  When I sketched out verse 1-7, I discovered that, Paul presented a number of attributes of the \u201cgoverning authorities\u201d as well as attributes for the \u201cevery person.\u201d   These attributes qualified the broad command for the believer to obey the government as set forth in verse 1a (ESV):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

A brief summary of these attributes is set forth below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OVERVIEW OF ROMANS 13:1-7<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the attributes relate to the relationship between God and the \u201cgoverning authorities.\u201d   And as it turns out, these attributes shine a bright light on the scope to which \u201cevery person\u201d should be subject to the \u201cgoverning authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul made it clear that the source of the \u201cgoverning authorities\u201d was God.  For example, the \u201cgoverning authorities\u201d were \u201cfrom God\u201d (v. 1b), \u201chave been instituted by God\u201d (v. 1b), and are \u201cwhat God has appointed\u201d (v. 2).   Paul taught that the \u201cgoverning authorities\u201d were supposed to be the servant of God.  For example, the \u201cgoverning authorities\u201d are supposed to be \u201cGod\u2019s servant\u201d for the \u201cgood\u201d of \u201cevery person\u201d (v. 4a), \u201cthe servant of God\u201d (v. 4b), and \u201cministers of God\u201d (v. 6).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the attributes related to the relationship between the \u201cgoverning authorities\u201d and \u201cevery person.\u201d  In this regard, Paul made a very clear distinction between \u201cgood\u201d conduct and \u201cbad\u201d or \u201cwrong\u201d conduct.  The \u201cgoverning authorities\u201d were not to be a \u201cterror\u201d to good conduct (v. 3).  The \u201cgoverning authorities\u201d were supposed to give \u201capproval\u201d to \u201cevery person\u201d who did \u201cwhat is good\u201d (v. 3).  The \u201cgoverning authorities\u201d were to be a \u201cterror\u201d to bad conduct (v. 3).  If \u201cevery person\u201d did wrong, they were to be \u201cafraid\u201d (v. 4b).  The \u201cgoverning authorities\u201d were not to \u201cbear the sword in vain\u201d but were an \u201cavenger\u201d who carried out God\u2019s wrath on the \u201cwrongdoer\u201d (v. 4b).   \u201cEvery person\u201d was to be in subject to the \u201cgoverning authorities\u201d so as to avoid \u201cGod\u2019s wrath\u201d (v. 5).  \u201cEvery person\u201d was to be subject to the \u201cgoverning authorities\u201d for \u201cthe sake of conscience\u201d (v. 5).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cgoverning authorities\u201d were to govern is such a way that taxes, revenue, respect and honor were owed by \u201cevery person\u201d (vv. 6-7).  At the other end of that relationship, \u201cevery person\u201d was to pay taxes, revenue, respect and honor that he or she owed to the \u201cgoverning authorities\u201d (vv. 6-7).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a nutshell, Paul told his audience that the \u201cgoverning authorities\u201d received their authority to govern from God, and therefore, were God\u2019s servant.  Consistent with their \u201cservant of God\u201d status, they were supposed to promote and reward good conduct and punish bad or wrong conduct on the part of \u201cevery person.\u201d   Because the \u201cgoverning authorities\u201d were supposed to be diligently carrying out their duty to be God\u2019s servants rewarding good and punishing bad, \u201cevery person\u201d was to be subject to (i.e., obey) the \u201cgovernmental authorities\u201d and pay financial support (i.e., taxes and revenue) and extend emotional support (i.e.,  respect and honor).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the later articles will show, via verses 1b-7, Paul placed many qualifiers on the broad command of verse 1a to \u201cLet every person be subject to the governing authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE NEXT ARTICLE \u2013 ARTICLE 2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the next article, i.e., Article 2, I discuss the results of my observation of the first Greek sentence, i.e., Romans 13:1a.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are reading this post and are not a Christian, unless God intervenes, your eternal destination is hell.  But, your destiny can change.  Today can be the day of your salvation.  Please see my blog (https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/2020\/04\/20\/for-god-so-loves-you-2\/<\/a>) for a description of how you can be saved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOTICE OF PERMISSIONS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am mindful of and respect the rights other authors and\/or publishers possess in their works.  I thus try my best to not violate any copyright rights other authors and\/or publishers possess in their works.  The below copyright permission statement is the result of my best efforts to understand that limited usage or \u201cfair use\u201d is available and\/or to secure direct permission for specific works.  The quotations from commentaries are considered to be \u201cfair use.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture quotations marked \u201cESV\u201d are from the ESV\u00ae Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked \u201cNASB95\u201d are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE\u00ae, Copyright \u00a9 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked \u201cNCV\u201d is taken from the New Century Version. Copyright \u00a9 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Scriptures marked \u201cNET\u201d are quoted are from the NET Bible\u00ae  http:\/\/netbible.com copyright \u00a91996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright \u00a9 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked \u201cGW\u201d is taken from the God\u2019s Word Bible that is a copyrighted work of God’s Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DISCLAIMER: This series of articles reflects the results of my exegetical exercise to answer the following questions: (1) what did Paul intend to convey to his original audience by what he wrote in Romans 13:1-7? And (2) in light of Paul\u2019s authorial intent, how ought Romans 13:1-7 apply to a 21st Century Christ-follower?  In no […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[323],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-government"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=662"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/662\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2150,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/662\/revisions\/2150"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}