Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Romans 13:1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God [granted by His permission and sanction], and those which exist have been put in place by God. [Prov 8:15] |
Bible Question: Samuel Adams is known as "a true Christian and the father of the American Revolution." When he and others encouraged revolt against the government, did he violate the command of Romans 13:1? |
Bible Answer: I was listening to a lecture that touched on this very question. The subject was the Biblical view of government. The speaker answered your question with a no. But first he made a distinction between rebellion and disobedience. On the basis of Rom 13 rebellion or resistance on the level of the private citizen or subject is sin. And disobedience is right only if it's a matter of disobeying a sinful law. We must obey God rather than man. (Acts 5:29, "But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men."") He argued that while resistance was always sin on the private level, resistance by a lesser magistrate against evils of a higher magistrate was not sin. He maintained that the American Revolution was not a private rebellion, but one conducted by the elected or appointed magistrates of the colonies. You can download the lecture entitled Political Philosophy: Biblical Answers at www.trinitylectures.org/MP3_downloads.php |