I want to begin this article by considering the fascinating relationship between Christ and civil governments, and how this affects the way we ought to think about those who have charge over us. Let’s start with Romans 13, for it is the chief text on this subject matter.

We need to make a careful exegesis of the text of Romans 13, for it is crucial for us to know what Paul is saying and what he is not saying. It can be very easy to take some of Romans 13 and say that it does not apply to certain rulers or certain situations, but the context does not allow for exceptions. So, we will consider that Paul’s teachings in the text does apply to both good leaders and bad ones, too. I’d like to start in Romans 12, for I believe it paves the way for what is to come in chapter 13. Chapter 12 begins with being a “living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God”, and to “not be conformed to this world”. This sets the groundwork for the unique and transformative life that is detailed throughout this chapter and the ones that follow. Some important details include how we are to be “patient in tribulation”, and to “bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse”. We are to “repay no one evil for evil”, and “have regard for good things in the sight of all men.” And “as much as depends on you, live peaceable with all men.” Further, we are not allowed to “avenge” ourselves, but to be kind to our enemies. The chapter ends with “do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” This transformed life is the basis of what Paul will now teach concerning authorities.

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.” (13:1-2).

Paul taught that all governing authorities have been “appointed by God”. The Greek word “tasso” is translated “appointed” in this text; the word means to choose, assign, arrange, or set in place. It is God who sets a ruler in place, and He will arrange it to occur according to His own will, no matter if a ruler is put in place by birthright or ballot. Some have said that Romans 13 does not apply to America because God does not choose the President if we vote. This is a dangerous thought filled with error; did we not read that “there is no authority except from God”? How can it be, then, that our ballot supersedes the power of God? Chapter 12 confirms that, even if the authority is our enemy, we still must remain subject and peaceable. Mankind is not this way, man does not teach this path, even this nation’s beginning is not in accordance with this path, but this is the way of the perfect man, the mind of Christ, overcoming evil with doing good.

The general purpose of all rulers is that they are not terrors to good works, but terrors to the evil (13:3-4). Every ruler is “God’s minister”, and any injustice and oppression on a ruler’s part would be handled by God; remember that in 12:19 Paul said, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,’ says the Lord.” Consider that Paul specifically stated that the ruler “is God’s minister to you for good.” God’s will is always for the good benefit of the children in His house, and those whom he sets in place over us have been selected for the good of the church. As I’ve said at other times, the rule of God has always been and will always be about salvation; as God works in the nations of men, no matter our perspective on the situation, God brings about change, sometimes bright, sometimes bleak, but His actions are toward the salvation of others. I’ve seen many commentaries on Romans 13:3-4, which make comments like, “if the ruler gives evil its opportunity and hinders good, then there must be a reversal of the attitude of the Christian toward him, and every Christians is bound to oppose and defy him at whatever cost” (G. C. Morgan). I don’t know of anything that could be said that is more contrary to the message of Romans, or to the character of Christ. First, Paul never said that we can forget being peaceable and subject whenever an authority makes a decision we don’t agree with; so we have no right to add that to scripture (I’ll deal with Acts 5:29 next week). Second, we are not in a position to say what is for our good, or for the good of the church. Paul said these words in Romans 13 during the reign of Emperor Nero, a vile and selfish leader, who would lay in wait at night to jump out a stab his own citizens to death. A man who had taken a small boy to be his bride. Even in our day, Nero would be considered a horrible person by all political parties. But, in hindsight, we can see exactly how Nero was God’s minister to the church for good. For a short period of time, Nero persecuted the church, but whoever said that persecution was bad? God didn’t say it. God taught us that persecution is a test of our faith, intended to sharpen, purge, refine, and make us more complete as Christians (Matthew 5:10-12; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7). What Nero did was for the good of the church. Further, God put it into the heart of Nero to wipe away the Jewish commonwealth, the temple, and all its animal offerings. The Jews held great power and made every attempt to put away the church. But Nero was passionate about destroying the Jewish nation and sent General Vespasian to make war with the Judean cities. After many conquests throughout Judea, Vespasian surrounded Jerusalem, to cut it off from the land of the living. But the siege was cut short, for Nero had died and left no heir to the throne. This hurled the empire into a disastrous year of civil war until the majority of Roman Generals stood behind Vespasian and declared him Emperor. No sooner had they done this, when Vespasian immediately ordered his son, Titus, to take the army back to Jerusalem and finish the task. This judgment against the Jewish nation is what Peter had called the “times of refreshing” and the “times of restoration of all things” (Acts 3:19-24) to the church. Can we see how God used moral-less rulers as His minister to the church for good? It is important to consider that even the rulers had no intention to benefit the church, but they are not in control, they are only vessels that God turns wherever He wills (Proverbs 21:1). So, even today we should echo the good thought of Micah 4:11-12 when many nations gathered against the Lord’s people to take joy in their destruction, but God says of the nations, “But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD, Nor do they understand His counsel; For He will gather them like sheaves to the threshing floor.”

 Living peaceably under governing authorities requires faith, true faith that comes from hearing the word of God. We ought not to look at the problems of today as things that may hinder the church, but with the eye of faith, we are glad to know that God is working to bring more souls to Him. We may not see the results of it today or tomorrow, but remember, God worked through many evil rulers 2,000 years ago in order that we may be brought to Him today.

The old testament is filled with examples of how God used wicked leaders to accomplish His own will. Egypt, Israel, Assyria, Babylon, Greece, and Rome all played significant roles as God’s instruments to bring salvation to the world through Christ. Daniel plays out nearly 600 years of history before it happens. Daniel covers subjects like the rise of Alexander the Great, followed by the division of his kingdom after his death, and the conquest of Antiochus Epiphanes over Jerusalem, The Jewish revolt against Antiochus, and the Hasmonean kingdom, then Rome’s conquest of Jerusalem before the birth of Christ. Daniel also covers the coming of the Messiah, the new law and the church, and the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Certainly, it is mind-bending to consider how God tells us of a matter long before it happens, but Daniel’s testimony is also fascinating because we get a visual of just how much God uses all nations, many of them led by evil rulers, in the greater scope of eternal redemption. Consider the example of Cyrus king of Persia, 200 years before his birth, Isaiah penned these words of God, “Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, ‘You shall be built,’ And to the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’” (Isaiah 44:28). This shows the true reign of God and how His will is always accomplished; taking the Persian ruler and making him “perform all My pleasure”, God said. 200 years before these things happened, God not only calls the ruler by name but states exactly what Cyrus would do. All of it was arranged by God. Looking at another example, the evil rulers who crucified the Lord did “whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.” (Acts 4:28). And do we dare say that God doesn’t work with rulers like this anymore? That’s not what the bible says. Christ’s inheritance is all the nations as his possession, as the Father spoke in Psalm 2 spoke concerning the reign of Christ “I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ” Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” Likewise, Paul spoke of the preeminence of Jesus over every ruler, saying, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:16). By faith the Christian knows that every throne and principality was both from Jesus and exists “for” Jesus to do his pleasure and purpose.

Let’s change gears and consider a scripture that deals with our role under government. “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,  (2)  for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  (3)  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, (4)  who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

This text is often misunderstood, so we must read the details carefully. This is commonly interpreted that we should pray for kings and all in authority so that God will provide us with a quiet and peaceful life under their rule. But this is not what Paul said. Paul didn’t say we would have peaceful lives, but that our prayers would be that we would maintain a peaceable life ourselves, “in all godliness and reverence.” Being a peaceable person does not mean that we have a peaceful life, Jesus’ life is a good example of this. But our prayer and our goal is not that we would enjoy peace here, but that our quietness and our peaceable nature will bring others to salvation. This is Paul’s point, as he concludes, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” What is good and acceptable in the sight of God? That we lead a quiet life, and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence (see also 1 Thessalonians 4:11 and Romans 12:18). This is good because God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. That is, God is working in our quiet, peaceable, godly, and respectful lives to bring the knowledge of the truth and salvation to the rest of mankind. This is why we pray for all men and give God thanks, for Christ has died for us all. Notice how Paul continues to break this down in the context. “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time”. We live the way we live to carry forth the knowledge of the truth, that truth being that there is one God and one Mediator between God and man, Jesus, who gave Himself for all men. This is the truth that all men must hear. Thus, Paul says next, “for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle”. So our prayer for all men, even the president and all in authority, is not for the improvement of our situation of life, but to their coming to the knowledge of the truth when they witness our leading of a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. Now, this does not mean that we cannot also pray for a life of peace for ourselves if the Lord wills, but that is not what Paul is speaking of in the context.

Paul is an example to us of how we may suffer for the sake of others’ salvation (2 Corinthians 1:4-6; 4:15-17). Paul suffered by the Jews and the Roman government most unfairly, but he and all other Christians remained peaceable to Rome. There were no riots, protests, or rallies. Christians do not learn the attitude of revolt or anarchy from Jesus, in fact, Jesus said “I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” (Matthew 5:39). Revolt has never brought a single enemy to obedience to Christ. Peter is another example, his unfair arrest did not result in riots from the church, but they had gathered into the house of Mark’s mother and were praying together through the night (Acts 12:1-5); a godly response to the painful situation. These brethren knew how to give a problem over to God and to not do the avenging themselves. They knew that the work of vengeance belongs solely to God (Romans 12:19). And God handled the situation for them (Acts 12:6-11). If we were to do a quick reading of the book of Revelation, without making any attempt to understand the meaning of this or that, the one application that will be clear as day to us is how God fights all our battles for us, and He always wins. But that is not just a theme in Revelation, this fact is all over the old and new testaments. (Exodus 14:14; Deuteronomy 1:30; 2 Chronicles 20:17; Nehemiah 4:20; Jeremiah 1:19; 2 Corinthians 1:10; 2 Timothy 4:18; Hebrews 13:5-6). Our focus must remain on living a faithful and godly life to the praise of God, and every other matter God will take care of.

Article by Tanner Campbell