Christian response to civil authorities: (chap.13)
From a total submission to Christ in (chap.12), the apostle extends our loyalty to God given institutions. God has established three institutions viz, the Home, the Church (the body of Christ) and the civil Government. Every believer who is a citizen must be loyal to these 3-institutions. Paul was writing this chapter with the background that perhaps the zealous Jews in those days recognized no king except the Lord. They were not paying any taxes except the offerings made in the church.
Paul lived during the reign of Emperor Nero and there was absolutely no democracy but utter dictatorship. The great persecution had not yet started and Christianity was still considered a Jewish sect and the Jewish religion was approved by Rome. Paul knew that a day would come, that it would be impossible for Christians to take stand against civil authorities for not offering incense for their king, saying ‘Caesar is god.’ Yet Paul in the right frame of mind calls the Christians to be loyal to the government.
Obedience to government is an ordinance of God: (13:1-2):
Paul calling all Christians to remain as responsible citizens. We should be subject to all governing authorities. In the just concluded chapter-12, Paul exhorted the believers that we should “overcome evil with good.” The government established by God is good in itself, but the specific rulers use their office in evil way. Christians should not fight against the government, repaying evil for evil but to respond with good behaviour.
Paul wrote this letter some time in 57 AD. What prompted Paul to write was that, he was planning to visit Jerusalem, where there were many political tensions. Perhaps Jewish Zealots were taking up weapons to fight against Rome. A few years later, Emperor Claudius banished all Jews (including Christians) from the city of Rome because of some disturbance caused by a Jew called Chrestus (Acts 18:2). After Claudius died, many Jews returned, but the tensions were still there.
We are not subjected to specific rulers or to pay taxes for specific people but to the office of the government. The word ‘submit’ does not mean always obey completely. If the government forces us to do sin, then we have to disobey. When Peter encountered such an incident, Peter and the other apostle replied: “we must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). We should not conform to the patterns of the world (12:2).
If the government makes a dubious demand trying to lead Christians into sin, we must out rightly oppose it with gentleness. Even Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who were in esteemed position, defied Nebuchadnezzar’s order for falling down and worshipping the idols. “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Dan.3:16-18).
Emperor Domitian did such a thing, calling himself Lord and God, a few decades after Paul wrote this letter in 75-85 AD. Christians were put into lot of persecution during his reign. Paul knew that the thought of submitting to the rulers will make the Christians difficult to comprehend. So he takes the reference from Daniel: “the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone He wishes and set over them the lowliest of men” (Dan.4:17). “The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted” (13: 1-2).
It is not wrong to resist specific injustices, but it is wrong to work against government itself. Those who rebel against a God-ordained authority will bring judgment on themselves. Civil government is temporary, but it has been established by God. It is not our work to try to overthrow the government. Paul lived in a dictatorial government. In a democracy, all citizens are given a small amount of authority each time they vote, and it is not a sin for people to use that authority. They are not rebelling against the government even if they are voting for a new person to fill the office.