Explore the Bible

Explore the Bible

Represent               Session 11               15 NOV 26

ROM 13:1 1 TIM 2:11-12 and other passages are the background for Paul’s teachings on inner-church relationships. Based upon that, Paul now goes into the relationship between the Christian and the government. “All” (Greek pasa) is without the definite article here so it means every single one of the whole: none excepted. “Soul” (Greek psuche) means the whole person, physical and spiritual (body and spirit). “Be subject” is an intensive verb used about military troops voluntarily lining up in an orderly fashion under a commander. It is the same word used in (Eph 5:21 RSV) "Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ." The next sentence has been wrongly read in meaning by some. “Power” is Greek meaning out of one’s own being. In context with “higher” is means authorities of society; those officials of government. The word “ordained” is a much abused word in the Christian circle. The Greek here is 5021. tasso, tas'-so; a prol. form of a prim. verb (which latter appears only in certain tenses); to arrange in an orderly manner, i.e. assign or dispose (to a certain position or lot):--addict, appoint, determine, ordain, set. In other words, the idea translation is God has determined that government is the method He wants human groups to use to live together as a society. This in no way means God appoints or approves of every possible type of government nor does it mean God condones every possible governmental action. Paul is stating the general principle that God states and approves of the concept and mechanism of government as an institution.

ROM 13:2 Any Christian who “resists” government for its “appointed” purpose “resists the ordinance of God.” Anything God appoints or establishes is a “divine” something. Thus any Christian who does resist is a “rebel”. Part of the authority God has placed with government is the power to demand and maintain a loyalty to the government. So anyone who “resists” (rebels) against government will receive from government (Greek 2917. krima, kree'-mah; from G2919; a decision (the function or the effect, for or against ["crime"]):--avenge, condemned, condemnation, damnation, + go to) punishment. The word means the results of being judged in a legal court of law. God has empowered government to sustain itself for the good of the society.

         There are situations when a form of government becomes so different from what God intended, civil is the only way to attempt to replace it with a better form. The American Revolution of 1775 is an example of this.

ROM 13:3-5 We must remember Paul is still speaking of general principles here when he says “For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad….” Persecution of Christians because they are Christians is the opposite of what he is saying. But government which has not corrupted itself does not do this. Paul is assuming reasonable government acting along the lines God intended for it. Paul often makes such assumptions such as in EPH 5-6 when he assumes Christian parents. So with a proper government, only those who break the law need fear the force of governmental punishment. Government officials are “ministers of God.” Quite a statement! But this is logical since government is a divine institution. Paul does not assume all government officials are Christians, so he includes non-Christians in this statement. This may seem strange but only if we attempt to force the words outside of his context.

         What Paul said was the official in a (God accepted) normal government has a set of purposes and it is to do good for the citizens. Often we do not think this is true and often it isn’t. But the intent of God is for government to serve the people for the good of all. So he gives authority to officials to force compliance with government established laws. Again Paul says “he is a minister of God.” The word “minister” in Greek is the same word we also see translated as DEACON! 1249. diakonos, dee-ak'-on-os; prob. from an obs.  diako (to run on errands; comp. G1377); an attendant, i.e. (gen.) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); spec. a Chr. teacher and pastor (techn. a deacon or deaconess):--deacon, minister, servant. It means to be a bond-servant. Note the two facts, one of which government does not do much of today: praise for keeping the law. Fear is based on the fact that God has authorized government to be “an avenger to execute wrath upon him who does evil.” This is something God has not authorized Christians nor the Church to do. To “bear the sword” in Paul’s day was to carry weapons and to use death devices to avenge the law. This does include capital punishment. The Greek for “wrath” is 3709. orge, or-gay'; from G3713; prop. desire (as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind), i.e. (by anal.) violent passion (ire, or [justifiable] abhorrence); by impl., punishment:--anger, indignation, vengeance, wrath. It means an abiding, universal opposition to evil. Paul gives two reasons for Christians to obey the laws of normal government:

1.     Because if you get caught breaking the law you will get punished just as any citizen would.

2.     “For conscience sake.” Government is divinely ordained, so we must support it to be in good stead with God.

ROM 13:6-7 The only sure things are death and taxes and both are Biblical. Jesus said (Mark 12:17 KJV) "And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marveled at him." Peter taught the same thing is 1 Pet 2:13-17. Government is for the benefit of all so all are to help pay for it. Again this is a general principle and assumes a properly run government. It does not address such circumstances that caused the American Revolution or the downfall of the Soviet Union. We have records that the early church fathers taught strong support of the government. “For this cause” refers back to the services government to provide. The prime purpose of any government is to sustain the group, be it local or national. Inherent in Paul’s general statements is the use of force as with the military and police.

         Again Paul says “they are God’s ministers.” But here he changes the word to a compound meaning service concerning the people. The same word is used of Jesus in (Heb 8:2 RSV) "a minister in the sanctuary and the true tent which is set up not by man but by the Lord." He assumes these administrators are doing a proper job. So pay their salaries by taxes for it is rightly due to them. Paul notes that several types are appropriate: “Tributes” are taxes; “customs” was local taxes and tolls: this is not an exhaustive list. The basic meaning of “fear” is respect. We are to respect the offices positions of government, even when the person in the office does not warrant it. In other words, do not destroy government just because of a bad official of the moment. God still expected the Romans to honor the emperor’s position even when it was Nero. We are to pay the office honor. That honor also goes to the person when the person is doing a proper job.

         Many take this a step further and include the government in local churches. This has limited validity. The church government is not the same as a national government. It is not (ideally) a mix of lost and saved people. It does not have the same purpose. The pastor and elders do not have the same authority. There is only one head: Jesus. There is only one level: children of God the Father. God does not have any grandchildren! It is as Paul states in (1 Cor 12:12 RSV) "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." As with the human body, some parts control and some respond. But all are considered vital and are of the same “care.” (1 Cor 12:25-26 RSV) "that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. {26} If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together." Thus pastor or yard caretaker is vital and both are due honor and respect. But this only works when there is mutual Christian love one for the other. Each position must understand the function of the other and respect and help the other to achieve the “divine” work. God has “ordained” positions in a church as he has government. The hard fact is all Christians are “ordained” of God to (Eph 4:12 RSV) "to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ."

ROM 13:8-10 “Love” here is agape. What are we to make of “Owe” and “no man”? Is this a new thought or a summary of verses 1-12? I think it is a summary. “Owe” in context is the obligations to have and sustain government. There are to be no unpaid taxes or unkept laws. What can never be paid in full is God’s kind of love. We are never to stop love but to continually love. The key is the definition of “neighbor” in verses 8-10. Is it limited to a Christian neighbor or is it a world neighbor? Jesus defined the meaning “neighbor” in the Law as being anyone. (Luke 10:36 RSV) "Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?"" Paul is talking of the Law of Moses here. The Ten Commandments has two parts, our relationship to God (1-4) and to people (5-10). Paul states flatly that to agape is the filling full of the Law on this point. The Greek means 4138. pleroma, play'-ro-mah; from G4137; repletion or completion, i.e. (subj.) what fills (as contents, supplement, copiousness, multitude), or (obj.) what is filled (as container, performance, period):-- fullness. Unfortunately too many preachers and Christians leave it here. They continually say Paul commands us to love as we love ourselves. NOT SO! Many people don’t like themselves let alone love themselves. Jesus knew this problem with the Law so he specifically commanded (John 13:34 RSV)  "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." So this supersedes what we think about ourselves. So the truth is we can ultimately do agape (love like God) only by loving like Jesus. That is how the Law is filled full. Since Jesus loves all people, we are to do the same. However, this is not unbounded love. It is tough love that “works no ill to his neighbor” but does not give evil value or worth. Agape is positive. But agape does not support sin. 1 Cor 5. The best citizens are growing Christians.

ROM 13:11-12 The basic point here is make the Father proud. (Mat 5:16 RSV) "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." This depends upon the society in which you are in as to how you do it and to what extent the influence will be effective.

         This verse starts a key appeal by Paul as he continues his message begun in (Rom 12:1-2 RSV) "I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. {2} Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." It is most interesting that Paul told these Roman Christians that they “know what hour this is” and few today know the same thing. “Know” here means perceptive knowledge. “Hour” [or “night” & “day” KJV] means Greek 2540. kairos, kahee-ros'; of uncert. affin.; an occasion, i.e. set or proper time:--X always, opportunity, (convenient, due) season, (due, short, while) time, a while. Obviously season is what Paul means. This is the same word Jesus uses in Acts 1:7 "He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority." Thus “you know with perception and understanding the time period you are living in.” What “hour” is it? It is (1 John 2:18 RSV) "Children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come; therefore we know that it is the last hour." So Paul is addressing the last time period of earth history. It is the time between the First Coming and Second Coming of Jesus.

         Most Christians don’t know this today for they continually say, preach and teach that there is more time after the Second Coming for humans on this earth. But Peter is quite Greek-specific in (2 Pet 3:10-11 RSV) "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness," Since they knew (and we don’t), Paul is calling them to service because no one knows how long it will be between the First and Second Comings. Jesus certainly didn’t. (Mat 24:36 RSV) ""But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." But Paul does make an always true statement. “For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed." Certainly! This period (season) will always get shorter. “Salvation” here means the Completion of the three parts of Salvation: Have been saved; are being saved; will be saved. At the Second Coming we get our resurrection bodies in full view of the lost of the world. (Mat 24:30-31 RSV) "then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

ROM 13:13 We are to "...conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy." In a few words: “Live righteously.” “As in the day” means as if Jesus came back today we are on our best behavior because we can see him watching us. The word “becomingly” in Greek means to be properly dresses. “Again note who has the action and responsibility. This includes not being found in “drunkenness.” It means in Greek being intoxicated. Such leads to abuse and a dark “light.” Note for Paul’s day he is not calling for total abstinence. Note 1 Tim 3:8 "Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for gain;" He is calling for a total lack of abuse and not the non-use of wine. Drunkenness is always a part of (Greek grammar in these verses) a continuous live-style that is evil. Instead Christians are to have a continuous live-style that is good.

ROM 13:14 Therefore “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Once again note who has the action and responsibility. What does Paul mean by this metaphor? It is to have the moral disposition and habits of Jesus. It is we being like Jesus and not Jesus living out His life in us! Thus make no provisions for sin. Jesus didn’t and we are not also. Note also this is an Apostle-command. Paul didn’t do this for the Jerusalem offering, but he does here for the witnessing to the world. He emphasizes the point by stressing Jesus as Lord Messiah.

Note ROM 10:9-10; ACTS 20:21.

APPLY THE WHOLE BIBLE BEFORE YOU STATE A DOCTRINE!

Best Study Guide: How to Study the Bible Principles with Bible, A Study Sources by Orin T. Binkley.

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