TEACHING NOTES Introduction The 2024 election has come to a close and we have new leadership. What now? How should Christians respond to new leadership? What if our desired candidates did not win? How are we to live under governing authorities who do not honor God’s Word? All of these questions were faced by the earliest Christians, which is why the apostles gave instructions on this issue. ‌ The Problem: American Christians want and even expect national leaders to behave and govern according to the Word of God. This expectation causes a constant state of disappointment and division. ‌ A Kingdom Among Kingdoms: The people of God have always been a kingdom among kingdoms. For most of history, God’s people have been a kingdom within other kingdoms. ‌ This means that God’s people have almost always lived under the rule of ungodly leaders. God’s people being ruled by godly leaders is rare in the Bible and rare in history. ‌ The Big Question: How should the church behave under the rule of human governments? ‌ In this session, we’re going to answer that question by learning from Paul and Peter, who were executed by the government. ‌ Romans 13:1–2 1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. ‌ Know the Context: Many modern readers of Paul’s letter to the Romans do not know the context in which he is writing. This causes us to miss what Paul is trying to accomplish and misunderstand the letter. Paul’s main goal is to address division between Jewish and Gentile Christians in the Roman church. The church in Rome began as a majority Jewish church led by Jewish Christians. Around 49 AD, the emperor Claudius expelled all Jews (both Christian and non-Christian) from Rome. After Claudius died in 54 AD, the Jews were eventually allowed to return to Rome. When the Jewish Christians returned, they came back to a Gentile church that has become very different than how they left it. This led to division on issues of leadership, Torah laws, circumcision, etc. The Jewish Christians have a negative view of their Gentile brothers and sisters and the Gentile Christians have a negative view of their Jewish brothers and sisters. Paul’s main goal in Romans is to reunify the church by explaining how the Gospel has brought Jews and Gentiles into one family of God. ‌ Be subject = Grk. hypotassestho - submit, obey. Paul uses the same word in Titus 3:1–2 “1 Remind them to be submissive [hypotassesthai] to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” ‌ Governing authorities = Grk. hyperechousais exousiais - higher authorities/powers. In many other passages, Paul uses “rulers and authorities” to refer to spiritual beings (Eph. 6:12; 1 Cor. 2:8; Col. 2:15). But here Paul is referring to human rulers like kings, emperors, and governors. ‌ No authority except from God = The Bible is clear that human rulers are allowed to rule because God allows it or directs it. God can remove any human ruler at any time. God even allowed spiritual beings (the sons of God) to be in charge of the nations after the tower of Babel (Deut. 32:8-9). ‌ Daniel 2:20–21 “20 Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. 21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;” ‌ John 19:11 “Jesus answered him [Pilate], ‘You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.’” ‌ Whoever resists = The translation is too soft here. The Greek word for “resists” here is antitassomenos, which is a present tense verb meaning “to be hostile or rebellious.” Therefore, Paul is not talking about minor disobedience or resistance. Paul is talking about active hostility and rebellion. The New Testament clearly describes Christians disobeying rulers, but only when those rulers command Christians to disobey Christ. But Christians are never told to try to overthrow the government. ‌ When should Christians disobey the government? Christians should obey any law that does not require us to disobey the Word of God. ‌ Romans 13:3–4 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. ‌ Rulers are not a terror to good conduct = Obviously, Paul is not making an absolute statement but a more general statement. Not all rulers are good to those who are good and bad to those who are bad. Many rulers are corrupt. Paul is speaking about God’s intention for the role of rulers. ‌ Do what is good = Paul’s instructions here are common sense. You won’t be arrested and punished if you do not break the law. We must also keep in mind that Paul wrote this before Rome began to persecute Christians. Paul is writing around AD 56-58. Roman persecution of Christians did not begin until AD 64 when emperor Nero blamed Christians for a major fire in Rome. ‌ He is God’s servant = Paul uses the word for deacon here (diakonos). Even evil rulers like Nero can be used by God for good. Paul is telling us that all human rulers are servants of God, whether they know it or not. God has authority over all rulers. ‌ Avenger = Grk. ekdikos - one who punishes wrongdoing. God uses human rulers to keep evil in check. ‌ Romans 13:5–7 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 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. ‌ For the sake of conscience = Grk. ten syneidesin - the inward faculty of distinguishing right and wrong. Peter uses the same word when speaking of suffering unjustly in 1 Peter 2:19 “For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful [syneidesin] of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.” ‌ Because of this you pay taxes = The Roman historian Tacitus mentions that there were tax protests in AD 58 (Tacitus Ann. 13.50-51). Also, the Jews in Judea were starting to rebel against Rome at this time, and that spirit of rebellion may have been spreading to Jewish communities around the empire. Paul’s teaching about taxes is based on Jesus’ teaching (Matt. 17:24-27; 22:15-22). Paul connects taxes to supporting governing authorities as “ministers of God” who are devoting their lives to public service. ‌ Pay to all what is owed to them = Christians are commanded to pay taxes if they are owed. We are also commanded to pay “revenue” which in Greek is telos, meaning to finish or complete—likely referring to debts here. So, Christians should be known as people who obey the law and pay their debts. We are also called to respect and honor those to whom it is due. ‌ 1 Peter 2:11–12 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. ‌ Sojourners and exiles = The early Christians understood that they were the kingdom of God living among the kingdoms of this world. Peter is using language from the story of Israel, who began as sojourners in Egypt and were later exiles in Assyria and Babylon. Peter is making the point that God’s people are called to be faithful even when in exile. ‌ Abstain from passions of the flesh = Passions of the flesh refer to sinful desires. As followers of Jesus, we are called to “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16). As we live in a culture driven by fleshly desires, the church must remain holy. ‌ Live honorably among the Gentiles = The church must live differently than than the world around us if we want to reach people with the Gospel. The Greek word for Gentiles here is ethnos, which is often the word for the pagan nations. ‌ When they speak against you as evildoers = The early Christians often faced various false accusations. They were accused of speaking against the Torah, condemning the temple, and cannibalism. Roman letters from the early centuries of the church show that these claims were investigated and found baseless. Roman officials actually write that the Christians were the most honorable citizens. The big issue with Rome is that the Christians refused to worship other gods. ‌ The day of visitation = This refers the final day of judgment. In the Bible, this is also called “The Day of the LORD.” ‌ 1 Peter 2:13–15 13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. ‌ Be subject for the Lord’s sake = Peter is clear that we submit to governing authorities not for their sake but for the Lord’s sake. When we must disobey governing authorities—when they command us to disobey God—we are also doing this for the Lord’s sake. ‌ Human institution = Grk. anthropine ktisei - human creation, human ordinance. ‌ To the emperor as supreme = We must remember that Nero was the emperor of Rome when Peter is writing this letter. This is the same emperor under whom both Paul and Peter were martyred. ‌ To governors = In the Roman empire, Rome was the capitol where the emperor and senate ruled and various regions outside of Rome were ruled by governors or praetors (like Pontius Pilate). ‌ Put to silence foolish people = The early Christians did not protest nor try to change the Roman empire. They led quiet lives as commanded by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12 “11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” ‌ 1 Peter 2:16–17 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. ‌ Live as people who are free = We have been set free from the slavery of sin and death. We are no longer under the power and authority of darkness. So, we should live as people who are set free from sin and are now servants of God. ‌ Not using freedom for evil = Many people who believe in God’s forgiveness often take advantage of grace and continue living in sin. Using grace as an excuse to sin is condemned (see Rom. 6). ‌ Living as servants of God = We have been set free from sin, but that is not the whole story. We have been set free from one master to serve the Master. Just as God delivered Israel from slavery to Egypt so that Israel could dwell with and serve Him, the same is true for us. ‌ Honor everyone = This includes those with whom we disagree. Love the brotherhood = The brotherhood refers to the family of God. Fear God = God is the highest authority and most to be feared. ‌ Honor the emperor = Don’t forget that Peter is referring to Nero, who stood out among the emperors of Rome as extremely evil and brutal. ‌ Next Week: King Jesus