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NASB | Romans 13:3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 13:3 For [civil] authorities are not a source of fear for [people of] good behavior, but for [those who do] evil. Do you want to be unafraid of authority? Do what is good and you will receive approval and commendation. |
Bible Question: Thanks for your response, but my question was that it seems that Paul was not accurate in his description of Government (I know he wasn't, but I don't understand how he wasn't). He says that Government punishes those who do bad and doesn't punish those who do good. But we do know that the government did persecute those who did good. How is this resolved without contradiction? |
Bible Answer: Greetings Ryan, The beginning of human government was no action of social evolution. Some Christians feel that their faith requires unwavering devotion to their government's policies, whether or not those policies violate Biblical principles. Others think that since their citizenship is in heaven, they have no responsibility to earthly authority (Philippians 3:20). This question troubled the early church for several reasons. A large number of the initial Christians had been Jews and were particularly indisposed to submit to Roman authorities. Looking back on their theocratic history, they recalled Deuteronomy 17:15, "..you may not put a foreigner over yourselves who is not your countryman." The Jews of Christ's time could not admit the fact of Roman rule, even telling Jesus, "We have never been enslaved to anyone" (John 8:33). It is no wonder then, when they asked Christ, "What do you think? Is it lawful to give a poll tax to Caesar, or not?" (Matt. 22:17), Jesus answered, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Matt. 22:21). The Christian's relationship to human government was also questioned by those who recalled John 18:36. Therefore, Christians may see fit to fail to do their responsibilities where God has placed them, because of corruption, stating that they are part of a kingdom "not of this world." Because of that confusion, Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, penned God's will on that topic and addressed it to the church in Rome, the very center of corruption, in Romans 13:1. All human power is delegated by God, and no one has power over other men by wresting it from God (John 19:11). Paul wrote Romans 13:2-6 knowing full well the corruption of the prevailing political system. The Christian who lives where freedom prevails should be extremely thankful, but the Bible applies to all men in all nations, cultures and political systems. The apostles' examples show how a Christian can be submissive to governmental authority even when that authority violates his Biblical convictions. When the apostles were forbidden to teach about Jesus, they replied, "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29, KJV). Daniel refused to stop praying to God, in spite of the king's edict that forbade such prayer (Daniel 6), and Daniel's companions chose to defy the king's order rather than to bow in worship to the idol (Daniel 3). Therefore, does the Bible contradict itself? Not at all. Subjection does not necessarily mean obedience. To be sure, subjection includes obedience, but not to the extent of violating God's Word. The apostles were subject to the authorities even in disobedience because they willingly submitted to the authority of the law in bearing the penalty for their infractions. And this is crux of the issue. In choosing God's higher law rather than man's errant restrictions, they realized that their decision would be costly. Unlike contemporary revolutionaries who break the law with impunity and then scream for amnesty, the apostles acted in obedience to God's revelation and then took the responsibility for their actions. They never griped about prison or prosecution but, rather, gloried in being counted worthy to suffer for Christ's sake (2 Cor. 11:23-31). When choosing God's law over man's law, they willingly subjected themselves to the punishment assigned by human government. Daniel and his friends willingly entered the lions' den and the fiery furnace because they were respectfully subject to the civil government whose laws they had to violate. Also, it should be noted that whenever these Biblical characters violated the civil law, they did so in obedience to God's Word. They did not violate the law over issues of personal preferences, convenience of ministry, or culturally bound methodologies. Blessings to you, Makarios |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Rom 13:3 | Author | ||
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Searcher56 | ||
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kalos | ||
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Makarios | ||
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Searcher56 |