Romans 13:1-2 is mostly about non-human authority

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     This article was started by Dave Leach R-IA Bible Lover-musician-grandpa (talk) 15:50, 8 November 2024 (UTC) To help finish it:

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The Conclusion: Romans 13 is about Partnering with Reality, which is maintained by God. It is about cooperating with all the good rules of God and of Life, not just human laws, and it is not about submission to evil.

Romans 13 is about Partnering with Reality, which is maintained by God. It is about cooperating with all the good rules of God and of Life, not just human laws, and it is not about submission to evil.

This interpretation, different than you may have heard, is supported by the fact that the Greek word for "powers" means miraculous capacity, or at least ability not reliant on humans, three times as often in the New Testament as its contexts refer to human authority. And the Greek word translated "powers" means excellence; superior not in brute physical force but in quality and righteousness. And by the fact that Verse 7 limits obedience to government to what government deserves - to what it is "due" or "owed".

This article reviews the New Testament contexts for the word "powers", translated from the Greek εξουσιαις. God wrote it 103 times in the New Testament, in 93 verses. Starting with its definition in Strong's Concordance, I have explored its meaning by listing the verses in the three categories of meaning I have discerned: human authority (22 verses), miraculous power independent of human means (63 verses), and God-given rights (8 verses).

Here is the passage in the KJV (King James Version, published in 1611):

Romans 13:1-7  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.  (2)  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.  (3)  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:  (4)  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.  (5)  Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.  (6)  For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.  (7)  Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

The common interpretation assumes that the Greek word εξουσιαις, translated "powers" in the KJV, consistently means "human authorities". In fact that is how the BSB, CEV, ERV, ESV, GW, NET, and TLV versions of the Bible translate it. But the New Testament uses the word to mean God's miracle-working unlimited power three times as often as it uses the word to mean human authority: 61 times to 21 times.

The common interpretation also assumes that the Greek word υπερεχουσαις ought to be translated "higher" in verse 1. That is the translation of AFV, ASV, BBE, Bishops, Geneva, JUB, KJV, LITV, and YLT. But the word is defined as "excellent", or "superior" in the sense of superior quality, not of greater brute or human force. This sets the tone for the following verses, which are about the at-least-better-than-anarchy good achieved by even bad governments, with no praise for the evils of bad governments - nor are we commanded to accept, tolerate, or obey their evil laws.

Notice also the condition of verse 7: we should give all human authorities the obedience that they are owed; or what is their "due"; or as BBE puts it, "give to all what is their right". The Greek word οφειλας means "a sum owed". This is NOT a command to give MORE obedience to government than it is owed. For example, when Jesus said "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's", Matthew 22:21, Jesus had a profound disagreement with Caesar about who owned what. Caesar thought he was the Son of God, the savior of the world, and his laws required worship accordingly. Jesus declined, which became part of the formal charges filed against Jesus in John 19:12. Jesus established a distinction between obedience that government is owed, and obedience which government thinks it is owed.

Romans 13 is widely interpreted as commanding obedience to human authorities no matter how evil. That is, up until a human tyrant explicitly commands you to disobey God - a condition necessary to accommodate Acts 5:29, "we ought to obey God rather than man". This condition is not only needed to resolve a contradiction between Romans 13 and Acts 5:29, because there is no contradiction: the grammar of Romans 13 requires "we ought to obey God rather than man" even if Acts 5:29 had not said it. Notice "higher authorities" is plural. Which raises the question, "which authority do we obey, when the higher authorities conflict?" Why, the highest authority.

The traditional condition that we obey human tyrants up until they explicitly command us to disobey God is usually construed very narrowly so that hardly ever is a law evil enough, in popular thinking, to require Christians to oppose it. For example, a small proportion of Christians think abortion is evil enough to justify violating any human law in order to prevent it.

How much evil must we obey, by this theology, before we are allowed to admit our obedience to evil disobeys God? That is like asking how much hotter must the water boil before the frog is allowed to jump out. A letter to the editor of Newsmax Magazine, November 2024, gives an example: "Eric Metaxas, author of the biograhy of German pastor and anti-Nazi dissident Dietrich Bonhoeffer, has written a book, Letter to the American Church, in which he draws uncanny parallels between compliant churches in Nazi Germany and our churches today. Is it time for the American church to speak up about all the ungodly social changes in our culture since the 1960's? Many things that we could freely say just a few years ago could cost you your job or worse today. The American church has to push back and speak up. Time is running out. Will we be like the compliant German pastors, who preached wonderful sermons while Jews were sent to concentration camps?"

The key word for this study is "powers", from the Greek εξουσιαις. God wrote it 103 times in the New Testament, in 93 verses.

The following breakdown of the 93 verses shows 21 contexts where the word is used to mean "authority", in the sense of ability given or enabled by others; for example, a king who can't go to war or hurt anyone by his own power but relies on others to carry out his wishes. The kind of "authority" that human governments have. Then there are 61 contexts where the word means miraculous capacity, or at least ability not reliant on humans. Then there are 8 contexts where it means God-given rights.

Ignorance of this range of meanings has left theologians to force "human government" onto the interpretation of "higher powers" in Romans 13:1-2, even though that has led to awkward attempts to reconcile the passage with Acts 5:29, not to mention all the "Examples of Faith" listed in Hebrews 11, who modeled no greater slavish, blind obedience to tyranny than did Jesus. Upon seeing the more common usage of G1849 to mean God's miracle-working power, we can see if that more naturally fits verses one and two.

It does. Although verse 3 starts talking about human authorities, verses one and two make more sense, and better fit the Bible's Examples of Faith, if they call for submission to the whole of reality, which does include human authorities, and Satan, and bad people, but also God's protection, God's rules, God's miracle-working promises, and God's love. We ought to "submit" to all of this reality. Which means something more profound than to merely "obey". It means to arrange our lives to conform to what is real. To stop shooting ourselves in the foot. To stop being in denial of the obvious. To walk with our eyes open.

Although this endorses a level of civil disobedience not found in any other religion or philosophy, it includes common sense restraint on civil disobedience. It rejects that civil disobedience which thinks government with any bad in it ought to be entirely disobeyed. It acknowledges that to the extent imperfect government does good, that good ought to be respected, honored, and thanks given for it, if we may throw in some advice from 1 Timothy 2:1.

The Breakdown of Verses showing Contexts of G1849: Human authority, God-given rights, God's Unlimited (Omnipotent) Power

Here are references to verses in these three categories. (Not the verses themselves, but just the chapter and verse where they are in the Bible.) The following subheadings list the actual verses. The word translated from the Greek word G1849 is highlighted.

Authority, in the sense of ability provided or enabled by others, by humans except John 5:27; jurisdiction

22 verses: Mat 8:9, Mark 13:34, Luke 7:8, 12:11, 19:17, 20:20, 23:7 (Herod's jurisdiction), John 1:12 5:27 (God gave Jesus authority to judge), 19:10, Acts 5:4, 26:10, 12, 1 Corinthians 9:12, 11:10 (women ought to have a sign of her husband's authority over her), 15:24, Ephesians 1:21, 1 Peter 3:22, Revelation 13:2 (the dragon gave "authority" to the beast), 4, 17:12, 13

Miraculous capacity, of God except Luke 22:53 and Ephesians 2:2

63 verses: Mat 7:29, 9:6, 8, 10:1, 21:23, 24, 27, 28:18, Mark 1:22, 27, 2:10, 3:15, 6:7, 11:28, 29, 33, Luke 4:6, 32, 36, 5:24, 9:1, 10:19, 12:5, 20:2, 8, 22:53, John 10:18, 17:2, 19:11, Acts 1:7, 8:19, 9:14, 26:18 (power of Satan, who was never given "authority"), Romans 9:21, 13:1, 2, 3, 1 Corinthians 7:37, 2 Corinthians 10:8, 13:10, Ephesians 2:2, 3:10 (powers of Heaven), 6:12 (we wrestle against powers), Colossians 1:13 (power of darkness), 16 (both visible and invisible...powers), 2:10, 15, Titus 3:1, Jude 1:25, Revelation 2:26, 6:8, 9:3, 10, 19, 11:6, 12:10, 13:5, 7, 12, 14:18, 16:9, 18:1, 20:6,

God-Given Rights - Liberty

8 verses: 1 Corinthians 8:9, 9:4, 5, 6, 9:18, 2 Thessalonians 3:9, Hebrews 13:10, Revelation 22:13

Authority in the sense of ability provided or enabled by other humans; jurisdiction

Matthew 8:9  For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

Mark 13:34  For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

Luke 7:8  For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 

Luke 12:11  And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: 

Luke 19:17  And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. 

Luke 20:20  And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. 

Luke 23:7  And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. 

John 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 

John 5:27  And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

John 19:10  Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? 

Acts 5:4  Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

Acts 26:10  Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 

Acts 26:12  Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 

1 Corinthians 9:12  If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. 

1 Corinthians 11:10  For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

1 Corinthians 15:24  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 

Ephesians 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

1 Peter 3:22  Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. 

Revelation 13:2  And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 

Revelation 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 

Revelation 17:12  And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 

Revelation 17:13  These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. 

Power in the sense of Independent Capacity, Usually of God's Miraculous Ability

Matthew 7:29  For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Matthew 9:6  But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

Matthew 9:8  But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

Matthew 10:1  And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Mat 21:23  And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? 

Matthew 21:24  And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

Matthew 21:27  And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. 

Matthew 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Mark 1:22  And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 

Mark 1:27  And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

Mark 2:10  But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

Mark 3:15  And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: 

Mark 6:7  And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; 

Mark 11:28  And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?

Mark 11:29  And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 

Mark 11:33  And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things. 

Luke 4:6  And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 

Luke 4:32  And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power. 

Luke 4:36  And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. 

Luke 5:24  But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

Luke 9:1  Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power [miraculous] and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 

Luke 10:19  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 

Luke 12:5  But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. 

Luke 20:2  And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

Luke 20:8  And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. 

Luke 22:53  When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. 

John 10:18  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. 

John 17:2  As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 

John 19:11  Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

Acts 1:7  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 

Acts 8:19  Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 

Acts 9:14  And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 

Acts 26:18  To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. 

Romans 9:21  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Romans 13:1  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 

Romans 13:2  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 

Romans 13:3  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 

1 Corinthians 7:37  Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. 

2 Corinthians 10:8  For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: 

2 Corinthians 13:10  Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction. 

Ephesians 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 

Ephesians 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 

Ephesians 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

Colossians 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 

Colossians 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 

Colossians 2:10  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 

Colossians 2:15  And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 

Titus 3:1  Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 

Jude 1:25  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. 

Revelation 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 

Revelation 6:8  And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. 

Revelation 9:3  And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 

Revelation 9:10  And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. 

Revelation 9:19  For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. 

Revelation 11:6  These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

Revelation 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 

Revelation 13:5  And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 

Revelation 13:7  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 

Revelation 13:12  And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 

Revelation 14:18  And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 

Revelation 16:9  And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. 

Revelation 18:1  And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 

Revelation 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 

God-given Rights - Liberty

1 Corinthians 8:9  But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 

1 Corinthians 9:4  Have we not power to eat and to drink? 

1 Corinthians 9:5  Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? 

1 Corinthians 9:6  Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? 

1 Corinthians 9:18  What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

2 Thessalonians 3:9  Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow

Hebrews 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. 

Revelation 22:14  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 

Ephesians 6:12 traditionally interprets "powers" as those of Satan and not of men; while 1 Cor 13 is traditionally interprets "powers" as meaning human authority. I interpret both as

Titus 3:1 be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates ("obey magistrates", "be persuaded by a ruler")

93 verses found, 103 matches Matthew 9 verses found 10 matches Mark 9 verses found 10 matches Luke 15 verses found 16 matches John 6 verses found 8 matches Acts 7 verses found 7 matches Romans 4 verses found 6 matches 1 Corinthians 9 verses found 10 matches 2 Corinthians 2 verses found 2 matches Ephesians 4 verses found 4 matches Colossians 4 verses found 4 matches 2 Thessalonians 1 verse found 1 match Titus 1 verse found 1 match Hebrews 1 verse found 1 match 1 Peter 1 verse found 1 match Jude 1 verse found 1 match Revelation 19 verses found 21 matches