Romans 13: Subjection Does Not Mean Total Obedience —- Part 4

Romans 13: Subjection Does Not Mean Total Obedience —- Part 4

In the previous post, we have established the following:

i) As long as what is being executed on earth reflects heaven, we are to be subject to the earthly governing body.

ii) As long as what is being executed on earth does 𝐍𝐎𝐓 reflect heaven, we are to execute 'exousia' as the Kingdom governing body.

Romans 13 does not teach ordination of specific persons; neither does it mandate the type of government. 𝐈𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 '𝐞𝐱𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐚' (authority). We must be clear between the two.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬: 

The Jewish-Roman relations were already pretty bad, which partly resulted in the Jews being exiled by Claudius, for he later feared insurrection due to Jewish-Christian riots over Chrestos (which was likely Christ).

Under Claudius, the Gentile Christians met in houses. The Jewish Christians were forbidden from gathering in synagogues. 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭. Restrictions were removed when Claudius died and Nero came in power.

The Jews then returned to Rome. It would be natural for them to resent the Roman government and the anti-Jewish attitudes against them, which was also reflected among the Christian communities.

It was in this overall context that Paul wrote to 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 among both groups of Christians, as well as 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 from Judaism by it's living example, i.e. do not rebel against the government.

From Romans 12, Paul had been addressing the letter to both groups: Gentile and Jewish Christians. He wasn't specifically addressing the Gentile Christians like he did in some previous chapters. 

Romans 13:1 - "Let every 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 be subject to the governing authorities." The word 'person' means 'every living soul'. It does not merely refer to the Gentile and Jewish Christians. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐧-𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬.

Since the sons (Christians) are free from the temple tax (Matt 17:26), and non-believers are not obligated to pay it, the 'two-drachma' (temple) tax only applies to the Jews. Therefore, Romans 13:6 is referring to the Roman tax because Romans 13:7 is taught by Jesus (Matt 22:17-21) concerning Roman tax.

In other words, Romans 13 is not about Jewish and synagogue governing authorities, but about 𝐜𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬. It is to distinguish the Christians and to exemplify Christ in every way (Rom 13:14).

We let Scriptures interpret Scriptures. 1 Peter was written during the later reign of Nero (𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬), where Christians were unjustly persecuted.

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds... 𝐁𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞, 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐬 as sent by him to punish those who do evil... For this is the will of God, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. - 1 Peter 2:12-16 (Read Romans 13 again)

In the next part, we will talk about whether 💉💉💉 falls under Romans 13.