Romans 13:1-7 Our Relationship to the Authorities

Paul had just finished his exhortations by telling his readers not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil by good.

Romans 13:1-7 (KJV)
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.
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.

Paul was continuing on his theme of how believers are to live. Here, Paul spoke on the believers' interactions with the government. Verse 1 summarizes Paul's stance. Believers are to be subject unto their governments. This means that believers are to obey the laws of the government under which they find themselves.  All the powers of the world are in place because God has allowed them. This certainly doesn't mean that God condones or approves of all the governments on earth, but He uses all to accomplish His will, whether the governments are good or bad.

In light of this, believers are to be law abiding citizens. However, Paul was not instructing believers to obey laws that contradict the Law (Torah) of God.

Acts 5:29 (KJV)
²⁹ Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

In fact, when believers resist the government, they resist what God has told them to do and are guilty of sin and punishment (verse 2).

Government exists by God's design to institute civil order on a nation (verse 3). Believers who behave in a lawful manner do not need to fear the government. Only those who do evil need to fear. When good is done, the government praises the doer. Verse 4 continues. The ruler of a government is a minister of God to the people for their good. It is government's responsibility to bear the sword and to execute wrath upon those that do evil. Paul was again speaking in a general sense about God's purposes in government and not about those times when laws or the government itself is contrary to God. Therefore, believers are subject to the government, in order to avoid punishment, but for their consciences' sakes, as well (verse 5).

Because believers are subject to the government they must also pay their taxes, again because the government functions as a minister unto God doing its duties (verse 6). Therefore, believers are to give tribute (taxes) to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom is due, fear to whom fear is due, and honor to whom honor is due (verse 7).

In summary, there is no place for believers to disobey the government unless God's Laws demand otherwise. This means that believers should not refuse to pay their taxes or protest against legitimate government activities. On the other hand, laws instituted that are contrary to God's Laws should be protested and disobeyed when necessary. For example, under Hitler's regime, believers had a responsibility to protect the Jews and others who had committed no crimes.