Thread by @ThomasCoutouzis

#Exetweet Thread Romans 13:1-7

1/ "Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God."

Jude felt the necessity (heavy burden) and so do I.

2/ The context for Romans 13 is set in light of Romans 12 with the cornerstone verse of Romans 12 being verse 2. "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good...

3/...and acceptable and perfect." I love the word for "world" (aion). It means "age" so within in the context Paul is telling Christians to not conform to this present age. Built on top of this command is Christian living. Verses 9-21 demonstrate how a Christian is to live.

4/ Examples:

"Let love be without hypocrisy." v9
"persevere in tribulation, devoted to prayer" v11
"practicing hospitality (love of strangers)" v13
"Bless those who persecute you" v14
"weep with those who weep" v15
"never pay back evil for evil to anyone" v17

5/

"never take your own revenge" v19
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." v21

With this said, Paul now transitions into the believers submission to government which is an EXTENSION of how a Christian is to live from Chapter 12.

6/ When chapters and verses were set up they did not indicate a change of subjects or deviation of thought. They were meant as markers for reference. Paul is continuing his thoughts on Christian living into chapter 13 with the government. Chapter 13 does not change the context.

7/ When Paul uses the term "Everyone" in Romans 13:1 he is referring to his audience which are Christians, not unbelievers, because this is part of Christian living.

"subjection" is ὑποτάσσω (hupotasso). It combines "hupo" (under) and "tasso" (to arrange).

8/ Properly, "to arrange under". It was a military term. An army has a chain of command from the bottom all the way to the top. Every man subjects themselves to their ranking officer placed over them. The orders called out from the highest official (General) are passed down...

9/...through the ranks through the officers to very bottom. Every soldier is expected to subject themselves to the officer that ranks above them. To disobey an officer is an act of insubordination that will be punished severely. "for it does not bear the sword for nothing"...

10/...just came to mind. There are consequences for disobedience, but I will address that further down.

Hupotasso is used in the present tense denoting that the believer is to constantly be in subjection to the government.

This begs the question...

11/...Is civil disobedience to our rulers ever allowed?

Yes

The present tense of hupotasso is used in light of the government not crossing the line of a biblical precept. If the government crosses the line of a biblical precept we as believers are to disobey.

12/ In Acts 5:21 the apostles were just let out of jail by an angel and began preaching the gospel for which they were thrown into prison for. The Pharisees dispatched the temple guard to summon them, and the apostles went willingly. They were not arrested. They obeyed...

13/... their civil authorities. Scripture tells us that the temple guards were afraid because they thought the people were going to stone them if they arrested the apostles (Acts 5:26).

What is interesting is that Peter and the apostles used this as an opportunity to witness...

14/...to their rulers and anyone in the place they gathered for this sham of a trial. Peter exclaimed that they would never stop proclaiming Christ crucified in light of the Pharisees command to stop proclaiming Christ.

Why did Peter and the apostles disobey their rulers?

15/ Answer:

Because the command of the Pharisees contradicted what they were commanded to do by God, which is to proclaim the gospel to every nation. They Pharisees flogged the apostles, and the apostles praised God for being found worthy to suffer. This was common...

16/...in the early church when Christians were persecuted by Rome. They went willingly to their deaths and praised God with hearts of joy that they had been found worthy to suffer.

Example 2:

In Daniel 1 we see that Israel has been overthrown.

17/ The Babylonians would insure that there was no more insurrection by removing all the rulers of Israel and their families, all the mighty warriors, wealthy, learned, until all that was left were the poor. Nebuchadnezzar knew that by removing these people that the poor that...

18/...he would elevate to positions of power and authority as local rulers would give him their undying fealty. Why?

Because Nebuchadnezzar had taken them from peasantry to a position of wealth, power, and honor. They would be forever grateful and loyal to the death.

19/ Daniel is taken away and conscripted into the king's Magi (wise men and magicians) and would be re-educated and assimilated as a Babylonian.

What is interesting is that Daniel is put under the authority of Ashpenaz who was "chief of his officials."

20/ "Officials" in the Hebrew was סָרִיס (cariyc) which means "eunuch" or "one who is castrated". Daniel was made into a Eunuch at about age 17 when his desire for a wife would be strong. He willingly subjected himself to his rulers and was castrated.

21/ Castration was a way to make a man more docile which would stop them from ever desiring to rebel.

So, Daniel subjected himself to castration, but when it came to eating meat and drinking wine sacrificed to idols that is where he drew the line.

22/ You see, castration was not a violation of Scripture. It certainly was a cruel thing to force upon a man, but Daniel was not willing to die on that hill. He was willing to die on the hill of eating food sacrificed to false gods, as were Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael.

23/ Daniel and his friends obviously had Exodus 34:14-15 in mind. You see, to eat this food and drink this wine was symbolic of worship to these false gods. They would have rather died than obeyed. Their conviction, thus civil disobedience, was rooted in Scripture.

24/ I have more biblical examples where civil disobedience by Christians is allowed because it violates Scripture (Daniel 3,6, etc...) but will stop here.

Obviously, there are times when a Christian can disobey their rulers.

If God establishes rulers, then all liberty given...

25/...by rulers to its citizens is from on high. Conversely, if our rulers take away our liberties it is because it has been allowed from on high.

I have to stop here, but will pick this thread up later in the day when I have time.

26/ Daniel's liberties as an Israelite were taken away. The whole course of his life was changed. He could no longer marry or have children. Imagine how hard that was, but Daniel submitted to it, rather than protesting and facing certain execution. He would rather be executed...

27/...over something that violated God's word, which he loved. God turned him over to this new life and Daniel went willingly which is why God protected and exalted him to one of the highest positions in the Babylonian empire. As a believer he used discernment for each situation.

28/ Now back to Romans...

"Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves."

So, since God has put government in place and its authority comes from on high, there are punishments for...

29/...those who disobey their rulers. Understand this in the context of laws that do not violate God's precepts. How do I know. Look at verse 3:

"for rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil."

One of the ways God's restrains evil is through the government.

30/ If sinful man was given over to anarchy they would rape murder and pillage anyone they came across. Even the most wicked government is a grace from God. Why? Because if God removed that restraint man would plummet into unchecked wickedness.

31/ In the phrase "whoever resists authority" the Greek word for resist is ἀντιτασσό (antitasso).

anti means "against". tasso means "to arrange". Properly, "to array in battle against". The implication is rebellion against those whom God has placed in authority.

32/ Logically speaking, this would put you in opposition to God if you defied those whom he has placed you under (hupotasso). Again, this in regards to laws that do not violate a biblical mandate.

"ordinance" διαταγή (diatage) is derived from "dia" (through, thoroughly and...

33/...tasso "to arrange". Dia intensifies tasso to mean, "to thoroughly arrange" or "to systematically order". This is a disposition. In other words, this is a prescription.

Those who oppose this prescriptive order will be condemned not just by the rulers, but God.

34/ There are consequences for violating earthly laws that are not opposed to Scripture instituted by governments, just as their are consequences for the believer when they violate one of God's precepts.

Kosmos means "orderly arrangement". God is a God or order, not chaos.

35/ In verse 3, we don't fear rulers when we obey the laws instituted and they welcome those who obey. However, when it comes to a law where God's law is violated by the ruling authorities, we as believers are to fear God over man. If they institute a law where we cannot

36/ condemn a sin like homosexuality, we are under no obligation to obey it because God's law condemns it as sin.

Paul says "Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same." (v3)

You see, our rulers appreciate those who abide...

37/...by the law. Paul continues in verse 4, "for it is a minister of God to you for good."

The good being we don't have our throats slashed at night while we sleep and all of our stuff stolen. That is good that the our rulers protect us from harm.

38/ God does indeed use our earthly rulers to bring about judgment on the wicked.

Paul continues, "but if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on one who practices evil."

39/ There are consequences for defying our rulers and God has given them the authority to punish those who are doing evil, including Christians.

Paul wants us to obey our rulers unless a law they enforce contradicts Scripture.

I grew up in the 80's...

40/...and picketed abortion clinics with my mother because we as Christians should oppose this evil ungodly law. Back then there were people who were bombing abortion clinics.

These people made themselves the judge and thought repaying evil for evil (murder for murder) was good.

41/ This unjust law should never drive a Christian to violate a commandment of God.

In terms of Covid-19...At first churches were given the option to meet amongst the pandemic, and it was okay for conscience sake if some churches went virtual and others didn't.

42/ However, In NC, it was mandated that churches of 10 or more had to stop meeting through April 30th or May 15th. I can't remember. All sporting events were canceled restaurants went to take out only, etc...No public gatherings or concerts, parades, conferences would be...

43/...allowed to meet. It was for the protection of the people so that the hospitals would not overfill because of this highly infectious disease which would increase the mortality rate substantially. See Italy which has averaged around a 10% mortality rate through this...

44/...because the hospitals could not handle the surge of infections. They literally had to send people home to die.

Our leaders in their best judgment thought it wise to make this a law that was punishable until the virus passed. I believe a Florida pastor was arrested for...

45/...violating the order which is a consequence for violating those whom God has put into authority over him. This by no means makes Caesar king, not Christ, over us because we can disobey if it violates Scripture.

A church in Sacramento met and now has 71 people infected:

46/

sacbee.com/news/coronavir…

I've seen mocking about "loving your neighbor". Do you know what is interesting? Paul goes into loving your neighbor in Rom 13:8-10 as part of the context for obeying our rulers, thus Christian living.

When we obey our rulers we love our neighbor.

47/ In this case with Sacramento, had they obeyed their authorities they would not have infected their neighbor. These are not unjust laws that have been put into place to persecute Christians. It is for public safety. Everyone has to abide by them.

48/ In summation, loving your neighbor requires that you obey laws that are not in contradiction to Scripture. You have to use wisdom to discern each case, not recklessly go one way or the other.

I am going to stop here. I might hit 1 Peter 2:13-17 tomorrow...

49/...but I am not sure. I have to teach Jude 7 tomorrow for the men at church via Zoom. My time has been very limited of late, so it is hard to these.

In Christ, Thomas