If it could be said of Rome that they went from total depravity to a largely "Christian" society, then the same is possible for America. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 1. Although this concept seems simple and justified enough, it is often forgotten within the field of biblical exegesis. These seven verses from Paul’s epistle to the Romans have been grossly abused at numerous points since their original composition. Or: Shall we be Christ's people with a pinch of American flavoring? Although Paul undoubtedly changes topics at 13:1, the thematic links between 13:1-7 and 12:9-21 are difficult to ignore. It is therefore a mistake to read Romans 13:1-7 as a justification of the sins of the state, as if this passage gave a carte blanche to the atrocities to be committed in the later years of Nero’s reign. 13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. [11] It is therefore quite reasonable to see a connection between 13:1-7 and 12:9-21. Rulers have sometimes used this verse to tell their citizens to obey, but many citizens have rightly wondered if this is what Paul meant, because rulers sometimes tell people to sin. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004. This means that it would take quite a bit of time and space to comprehensively analyze the syntax and detailed meaning of the passage. Romans 13 in Context, Part 1. Ehrensperger, Kathy. Others were mounted on poles in Nero’s gardens and set on fire to light the night. "The point" here is that if Paul could describe a government as messed up as Rome in the terms he did, and reveal the obligations he did, we can hardly look at our own government and think we're entitled to rebel against it. [2] The commentaries and resources consulted in this study provided A.D. 57 as a consensus view of the date of composition of Paul’s epistle to the Romans. Stubbs, Monya A. It would be a mistake, however, to go to the other end of the spectrum and argue that Paul is urging his audience to give unthinking and critical approval of everything the Roman government did. (Learn More), Open Letter to Cedarville Admins and Trustees, Reading and Interpreting the Bible: Deuteronomy 6:1-15, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Romans. Although God is still sovereign over modern nations, Paul’s argument here does not address the issue of active Christian participation in government because that was not on the radar of first-century Christian life in the Roman Empire. ), how should this apply in regards to our relationship with the rulers of our city and empire?”. Which almost all fourth-century experts do. New York: T & T Clark International, 2004. We live in a generation in which public opinion of those in political leadership is probably at an all time low. First, by the British Government and loyalists who were opposed to the American Revolution. The same man who wrote Romans 13 also frequently took up themes in his writings that would challenge the power and authority of the Roman Empire, for the declaration that Jesus is Lord contains the implicit declaration that Caesar is not. Positively, then, when Romans was written, the original audience enjoyed a period of relative peace and stability before the chaotic upheaval that would take place in A.D. 59. To be baptized into Christ is to be clothed with this mighty power, and to be summoned to battle with all that deflects us from the mutual love enjoined in the larger context of Romans 13:8-15:6, including all that divides the community and sets Christians against one another. Certain modern accounts that fashion Constantine as a clever manipulator, a cool practitioner of realpolitik, are simply inappropriate for their ancient context. [16] Here I summarize my conclusions from “Historical Background” above. Romans 13 continues to describe what that Christlike sacrifice looks like. Thus, in context, Romans 13:1-7 is not nearly as “pro-government” or “pro-Empire” as it might at first seem to us. Negatively, there was still quite a bit of tension within and around the Roman church which had the potential to divide the church and get the Christians in serious trouble with Roman authorities if rebellion became the rallying cry for the followers of Jesus, assured of the lordship of their King and the reality of his kingdom. Romans 13 is always used to stand in the way of this goal of peace. Don't be so pessimistic about our nation today to think that we can't envision a more equitable future for America. Tacitus wrote, “I do but relate what I have heard and what our fathers have recorded.” The works of Suetonius (Lives of the Twelve Caesars) and Dio (Roman History) both corroborate and complement that of Tacitus (The Annals). Fasc. It is possible that Paul was beheaded around the time of Nero’s persecution of the Roman Christians, just a few years after the apostle had written, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities” of Rome—the place where, according to Tacitus, “all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular.”, (Tomorow: Can We Celebrate Independence without Celebrating Revolution?). Agrippina continued to exterminate people either out of jealousy or fear that they hindered her power. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group. “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). Romans 13 eventually became an important text in discussions of the relationship between faith and government, but it was never Paul’s plan to offer a theory of church and state.. Why did Paul write Rom 13:1-7?. Dio's text can be read here: http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/home.html. [15] All Bible quotations, unless otherwise noted, come from the NET Bible. These historians’ accounts of the life and times in Rome are second-hand. Romans 12:9-21 is one of the most loosely-constructed passages in the entire epistle. Octavia was exiled, murdered, and her severed head brought back to Rome. Paul shifts subjects with no transition or introduction. other exhortations to a Christian walk generally. Rome, Rulers and Respect: The Historical Context of Romans 13. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Although seemingly a very minor change, it puts undue emphasis on Paul’s supposed change of topic, prompting the interpretations of many that this is Paul’s comprehensive theology of church and state relations, ignoring the passage’s context and the historical situation of the original audience, who would have heard this epistle read without the explanation of a chapter division or sub-heading. [17] Schreiner (1998: 679) notes that there is considerable debate as to whether this refers to the eschatological judgment of God or to judgment imposed by earthly rulers. My takeaway from the story of Nero is: Subject to the governing authorities: The connection between Romans 12 and Romans 13is clear. Seutonius' text can be read here: http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/ho... Tacitus can be read here: http://classics.mit.edu/Tacitus/annals.html. Agrippina survived, but was quickly found and killed. Milliman, Robert. The fact that Romans 13:1-7 is such a stumbling block to those in the anti-imperial camp and such an “anomaly” when compared with the implications of Paul’s anti-imperial passages (such as 1 Thess 5, alluded to by Wright  [2005]) seems to necessitate a nuanced approach that hears the arguments of those on both sides of this theological debate. When Romans 13:1-7 is read as if it was written in a modern North American context, it seems as though Paul is appealing to the sovereignty of God in the affairs of nations to remind us of the divinely-appointed nature of our free-market economy and federal constitutional republic. Romans 14 Chapter 13 There are three good lessons taught us in this chapter, where the apostle enlarges more upon his precepts than he had done in the foregoing chapter, finding them more needful to be fully pressed. Around this time Nero became infatuated with a married woman and was also known to have homosexual relationships. In AD 48 Claudius and Agrippina married. I would recommend that anyone interested in history get hold of the book "Telling the Truth About History," by Joyce Appleby, Lynn Hunt, And Margaret Jacob. When Claudius died, Agrippina had his body wrapped in warm blankets to feign that he was still alive. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed…. Instead of responding in kind to their persecutors and therefore being “overcome by evil” (12:21a), Paul urges them to live peaceably (12:17-18), forbidding them from taking vengeance into their own hands (12:19). Government. Wright, N.T. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. It was Seutonius who wrote The Twelve Caesars and Dio who wrote Roman History. Jews and Gentiles were struggling to remain unified in the Messiah in spite of their cultural differences. A new wife was soon sought for Claudius. Romans 13:10 says, “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.” When government officials arrest families fleeing violence and then separate them from one another, they are inflicting further harm. Dunn (1988: 758) also mentions the phrases ekdikew / ekdikoV (12:19; 13:4) and pantwn anqrwpwn / pasin (12:17-18; 13:7) to provide evidence for a link between the two passages, before demonstrating links between Romans 2:7-11 and 13:3-4 in order to refute the claims of some that this passage is a non-Pauline insertion. Kim, Seyoon. The so called Nero context of the Romans passage does not call for submission to Nero. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me. KakoV (“evil”) and agaqoV (“good”) occur in Rom 12:17, 21 and 13:3-4. At a secular university I studied under a non Christian who used texts and presented material that exposed the revised view. Some looked around and asked where Britannicus was, but upon seeing and hearing no resistance, Nero “was unanimously greeted as emperor” in AD 54 (The Annals, Tacitus). Due to influences as simple as our versification of the biblical text and as complex as the historical/theological developments which have dictated how we teach and interpret the Scriptures, many exegetes (wittingly or unwittingly) ignore context when trying to ascertain the meaning of particular biblical texts. The consequence of disobeying the general command is therefore God’s judgment[17] (13:2b). “Overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). 13… And Jews in Palestine were growing more and more rebellious.[16]. However, Agrippina was outraged at having to compete with a lowly freedwoman for the affections of her son. a. One of the crucial issues before the church in America today is: Shall we be American with a pinch of religious flavoring? As mentioned above, Paul was more than willing to critique governments and empires for the sake of God’s kingdom and the cause of Christ. Also, conceptually, vengeance is mentioned in 12:19 and 13:4. An accessible introduction to the history with provocative theological commentary is Defending Constantine by Peter Leithart. He was known to disguise himself and wander the night streets of Rome with friends visiting brothels and taverns, stealing from merchants, and physically attacking citizens. When we use the term ‘ Romans 13 Crowd ‘ we refer to those who refuse to apply basic scriptural exposition to the passage or who refuse to apply context to their application of the passage. ), but of neighbor. It is not, therefore, unreasonable to assume that this played a role in the social tension Paul here addresses in Romans 13:1-7. There Paul effectively redefines the people of God as no longer just Jews, but Gentiles as well. Every soul: This c… Romans 13:1-7 is most naturally read as the unpacking of the principles of 12:9-21, in the context of how Christians in Rome should behave in relation to the powers that governed the society in which they dwelt. 13:7 seems to be continued in a different sense in Rom. Paul was capable of saying negative things about pagan governments when they were going awry[7], but he nevertheless appealed to God’s sovereignty over human governments in order to prevent the tense situation of his audience from erupting into a social upheaval that would wreck the church’s testimony and hinder the gospel mission in the city of Rome and the empire over which that city ruled. [1], Many commentators in recent years have recognized the importance of interpreting this passage in light of its historical context at the time of its composition (c. A.D. 57[2]), instead of assuming that these verses are Paul’s fundamental views on how church and state should relate to each other. This returns the Roman Christians’ focus to love as the central virtue of Christianity and the “fulfillment of the law” (13:8, 10). The Heroes of the faith at Hebrews 11 have several listed whose acts of faith involved resistance to human government. Soon after Nero’s homosexual wedding, Rome was engulfed in flames. ), 198-202. For there is no authority except by God’s appointment” (13:1). Instead, the Roman believers are to “overcome evil with good” (12:21b), and this is illustrated in 12:20, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head.”. Despite Kim’s conclusions, however, it seems unwise to completely ignore the implications of Christ’s lordship on both Roman believers in the first century and on North American ones today. The Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Rome. The passage is portraying a government with basic principles that Nero did and would violate thus releasing one from such duty. Paul: In Fresh Perspective. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good.” From there, Paul emphasizes the important manifestations of genuine love: mutual devotion and eagerness in showing honor (12:10), enthusiastic spiritual service (12:11), hopeful joy and persistent prayer in the face of suffering (12:12), and hospitably meeting the needs of the saints (12:13). Church & State. Some government entities within the Empire were still functioning for the basic good so could be submitted to. Orgh (“wrath”) is mentioned in 12:19 and 13:4, 5. Romans 13 in Context David Alan Black . It is only through the delimiting influence of context that words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs are endowed with significance. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998. Careful exegesis … In AD 64 Nero’s debauchery escalated. It is not therefore hard to imagine why Paul felt the pastoral need to apply the principles of 12:9-21 to the realm of society and government. Text: Romans 13, 8-10. The Christians then were not that numerous, certainly not influential, and the opposite of wealthy. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. In AD 61, about the time when Paul arrived at Rome to await trial and begin his house arrest, Nero wanted to marry another man’s wife he greatly desired, so he falsely accused his wife, Octavia, of having affairs and an abortion. While these promises were dashed beginning in A.D. 59, with Nero’s matricide, the loss of his advisors, and the beginning of his persecution of Christians, it is crucial to remember that Paul wrote Romans during the period of hopeful peace from A.D. 54-59.