Romans 13:1-7, 13 Everyone must submit himself to the gov- erning authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is re- belling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authori- ties, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if reve- nue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
When the apostle Paul wrote these words to the Christians living in Rome in about 56 or 57 A.D., most historians estimate that Rome had a population of around one million permanent residences. Of that population Biblical historians can only estimate that there were probably less than 1% of the population living in Rome at that time who were Christians.
Why was it so important for the apostle Paul in his letter to address the topic “Of A Christian’s Relationship With Civil Government” to such a seemingly insignificant number of Christians compared to the total popula- tion? What impact could such a small group of Christians have on the pagan society of Rome and the Roman government?
We need to take into consideration when Paul wrote his letter to the Christians in Rome, that Christianity was in its infancy just about twenty- five years in existence. Christianity was a new religion and unknown to the majority living in Rome. The customs of the Roman society, the morals, the structure of government and every other aspect of life had never been influenced by Biblical moral values as we know them to be today.
For this group of Christians living in the capital city it was distinctly different than any other city in the Roman empire. The atmosphere, the political climate and the influence it had on the lives of the general popula- tion was exclusively distinct. It was in this context that the apostle Paul instructed this young church about their relationship as Christians with civil government.
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
In the first sentence as well as in verse five (“Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities…”) Paul chose to use the word “submit”. The commentator David P. Seemuth gives this explanation of Paul’s use of the word submit. “We should note that the apostle does not use the word “obey” though he had access to words that would clearly mean “obey” rather than “submit”. The focus of the word “submit” is the voluntary choice to be subject to the person or authority. It is not the demand of the other that brings the submission but the desire within the person that produces the submissive posture. So, therefore, this is not a weak response to power but a powerful expression of Christ’s love of a believer. This posture of loving submission, even to the au- thor-ities of the government, is not without limits. The believer still makes choices of what are appropriate areas for submission. The be- liever is not to break God’s moral requirements for the sake of secu- lar authorities…”
Galatians 5:22-23a
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control
For a believer in Christ, submitting to “governing authorities” is the expression of agape love which is a fruit of the Spirit. What is agape love and how does it fit into the context of submission in Romans 13:1-7? “Agape love denotes an undefeatable benevolence and unconquerable goodwill that always seeks the highest good of the other person, no matter what he does. It is the self-giving love that gives freely without asking anything in return, and does not consider the worth of its object. Agape is a love by choice it refers to the will rather than the and it refers to the will rather than the emotion.” Hayford’s Bible Handbook. Agape love is the ba- sis of which Christians submit to the “governing authorities” then and to- day.
In the beginning stages of the life and influence of the Church in the pagan society of Rome, it was the example of agape love in the lives of the Christians that the people of Rome would experience. Agape love was one of the key elements for the witness, testimony and for spread of the gospel message.
Colossians 4:5
“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”
In relation to the Church today, how is agape love in the life of Chris- tians reflected in our witness and testimony? Is it impacting our secular society in a positive way? And it is a major factor for the spread of the gospel message today?
It was approximately six or seven years after Paul’s writing of his let- ter to the Church in Rome that the great fire in the city of Rome hap- pened. Nero was emperor and is credited as the first persecutor of the Christians by Lactantius who was an early Christian author and who also became an advisor to the first Christian Roman emperor, Constantine.
For approximately two and a half centuries Christianity throughout the Roman empire was, misunderstood, despised, rejected. In 313 A.D., 249 years after Paul wrote his letter to the Roman Christians, in the proc- lamation of the Edict of Milan, it declared tolerance for Christian- ity throughout the Roman Empire.
As we see from history, the fruits of submission of the first Christians to the governing authorities in Rome, took about 250 years to be ulti- mately be experienced by the body of Christ, not just in the City of Rome but throughout the entire empire.
Today the results of our submission might take longer than what we would prefer and even expect. While we are waiting, we possibly might experience difficult challenges, ridicule and even persecution. However, now that we realize how submission is an expression of agape love, we also need not to forget that “patience” likewise is a fruit of the Spirit. As we patiently wait to experience the fruit of our submission to the govern- ing authorities, let us not forget the other characteristics of what agape love is and is not.
Pastor John
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.
