Paul lived during the reigns of the Roman emperors Caligula, Claudius, and Nero. None of these men were known for showing fairness or tolerance toward Christians and Jews.
Emperor worship required that the emperor be revered as Lord and because Jews and Christians refused to compromise their faith, they experienced persecution.
Given the political climate of the Roman Empire, Paul’s writings on being subject to governing authorities offer an interesting perspective.
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God.
Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval; for it is God’s servant for your good.
But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer.
Therefore one must be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience.
For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, busy with this very thing.
Pay to all what is due them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due (Romans 13:1-7).
Jesus’ Example
I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that much of what Paul writes in chapters 12 and 13 mirrors the teachings found in the Sermon on the Mount.
Paul speaks of not resisting governmental authority, while Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, addressed not resisting Roman soldiers in Israel.
“But I say to you: Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also,
And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, give your coat as well,
And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile” (Matthew 5.39-41).
In our YouTube video, Rudy Ross highlights that even a bad government is preferable to having no government at all.
To illustrate this point, consider countries like Haiti and certain African nations that have lost stable governance. They are now controlled by warlords, and the result is national chaos.
A Christian’s role is to accept the leadership of the government, as it has been ordained by God in some way that may be mysterious to us but not to God.
Paying Taxes
It must have been challenging for Christians to consider paying taxes to the Roman government, especially given the persecution they faced from that same authority. However, as obedient servants of God, Paul urged them to do so.
It’s easy to overlook the value we gain from living in our country. It’s worth considering things like highways, streets, sewers, electricity, and protection—benefits we receive in return for the taxes we pay.
Beyond acknowledging that the government helps maintain order and provides services, there is a greater reason to respect those in authority: our witness to the Lord.
By doing what is right in relation to our government and its appointed or elected leaders, we honor God as His children.
When Jesus stood before Pilate and Herod, He respected their authority, even though they were determined to execute Him in the most horrific way.
When these two men eventually stood before God and were held accountable for their actions, they could not fault Jesus for His attitude toward them.
Paul appeared before magistrates and religious authorities in a similar manner. Though he was assertive in defending his cause, he remained respectful toward them.
When these individuals stood before God, they could not claim that Paul had disrespected or dishonored them. Their guilt was evident in their actions.
In today’s political climate, it’s easy to speak negatively about those seeking positions of authority. However, we should remember the example of Jesus and Paul in how we discuss political candidates.
May we reflect God and His love in both our words and actions.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
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