Before we move into this passage, we must remember to whom Paul is writing this letter. Paul is writing this letter to the church in Rome. Rome was not a God-fearing empire. Nor was Rome led by a righteous emperor. Yet Paul does not hesitate or qualify his opening statement, and neither should we: “Be subject to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1).
Paul, continuing his conversation about renewing our minds, now addresses authority from the heavenly view. All authority is given by God. Paul is not inventing this idea. The Old Testament makes clear that it is God who chooses who is in authority. In Romans 9, Paul had already made this connection when he recalled what God said about Pharaoh: “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth” (Romans 9:17). God brought Pharaoh up. The same Pharaoh who oppressed God’s people was put in his position by God. God’s sovereign appointment of a ruler does not constitute His moral approval of that ruler’s actions. Daniel tells us that God is the one who sets up kings and the one who removes kings (Daniel 2:21). The same God who establishes authorities holds them accountable.
The first command is that we be subject to the ruling authorities, not because they are good or because they are always right, but because it is God who puts them there. We need not endorse what they do or say, but we are to be subject to them.
But these authorities are not free from responsibility. God has commissioned them to do good. They are God’s servants for our good. Again, we remember to whom Paul is writing this. God has commissioned governing authorities to do good, rewarding what is right and punishing what is evil. They may fail in this responsibility, but their failure does not change the fact that their authority comes from God.
Submission to governing authorities does not mean disobedience to God. Their authority comes from Him, and therefore it can never be greater than His. In 1 Peter 4:15–16, we are reminded that we should not be ashamed of suffering for Christ, but that we should not be suffering as murderers or thieves. When suffering for Christ is necessary, the Christian should not be ashamed to bear the marks of His calling, but we should not be known as a quarrelsome people. Paul has already stated that we should live at peace (Romans 12:18).
And so, Paul tells us to pay the authorities for the work they do for us as servants. The statement is clear: “Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” Again, 1 Peter adds, “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor” (1 Peter 2:17). These statements by both Paul and Peter are not said about an empire that is holy or led by a righteous emperor. They know Rome; they themselves had suffered under the hand of Rome. To make the point clearer, Jesus Himself says, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21).
As Christians, we must be careful to be good citizens. We are representatives of the true King, and He has commanded us to be honorable in our conduct, no matter whom He places on a human throne.
-steve