Romans 13: Subjection Does Not Mean Total Obedience --- Part 1

Romans 13: Subjection Does Not Mean Total Obedience --- Part 1

Since the s̵c̵a̵m̵d̵e̵m̵i̵c̵ pandemic was provided with a one-world-one-way solution, Romans 13 has become a popular debate among believers. I have been reading and studying on this subject more deeply so that I can understand better how I should respond to the governing bodies.

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. - Rom 13:1-2

The word 'subject' in Greek means 'under God's arrangement'. In other words, it is to put oneself under God's arrangement, and in this context, the governing authorities. It is to yield to one's advice, which may or may not necessarily mean total obedience.

The word 'authority' and 'authorities' is the word 'exousia', which means 'delegated empowerment for moral authority' in this context.

The word 'institute' means 'to set in place' and the word 'appointed' means 'God's ordinance'.

It is important to note that the phrase '𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝' is used, instead of 'who God has appointed'. In the Greek, it refers to the exousia (authority), which is God's ordinance.

In other words, while the position of governing authority is set in place by God as His ordinance on earth, the leaders in that governing position are not necessarily chosen by Him. Remember: 𝐘𝐨𝐮 (𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞) 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬. Read the book of Kings and you will know that people chose to have their own kings, not God. For the Scriptures cannot be broken. God does not always have His will done when it comes to the appointment of the leader.

Why is knowing this important? It prevents abuse. I have church leaders who told me that the leaders (cellgroup leaders, ministry leaders, etc.) in position are ordained by God and they are the Lord's anointed. That's not biblical. In the New Covenant, only Christ is the Anointed One, and if He is in you, you are anointed as sons and daughters. Anointing is a position of sonship, not leadership.

Yes, God has ordained the idea of leadership. But we must separate leadership from the leaders, because the idea of leadership is of God, but the leaders may not be of God, even if it's a church leader.

Similarly, the governing authority has been set in place by God as His ordinance on earth, but the leaders may or may not be of God.

With this in mind, you will have a clear foundation on why God wants us to be subjected to the governing authorities (exousia), because it has nothing to do with evil or good rulers. What we are submitting to is the earthly exousia, so that we cannot be led by emotions when we look at the ungodly leaders.

In the next part, we will continue to go deeper.