In the book of romans, paul encourages unity as people of god and begs the jews and gentiles to have peace and love with not only each other but with everyone in the world. The epistle to the romans chapter thirteen objectives in studying this chapter 1 to understand our relationship to the government 2 to appreciate the importance of love and moral purity summary continuing to instruct concerning the transformed life, paul now discusses the christians responsibilities to governmental authorities. The emperor of rome from ad 54 to 68 was nero claudius caesar augustus germanicus, also known simply as nero. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. A study through the book of romans bible baptist church. Book of romans chapter honor authority bible study. This is a follow up to a post i wrote in february, romans reexamined. In this book, a letter from paul to the early church in rome, are many of the essential points of the new testament.
When the state couldnt beat early christianity it decided to join in. The authorities that exist have been established by god. In a followup interview with the washington posts sarah pulliam bailey, jeffress doubled down on his words. While not perfect by any definition of the word, it allowed some of the people to have a say in how their government operated. Govt must find those that would blowup government buildings, and stop them.
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which god has established. And i feel a little bit like a man who has just eaten a huge meal and is standing in front of a smorgasbord. The roman government of the old republic had created a unique system of the division of power which was a safeguard against oppression by any single individual. Yet, the bible tells us that government or higher powers are ordained of god. They show us the way to interpret romans as peter and paul meant if we break an unjust law to highlight and protest its injustice, we should be willing to submit to the punishment for breaking such laws, so that we demonstrate our respect for the role of government in general. Expositor notes are in bold italic font god has the honor over every authority here on this earth, even though, our government here on earth is heading for hell, due to taking god out of the government, the pledge of allegiance, prayer and the bible out of our schools. For many, romans has posed as an insurmountable obstacle to being able to present critical standpoints before governments, facing the decisions of public entities. Be subject for the lords 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 and to praise those who do good. That post left a lot of questions unanswered and evoked a lot of discussion. Soon the floors of roman tax collection offices had romans inscribed, and slaughter in the name of christ began. Morrison, first published in great britain in 1960.
Many scholars understand this to be a reference to the death penalty, and that is the case i seek to make here. Easyenglish is a system of simple english designed by wycliffe associates uk. This is a hard teaching for many, as the bible would seem to indemnify those who rule or preside over others in a cruel and unjust manner. Were starting in the first verse and working our way throug. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against. Over the next 30 years, paul traveled some 10,000 miles across the roman empire, preaching in cities that were brimming with the poorest people, desperate to hear a message of hope and everlasting. Since the beginning of the church age, christians have been subjected to corrupt and ungodly government rule. It is the duty of every citizen to pay to the government what is accounted as due and to give that government allegiance and obedience so long as this does not encroach upon what is owed to god as supreme sovereign.
The christians responsibility to government, part 1. Those verses in the book of romans give the government. My topic here involves how we are to understand the sword and the states use of it as found in pauls discussion of government authority in romans. Paul tells the good news about jesus christ being the son of god, with the holy nature of god himself, saying that everyone not jews alone, but gentiles nonjews also with faith and trust in christ was doing right and was ready for heaven. The emperor was not known for being a moral and ethical person, to say the least.
I would cite you to the apostle paul and his clear and wise command in romans, sessions said, to obey the laws of the government because god. It was very likely that paul wrote his letter to the romans around 5556 c. Peter wrote, submit yourselves for the lords sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. Virtually every serious commentary on the book of romans has had to wrestle with the integrity of the last two chapters of the work. According to the bible, authority ought to be submitted to and respected. For centuries the book of romans, chapter, has been used to extinguish the flames of liberty. Power, for the most part, lay with a voting public. Book of romans chapter honor authority bible study note to blog readers. Paul uses the same verb here in romans as he did in 8. Since paul is speaking about the roman empire, it must mean that the christian ought to obey even an evil government. The epistle to the romans or letter to the romans, often shortened to romans, is the sixth book in the new testament. Romans is the text that we are looking at under this heading of the christian and government. The biblical passage romans gives the government authority to deal with evildoers, jeffress said. These small group studies of romans contain outlines, crossreferences, bible study discussion questions, and applications.
It has been misused to such an extent in fact, that it has become the favourite passage of dictators. As robert parhams recent editorial, romans is weak prooftext for antiimmigration church members, illustrates, romans is often the goto prooftext for urging compliance with and allegiance to government authority. Paul therefore means the transformed believer must obey the government because it is gods appointed authority. Visit our library of inductive bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the bible you can use in your small group. See the book the powers that be, by the clergyman dr. New american standard 1977 therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of god. That gives the government the authority to do whatever, whether its assassination. Therefore, whoever resists the government opposes what god has established. Romans is the thirteenth chapter of the epistle to the romans in the new testament of the christian bible.
Paul told the romans, every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities romans. Paul and peter both lived under and witnessed the penal authority of the roman government. Those who resist will bring punishment on themselves. Romans new international version niv submission to governing authorities. Paul wrote to the roman christians because he was eager to preach the gospel to them, so as to remind them on. Romans should christians obey the government unconditionally. The thing i regret about that post is that i did not adequately address the question of when a christian should disobey the government. The bible shows us examples of legitimate opposition to the abuse of power by those in authority, and it is not simply limited to the subject of preaching the gospel. Book of romans chapter thirteen college of the open bible. Also, the book god and caesar in east germany, by richard w. It is authored by paul the apostle, while he was in corinth in the mid 50s ad, with the help of an amanuensis secretary, tertius, who adds his own greeting in romans 16. Biblical scholars agree that it was composed by the apostle paul to explain that salvation is offered through the gospel of jesus christ. Romans chapter inductive bible study and questions.