Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there
is no authority except that which God has established. The
authorities that exist have been established by God. Romans 13
384-322 BC
"Today I believe that I am
acting in accordance with
the will of the Almighty
Creator: by defending
myself against the Jew, I
am fighting for the work
of the Lord. “
"I am now as before a
Catholic"
The Nazi government led by
Hitler used Romans 13:1
against the resistance
movements in the German
church. Nazi leaders argued
that since Hitler was duly
elected, opposing him was
opposing God's instituted
authority. Faithful
opposition countered by
saying blind allegiance to
Hitler was idolatrous and
that what he proposed and
lived out clearly opposed
Scripture: "We must obey
God rather than any human
authority" (Acts 5:29)...
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and
sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your
bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing
to God—this is your true and proper
worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of
this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able
to test and approve what God’s will is—his
good, pleasing and perfect will.
9 Love
must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to
one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in
zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in
affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in
need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those
who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one
another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low
position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of
everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with
everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s
wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.20 On the
contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no
authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist
have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the
authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so
will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who
do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the
one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For
the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be
afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s
servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the
wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only
because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who
give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If
you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect;
if honor, then honor.
13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no
authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist
have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the
authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so
will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who
do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the
one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For
the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be
afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s
servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the
wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only
because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who
give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If
you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect;
if honor, then honor.
Emperor Nero 54-68 a.d.
13 Submit
yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human
authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme
authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to
punish those who do wrong and to commend those who
do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you
should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live
as free people, but do not use your freedom as a coverup for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect
to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor
the emperor. 1 Peter 2
3 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and
authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do
whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be
peaceable and considerate, and always to be
gentle toward everyone. Titus 3
13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no
authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist
have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the
authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so
will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who
do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the
one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For
the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be
afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s
servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the
wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only
because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who
give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If
you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect;
if honor, then honor.
Exodus 1
Exodus 1
• …..Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true,
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do
not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I
have set up?.... 16 Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar,
we do not need to defend ourselves before you
in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing
furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us
from it, and he will deliver us from Your
Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we
want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not
serve your gods or worship the image of gold
you have set up.”
Daniel 3
Daniel 6
27 The
apostles were brought in
and made to appear before the
Sanhedrin to be questioned by the
high priest. 28 “We gave you strict
orders not to teach in this
name,” he said. “Yet you have
filled Jerusalem with your teaching
and are determined to make us
guilty of this man’s blood.”29 Peter
and the other apostles replied:
“We must obey God rather than
human beings! Acts 5
What lessons can we learn
about disobedience to
authorities in these verses?
Is it right to pay the imperial tax to
Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or
shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew their
hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to
trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a
denarius and let me look at
it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he
asked them, “Whose image is this?
And whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
17 Then Jesus said to them,
“Give back to Caesar
what is Caesar’s and to
God what is God’s.”