REAL MEANING OF ROMANS 13
It's Not about Submitting to Tyrants
Dictators' Pride and Romans 13
{I wrote this in 2005}
The Original Sin Is Pride
Original sin was not just disobeying God’s Commandment on not “eating” of a certain “tree”; the sin was also pride, which made man think he can decide for himself what is right and wrong, and doesn’t need God’s Word to tell him that. {God’s Word is not exactly the Bible}.
Gen. 2:17 <God said to Adam> But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
In the phrase, “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,” this “tree” is apparently symbolic, since no tree seems likely to be able to impart knowledge. Trees can symbolize several things. Trees are upright and upright has a double meaning that includes righteousness, so righteousness is compared to the tree of life. Pro. 11:30 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”
A similar feature of trees is loftiness, which can connote pride. The Hebrew word for “knowledge” in Gen. 2:17 can also mean cunning, which relates to pride. The word for “good” can also mean pleasure or wealth, types of self-seeking. The word for “evil” can also mean “affliction” and Jesus often implied that people’s afflictions are generally a result of sins. God said Adam would die on the day he were to eat of the tree. Since he didn’t die physically when he did eat of it, God must have meant he would die spiritually, which would eventually result in physical death as well. Sin causes our deaths and pride is a sin that blinds us to our own sinfulness. Therefore, pride is the most dangerous sin.
Substituting then in Gen. 2:17 for tree “pride,” for knowledge “cunning,” for good “greed,” and for eat “partake,” it says: Of the pride in the cunning of greed and evil you shall not partake of it <or you shall die spiritually and physically>.
Gen. 3:5 <The serpent said to Eve> For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
In the Bible, “god” often means magistrate or judge, and, when Satan said you will be like “gods, knowing good and evil,” this likely means you will be like a judge, able to decide right and wrong. But Satan is false. Man, with limited knowledge and wisdom, cannot decide right and wrong. We need God to tell us this, which is why we have God’s Law or God’s Word, found in the bible and in the minds and hearts of his people. God gives us free will to choose between what he says is right and wrong. But choosing wrong does not make it right. Lawmaking, by Government etc, that opposes God’s Word, is Us acting as gods by deciding Right & Wrong, instead of letting God decide for us. Groups and governments that make laws that contradict God’s Law are acting as false gods and the First Commandment tells us not to submit to any false gods.
The Bible often uses names of governments, such as Egypt, Sodom, Babylon, Rome and symbolic terms, like “beast,” to refer to wrongful Lawmaking and dominion. Terms like Fornication, Harlot, and Prostitute in the bible often refer to people who submit to such ungodly governments. Fornication in such cases means that we act as lovers of Satan, having intimate relations with him. The term Israel in the bible is sometimes used symbolically to mean God’s Kingdom on Earth. Those who submit to God’s rule, instead of man’s rule, are called Israel, faithful, the Bride of Christ, the Bride of God, etc.
Who Are Powers and Rulers in Romans 13?
Laurence Vance has complained in a previous LRC article that many ministers wrongly use Romans 13 as an excuse to excuse nearly any kind of government atrocity or abuse. I believe that Romans 13 is generally misunderstood and that the wider context of the New Testament shows the correct meaning. Let’s look at the first 7 verses of Romans 13 in the larger context.
Rom. 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.
Higher powers means God and his ministers and ordinances, not worldly rulers. God does not ordain worldly rulers, but only his ministers who do and teach his Word, or Law. The Greek word for “powers” also means privileges, freedoms, or rights. This is saying that all rights or freedoms come from God.
[2] Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Resisting man’s ungodly laws does not bring damnation or judgment. Only resisting God’s Law brings damnation. Many worldly rulers have had laws against God and God’s Law, even against being Christian etc <as per the new Iraqi government>, so obviously this is not referring to the power of worldly rulers, but only to the power of God and his Law and ministers. Worldly rulers again are not higher powers. And, since the word for power here means rights or freedoms, it’s likely saying that anyone, such as a worldly ruler, who resists or opposes human rights also opposes God’s lawful order.
[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:
Rulers again means ministers ordained by God, not worldly rulers. Likewise, the power again means God and God’s Law, not that of any worldly ruler. Worldly rulers praise evil as much as good.
[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.
Worldly rulers are not ministers of God. His ministers teach the Word of God, which is God’s Law. The Word of God is sometimes called a sword, as in Eph. 6:17 and in Rev. 1:16 & 2:12,16 where someone like Jesus is said to have a sword, meaning God’s Word, coming from his mouth, which destroys, i.e. destroys the pride of, the ungodly. Ministers use the same sword, the Word of God, to rebuke evil doers. Rebuking sinners is sometimes called the Wrath of God. This wrath begins with hurt pride.
[5] Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
This wrath is uncomfortable and embarrassing and manifests as ill health of body or mind. It tortures and destroys our pride. But we should be concerned not just about the pain of wrath, but also about righteousness, which is conscience.
[6] For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. [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.
Tribute here means voluntary tithes to our ministers, who attend to our salvation. Customs may refer to tithes to other ministries, when we travel.
1 Pet. 2:11-14 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; [12] Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. [13] Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; [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.
This passage and the previous one in Romans 13 are often misinterpreted to encourage undue submission to worldly rulers. This passage is talking about how to behave when traveling in other nations. It says to obey the laws there that are for the Lord’s sake, those that discourage evil and those that encourage righteousness. It does not say to obey laws that are not for the Lord’s sake, that encourage evil or oppose righteousness. And, indeed, the Apostles did not obey such laws, such as those against preaching about Jesus and his salvation or preaching about serving God rather than worldly rulers.
Rulers of the U.S.
If it’s okay to obey the powers that be, even if they’re not ministers of God, then, what if two different powers say to do two different things? For example, the Constitution is declared to be the supreme law of the U.S., because it is considered to be the will of the people and the people are the rulers, while government officials are servants of the people, i.e. public servants. No one is a higher authority than the Constitution, except for the Bible {i.e. the correct interpretations of the Bible, or at least the New Testament}. So, if the president or Congress or the Supreme Court command anyone to do anything contrary to the Constitution, which one do you obey, the public servants or the Constitution?
If the president or Congress tell you to support a war, but they don’t follow the procedures outlined in the Constitution, do you obey the public officials or the Constitution? If the Constitution is the higher authority and it says there can be war only if the Congress declares war by a proper vote of both houses, but Congress doesn’t vote to declare war, then, if you obey them by supporting or participating in the war, you’re breaking the law, just as the public servants are breaking the law. And if Congress passes laws that are unconstitutional, such as parts of the misnamed Patriot Act, can we obey such law-breaking, or vote for such law-breakers in Congress who pretend to make such laws? Does God excuse law-breaking, if a large majority of the people break the law?
Mat. 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.