Romans 13: What does it really mean?

Romans Chapter 13, verses 1 through 7, from the Authorized King James text:

“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. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 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: 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. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”

What does the word power(s) really mean?  It means freedom, liberties, [God given] rights = Constitution for Americans, or authority.

Who are the rulers in the USA?  We the people!

Government agents are quick to point out: “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s;”  This does not mean submit unconditionally.  It just mean give back whatever things doesn’t belongs to you.  Government agents always skip the second phrase: “and unto God the things that are God’s.”

Christians are commanded to love their “neighbors” as themselves.  This is the second most important law of God.  When the government terrorizes your neighbor and no do nothing because of your misunderstanding of Romans 13.  Are you acting like the lawyer and Pharisee in the story that Jesus explained who is your neighbor.

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From: Brother Gregory Williams (NewsWithViews.com)
“In any unabridged English dictionary the word power can have over a dozen different definitions. The question is which of these many definitions should we apply to our thinking when we read these words of Paul? Does it mean the authority of government, the power to act, or the right to choose?

To understand Paul we simply need to know what the word Paul actually used and what it truly means within the context of the Bible. The word translated into power in Romans 13 is one of more than half a dozen Greek words which are all translated into the single English word power within the New Testament.

The Greek word used in Romans 13 by Paul is exousia, which is defined: “power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases.” It is translated “right” in Hebrews 13:10 and Revelations 22:14, and it is even translated “liberty” in Paul’s own 1Corinthians 8:9.

Everywhere in the original text of the Bible the translation of exousia as liberty or right would fit the context of scripture. One may translate it as power, but only in the sense of the power of choice. Most modern ministers might object to this conclusion and no one should merely take my word for this interpretation. What is the opinion of others concerning the word exousia? Does it mean the power of government, or the power of choice?

There should be no question that the word exousia in the original text means power in the sense of “the right to choose” or “liberty of choice.” And if so, then Romans 13 should be read and understood as saying:

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher liberty. For there is no liberty but of God: the liberties that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the liberty, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the liberty? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same.” Romans 13: 1,3

From: Chuck Baldwin on NewsWithViews.com
For Americans, this is how Romans Chapter 13 reads to Americans:

“Let every soul be subject unto the [U.S. Constitution.] For there is no [Constitution] but of God: the [Constitution] that be [is] ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the [Constitution], resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For [the Constitution is] not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the [Constitution]? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For [the Constitution] is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for [the Constitution] beareth not the sword in vain: for [the Constitution] is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay ye tribute also: for [the Constitution is] God’s minister, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”

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Roman 13
Proverb 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth, do I hate.

Should Christians follow rules blindly? Are all authorities including totalitarian governments ordained by God? Is it a sin to refuse orders of corrupt and evil rulers?  Don’t forget the government in the USA is We the people!
First of all, false authority is not of God. The world is controlled by Satan because God allowed it.  Human governments are ruled by Satan. Government at the top is controlled by Satan. Satan tempted Jesus about giving Him all the cities [Matthew 4:8-9]. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely–Evil in high places. Then are all governments ordained and blessed by God? When the Antichrist setups up his throne and command Christians to do ungodly things, should Christians do it? Do God’s laws or man’s laws have the utmost authority in the minds of Christians?

In the Book of Judges, the Israelites were under the rule of other countries such as at the time of Samson was ruled by the Philistines.  God raised up judges to deliver the Israelites from their oppressors. Why then does God ordained the Israelitess oppressors and have to raise the judges to deliver the Israelites from their oppressors? Won’t the “deliverer” be a traitor, committed treason against God’s anointed? We know the judges were ordained by God because the Bible said so.  Are our current patriots resisting against their tyrant government ordained by God? We don’t know but God does.   If you don’t know, don’t judge.

Why did Jesus tell the disciples to pay taxes and Jesus didn’t overthrow the Romans? The sole purpose of Jesus’ first coming was to die on the cross to save souls. There were lots of problem that needed to be solved at that time.  He did the will of the Father and priority one was to be crucified on the cross to save all who would believe on Him.   If Jesus overthrew the Romans, he would not have been crucified. The whole purpose of the cross is gone.  But on Jesus’ second coming, He will overthrow not just the Romans but the world!  He is man’s avenger of blood since no one since Adam can do the job.  Jesus is the Lord of Hosts, i.e. Captain of God’s army.  He is a fighter.  He overturned the money changers’ tables in the temple and whipped them out of the temple.

When the Chinese government created laws to persecute Christians for their faith, home churches, and evangelize to their neighbors as the Lord command all Christians to do, are the Chinese Christians disobeying God because they disobeyed the Chinese government?  If there’s a contradiction, your interpretation of the Bible is wrong.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to humble your heart and ask for wisdom and discernment.

Can Christians carry weapons and fight back?

We can look in Luke to see what Jesus said:
Luke 22:36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that has a purse, let him take it, and likewise his bag: and he that has no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
Luke 22:37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have a fulfillment.
Luke 22:38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

Throughout the Bible, God’s children are at enmity with the rulers of the world. For example:
– AntiChrist sets up one world government, make laws to take mark of the beast and to worship him. Whoever doesn’t worship him will be killed. Will Christians carry out the executions?

*prophets were killed and hanged by kings in the Old Testament
– Elijah fought against Jezebel & Ahad
– Isaiah was sawed in half by orders of the king
– John the Baptist was beheaded
– Moses in Egypt (challenge Pharaoh)
– Babylonian Captivity (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow)
– Daniel was thrown in the lion den for breaking law on worship of God
– 12 disciples were persecuted wherever they preached
– Peter was crucified upside-down
– Paul was beheaded (Saul the Benjamite) – Pharisee with power to stone Stephen
– Most of them died from persecution because they disobeyed men’s laws
– Founding Fathers of America defied England (British agents teach all US military and Police officers that they were terrorists because of Romans 13) [the USA corporation arm is really controlled by the Queen and owned by the Vatican]

– If all governments are ordained by God, why do they fight each other?
– Stalin, Hitler, and Mao used Romans 13 to control Christians to accept and go along with their agenda. Christians were waiting for the Pre-trib Rapture and did nothing, so they got killed or gassed.

(In US 2007, 26k false preachers were recruited by the Feds and FEMA to tell their flocks to submit to the government no matter how bad they are!)

Dan 3:10 You, O king, have made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
Dan 3:11 And whosoever falls not down and worships, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Dan 3:12 There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded you: they serve not your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up.

Dan 6:12 Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king’s decree; have you not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any god or man within thirty days, except of you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which alters not.
Dan 6:13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regards not you, O king, nor the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.

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

Hitler used Romans 13 and Rapture to put Brown Skin Jews into concentration camps

Pharisees with power over the people:

Mat 26:59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

Act 8:3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and dragging off men and women committed them to prison.

Act 9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

Act 22:4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
Act 22:5 As also the high priest does bear me witness, and all the council of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them who were there bound unto Jerusalem, to be punished.

Act 22:20 And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the clothing of them that slew him.

Act 5:17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
Act 5:18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
Act 5:19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
Act 5:20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
Act 5:21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

Joh 18:3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.
Joh 18:4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek you?

Mar 14:43 And immediately, while he yet spoke, came Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.