Romans: God and Government

Romans 13:1-7

How should a Christian respond to the government? Is it necessary to obey all laws, pay taxes, and show respect to governing officials? Are we to submit to authorities when there is blatant corruption? 

When Paul wrote his letter to the Romans around AD 58, Nero was the emperor. The Roman Republic was nearing its end. Almost a century earlier, Julius Caesar, a Roman general, used his power to become a dictator. His son, Octavian, took the throne after his father’s assassination and was named Caesar Augustus (“the Revered One”) in 27 BC. After Augustus’ forty-one-year reign, there was Tiberius (14-37), Caligula (Gaius) (37-41), and Claudius (41-54), followed by Nero’s rule (54-68). 

While Nero supported public works, the arts, and legal reform, he was also known as a tyrant. He persecuted Christians and murdered many of his own family members. Nero had his first wife executed, was responsible for killing his pregnant second wife, and then “married” a young boy named Sporus, who resembled her. The marriage ceremony was a public event where Sporus was dressed in women’s clothing and called "Sabina.” 

Before Nero committed suicide in AD 68, he was probably the one who ordered the executions of Paul and Peter in Rome. 

Keep that in mind as we go over Paul’s instructions for Christians concerning the government. 

Romans 13:1-2
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. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 

Paul emphasizes that every believer should obey the laws of the land. Why? Because the sovereign God is the one who establishes governing authorities, since “there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” 

Those in authority reflect God’s sovereignty, a characteristic described in Romans 9-11. Through his sovereign plan, every human leader is placed in their role, and God uses them to achieve his intended purpose. Proverbs 21:1 states, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” Resisting governing authorities results in God’s judgment because all rulers serve his purpose. 

Romans 13:3-4
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, for he is God’s 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’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 

The primary purpose of the government is to protect its citizens by maintaining law and order. Therefore, governing officials should only punish bad conduct, not good. Those in power are God’s servants “for [our] good.” We gain approval by obeying the law. However, if we do not follow the law, the governing authority is “an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer," and they do “not bear the sword in vain.” 

Romans 13:5-7
Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 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. 

We follow the law to “avoid God’s wrath,” which is imposed by those in authority, and “for the sake of conscience.” This is what God expects from us. Violating the law is disobedience to God and contradicts his Word. We should pay our taxes and show respect by honoring those God has placed in authority over us. 

Certainly, many in authority will misuse their power and cause harm. As such, they will be held accountable. But God has sovereignly placed authorities in powerful positions for his intended purposes and our protection. 

A few takeaways from this passage.

1. If God is sovereign, then he is sovereign overall. His sovereignty includes governments and governing authorities. Paul reassures us of this in today’s passage. He says that the authorities “have been instituted by God” (Rom. 13:1), that they are “God’s servant for [our] good” (Rom. 13:4), and that they are “ministers of God” (Rom. 13:6). The main point is clear: God establishes governments and ruling authorities to carry out his purposes and plans. 
   
   
2. When Paul wrote this, the notorious Nero was in power. As we noted, he was a tyrant. Some called him a madman, as documented by Roman historians. Suetonius wrote in The Twelve Caesars (AD 121), "So far did his madness go that... he wished the whole Roman people had but one neck so he could cut it off with one blow." Many believe Nero started the Great Fire of Rome (AD 64) and blamed it on the Christians. During his rule, Christians were burned alive.
   
   It's sobering to realize that Paul wrote these instructions during difficult times for Christians. Still, Paul clearly emphasized God’s sovereignty in establishing our governments and those in authority, and also addressed how Christians should respond. 
   
   
3. I must point out that there is one exception to Paul’s instructions in this passage. If human laws conflict with God’s law, we always follow God’s law. When the Jewish religious council ordered the apostles not to tell others about Jesus, “Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men’” (Acts 5:29). God’s law always takes precedence over man’s laws.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Time in the Word: Read and reflect on Romans 13:1-7. Focus on the believer’s response to governing authorities.

Talking to God: How am I honoring God by obeying laws, paying taxes, and respecting authorities? Are there areas where I resist this teaching?

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