Verses — pvj-18: Government Submission¶

Paul on Government Submission¶

Romans 13:1-7 (Core passage)¶

Romans 13:1 — "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." Romans 13:2 — "Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation." Romans 13:3 — "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:" Romans 13:4 — "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." Romans 13:5 — "Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake." Romans 13:6 — "For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing." Romans 13:7 — "Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour."

Context: Romans 12 (preceding chapter)¶

Romans 12:14 — "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not." Romans 12:17 — "Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men." Romans 12:18 — "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." Romans 12:19 — "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Romans 12:21 — "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

Titus 3:1-2¶

Titus 3:1 — "Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work," Titus 3:2 — "To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men."

1 Timothy 2:1-2¶

1 Timothy 2:1 — "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;" 1 Timothy 2:2 — "For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."

Paul on "Princes of This World" (Potential Self-Contradiction)¶

1 Corinthians 2:6-8¶

1 Corinthians 2:6 — "Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:" 1 Corinthians 2:7 — "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:" 1 Corinthians 2:8 — "Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."

Jesus on Government / Authority¶

Matthew 22:17-22 (Render unto Caesar)¶

Matthew 22:17 — "Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?" Matthew 22:18 — "But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?" Matthew 22:19 — "Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny." Matthew 22:20 — "And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?" Matthew 22:21 — "They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."

John 18:33-38 (My kingdom is not of this world)¶

John 18:36 — "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." John 18:37 — "Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth."

John 19:10-11 (Power given from above)¶

John 19:10 — "Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?" John 19:11 — "Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin."

Matthew 21:12-13 (Temple cleansing)¶

Matthew 21:12 — "And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves," Matthew 21:13 — "And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves."

Luke 13:31-33 (Calling Herod "that fox")¶

Luke 13:31 — "The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee." Luke 13:32 — "And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected." Luke 13:33 — "Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem."

Matthew 26:52-54 (Put up thy sword / submission to arrest)¶

Matthew 26:52 — "Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." Matthew 26:53 — "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" Matthew 26:54 — "But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?"

Matthew 17:24-27 (Temple tax / tribute money)¶

Matthew 17:24 — "And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?" Matthew 17:25 — "He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?" Matthew 17:26 — "Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free." Matthew 17:27 — "Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee."

Matthew 20:25-28 (Princes of Gentiles exercise dominion)¶

Matthew 20:25 — "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them." Matthew 20:26 — "But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;" Matthew 20:27 — "And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:" Matthew 20:28 — "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Peter on Government¶

Acts 4:18-21 (Whether right to hearken unto you more than God)¶

Acts 4:18 — "And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus." Acts 4:19 — "But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye." Acts 4:20 — "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."

Acts 5:27-32 (We ought to obey God rather than men)¶

Acts 5:28 — "Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us." Acts 5:29 — "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."

1 Peter 2:13-17¶

1 Peter 2:13 — "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;" 1 Peter 2:14 — "Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well." 1 Peter 2:15 — "For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:" 1 Peter 2:16 — "As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God." 1 Peter 2:17 — "Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king."

Paul's Own Encounters with Government¶

Acts 16:35-40 (Demanding apology from magistrates)¶

Acts 16:37 — "But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out." Acts 16:38 — "And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans."

Acts 22:25-29 (Claiming Roman citizenship)¶

Acts 22:25 — "And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?"

Acts 23:1-5 (Before Sanhedrin / high priest)¶

Acts 23:3 — "Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?" Acts 23:5 — "Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people."

Acts 25:10-12 (Appeal to Caesar)¶

Acts 25:10 — "Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest." Acts 25:11 — "For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar."

2 Corinthians 11:23-25 (Paul's sufferings)¶

2 Corinthians 11:23 — "Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft." 2 Corinthians 11:25 — "Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;"

OT Precedents¶

Daniel 3:16-18 (Refusing king's command)¶

Daniel 3:16 — "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter." Daniel 3:17 — "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king." Daniel 3:18 — "But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."

Daniel 6:10 (Praying despite decree)¶

Daniel 6:10 — "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime."

God as source of government authority¶

Proverbs 8:15 — "By me kings reign, and princes decree justice." Daniel 2:21 — "And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:" Daniel 4:17 — "...to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men."

Cross-Testament Parallels for ROM 13:1¶

1PE 3:22 (authorities subject to Christ) — hybrid 0.409
1TI 2:2 (pray for those in authority) — hybrid 0.379
1PE 2:13 (submit to ordinance of man) — hybrid 0.367
1PE 5:5 (submit to one another) — hybrid 0.369

Research phase: 2026-03-03