Thoughts on Romans 13

Subjection to worldly authority versus submission to spiritual authority

The verses in Romans 13:1-7 inspired no controversy for me prior to March 2020, when I considered that I lived under a just government that followed the rule of law. As novel public health mandates were enacted in that era, exposition of these verses became much more relevant.

We discussed these verses in my women’s Bible study, and we purposely discussed them in light of unjust or corrupt governmental authorities. This context is not inappropriate, given that they were written by Paul, the apostle of Jesus who was imprisoned and martyred by an unjust Roman government.

See also my thoughts on Romans 14, which inform my thoughts on Romans 13.

Romans 13

“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities” (Romans13:1a).

This is an example where translation really matters, as some translations use “obey” rather than “be in subjection to.” I tend to use the New American Standard Bible (NASB 1995) translation because it is considered to be one of the closest to the original language. I also use Strong’s Concordance, which allows me to look at the original language from which a translation is obtained. The internet has made such study incredibly simple, and my favorite website for Bible study is Blue Letter Bible.

The word “subjection” in Romans 1:1 is translated from “hypotassō” (word G5293) in the original Greek. This same word is used in 1 Peter 2:13, although it is translated “submit” in the NASB: “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority.”

Another word for “submit” is “hypeikō" (word G5226) in the original Greek. It is used in Hebrews 13:17, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”

The different words in these verses seem to imply a difference between spiritual submission and governmental subjection.

What if the governing authority demands something that is in violation of our faith? The Bible provides a number of examples of spiritually inspired civil disobedience, e.g. the midwives saving the Israelite babies in Egypt (Exodus 1:15-22); Rahab saving the Israelite spies (Joshua 2); Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refusing to worship an idol (Daniel 3); Daniel praying (Daniel 6); and the disciples continuing to speak about Jesus after they had been ordered not to (Acts 4:19).

These Biblical examples seem to demonstrate a “submission” to God’s authority, doing what is right in His eyes, while still being in “subjection” to governmental authorities. None of these Biblical examples resisted the worldly consequences of their civil disobedience, which included arrest, being thrown into a lion’s den or a fire, being beaten, being imprisoned, and even being martyred. Jesus Himself subjected Himself to worldly authorities while being in submission to the will of His Father.

“For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God” (Romans 13:1b).

This is somewhat hard for us to accept when considering unjust authorities. Since we know there are both good and evil rulers and we just learned that all authority is established by God, it follows that both good and evil rulers are established by God in His loving sovereignty for His purposes. Indeed, Proverbs 16:4 tells us, “The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil.”

“Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves” (Romans 13:2).

I think of resisting authority as resisting a fine, or arrest, or paying taxes, or any other number of responsibilities I must lawfully accept as a subject of the government. It seems as though we may be spiritually called by our Lord to civil disobedience, but we are not called to resist the consequences of that disobedience.

“For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil” (Romans 13:3a).

This is another challenging verse considered in light of unjust rulers. Consider punishment for any of the Biblical examples of civil disobedience above. Consider people being imprisoned for their faith. Consider Jews being sent to concentration camps, and later being killed. It seems unjust or evil rulers in these instances would be a cause for fear. These are not examples of punishment for evil behavior but for good.

I believe we have to read this verse as a promise. If our behavior is “good,” which I take to mean, “in submission to Him,” then even if we are unjustly punished, He reassures us that this is not cause for fear. The Bible repetitively teaches us to fear only God. We may not like what happens under the sovereign will of God, but He desires that we trust Him in it.

Matthew 10:28 says, “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

“Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same” (Romans 13:3b); 

Proverbs 16:7 says, "When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” God does not promise lack of worldly consequences for spiritually inspired civil disobedience. Even if we must subject ourselves to unjust punishment, God can be glorified by how we respond.

1 Peter 3:14-16 provides a good explanation of this concept:

For even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

“for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil” (Romans 13:4).

Just authorities appropriately punish evil. 1 Peter 3:17 says, “For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.”

“Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake” (Romans 13:5).

God has so ordered our world that we have worldly authorities. We pray they are just. We cannot have justice and rule of law if we are unwilling to be in subjection to it. Such government is our only worldly hope of avoiding lawlessness. 

“For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing” (Romans 13:6).

Rulers who do not submit to God are still His servants, placed by Him in positions of authority. As much as the Israelites in Jesus’ time wanted Him to incite rebellion against an unjust Roman government, He never did, even confirming the appropriateness of paying taxes (Matthew 17:24-27).

“Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor” (Romans 13:7). 

As Jesus said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:17).

May the Lord give us wisdom and discernment for appropriate action, subjecting ourselves to worldly authorities established by Him for His purposes, while spiritually submitting to that which is right in His eyes.