Romans 13:1-7 Teaching Outline

"Under Authority, But Under God"

1. Start With the Context

• Romans 12:19-21 leads directly into Romans 13.
• Christians are forbidden from personal vengeance.
• "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
• Romans 13 explains the role of governing authority in maintaining public order and justice.
• Paul is writing to Christians living under pagan Rome, not a Christian government.

2. Recognize Legitimate Authority, Romans 13:1

• "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities."
• Greek: hypotasso, to order oneself under.
• Submission and obedience are related, but not identical.
• Submission recognizes legitimate authority.
• Obedience follows the commands of authority.
• Christianity rejects a rebellious spirit toward authority.

3. Understand Where Authority Comes From

• "There is no authority except from God."
• Romans 13 begins with theology, not politics.
• God possesses ultimate authority.
• Human authority is delegated authority.
• No ruler possesses autonomous or absolute authority.
• Above every earthly throne stands the throne of God.

4. Distinguish God's Sovereignty From God's Approval

• God establishing authority does not mean God approves everything authorities do.
• Pharaoh had authority, God judged Pharaoh.
• Nebuchadnezzar had authority, God humbled Nebuchadnezzar.
• Herod had authority, God judged Herod.
• Pilate had authority, Jesus reminded him that it came "from above" (John 19:11).
• Authority that comes from God remains accountable to God.

5. Understand Government's God-Given Assignment, Romans 13:3-4

• Government is called God's "servant," diakonos.
• Restrain evil.
• Protect what is good.
• Administer justice.
• Preserve social order.
• Government does not create morality.
• God defines good and evil.
• Government is a servant, not the Master.

6. Distinguish Personal Revenge From Public Justice

• Romans 12:19: "Never avenge yourselves."
• Romans 13:4: Government "does not bear the sword in vain."
• Individuals are forbidden from personal vengeance.
• Legitimate government has authority to administer public justice.
• Justice requires consequences for wrongdoing.

7. Remember Human Depravity

• Government is necessary partly because humanity is fallen.
• Fallen people require restraint and accountability.
• But the people governing are fallen too.
• Therefore, both citizens and rulers require accountability.
• Avoid two extremes:
  • Anarchy: "Nobody has authority over me."
  • Idolatry: "Government should have unlimited authority."
• Biblical Christianity embraces neither.

8. Establish the Limits of Government Authority

• Governmental authority is real, but it is not ultimate.
• Scripture interprets Scripture.
• Exodus 1:17: Hebrew midwives disobey Pharaoh.
• Daniel 3: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to bow.
• Daniel 6: Daniel continues praying.
• Acts 4:18-20: Peter and John refuse to stop preaching.
• Acts 5:29: "We must obey God rather than men."

9. Understand Biblical Civil Disobedience

• Biblical resistance is not rooted in "Nobody tells me what to do."
• It is rooted in "God has already told me what to do."
• When government commands what God forbids, obey God.
• When government forbids what God commands, obey God.
• Christian resistance recognizes a higher authority rather than rejecting authority altogether.
• Resistance should remain rooted in conviction, not hatred.

10. Be Willing to Accept the Cost of Conviction

• The Hebrew midwives risked Pharaoh's wrath.
• Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced the furnace.
• Daniel faced the lions' den.
• The apostles faced imprisonment and beatings.
• Biblical courage does not require freedom from consequences.
• "I cannot obey this command because my conscience belongs to God."
• Faithfulness cannot depend upon convenience.

11. Move From Compliance to Conscience, Romans 13:5

• Paul gives two motivations for submission:
  • Fear of consequences.
  • Conscience before God.
• Compliance asks: "What can I get away with?"
• Character asks: "What is right before God?"
• Christian integrity exists even when nobody is watching.
• Romans 13 is ultimately about discipleship, not merely politics.

12. Pay What You Owe, Romans 13:6-7

• Paul specifically mentions taxes.
• Christians in Rome were paying taxes to a pagan empire.
• Jesus: "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's."
• Romans 13:7 identifies:
  • Taxes.
  • Revenue.
  • Respect.
  • Honor.
• Christians should fulfill legitimate civic obligations.

13. Understand Caesar's Limit

• Matthew 22:21: Caesar's image is on the coin.
• Genesis 1:27: God's image is on humanity.
• Caesar can receive what legitimately belongs to Caesar.
• God receives what belongs to God.
• Government cannot possess:
  • Worship.
  • Ultimate allegiance.
  • The believer's conscience.
  • The authority to redefine God.
  • The role of Savior.

14. Refuse Political Idolatry

• Political idolatry can happen with governments we oppose or governments we support.
• Every ruler is temporary.
• Every administration is temporary.
• Every empire is temporary.
• Every nation is temporary.
• God's kingdom is eternal.
• Psalm 146:3: "Put not your trust in princes."
• Rulers may have legitimate responsibilities, but they make terrible messiahs.
• Government cannot forgive sin, regenerate hearts, raise the dead, or provide eternal life.
• Only Christ saves.

15. Practice Honor Without Confusing It With Agreement, Romans 13:7

• Honor is not necessarily approval.
• Respect is not agreement.
• Submission is not worship.
• Disagreement is not automatically rebellion.
• Christians can:
  • Respect an office while challenging an action.
  • Oppose injustice without becoming unjust.
  • Tell the truth without becoming cruel.
  • Stand firmly without becoming arrogant.
  • Refuse sinful commands without developing a rebellious spirit.

16. Ask: "Has Politics Discipled Me More Than Jesus?"

• Romans 13 follows Romans 12.
• Bless those who persecute you.
• Live in harmony.
• Do not be arrogant.
• Repay no one evil for evil.
• Never avenge yourself.
• Feed your enemy.
• Overcome evil with good.
• Our political behavior cannot contradict our Christian character.

17. Hold the Biblical Tension

• Honor authority because God establishes order.
• Question absolute claims to authority because only God is absolute.
• Obey legitimate authority because conscience matters.
• Refuse commands that require disobedience to God.
• Pay what you owe.
• Show proper respect.
• Pursue peace.
• Bow to Christ alone.

18. Connect Romans 13:7 to Romans 13:8

• Verse 7: Pay what you owe.
• Verse 8: "Owe no one anything, except to love each other."
• Taxes can be paid.
• Bills can be settled.
• Civic obligations can be fulfilled.
• The Christian's debt of love is never finished.

19. Bring Everything Back to Allegiance

• How do I relate to authority? Through allegiance to God.
• How do I respond to unjust authority? Through allegiance to God.
• How do I treat political opponents? Through allegiance to God.
• How do I respond when obedience becomes costly? Through allegiance to God.
• The ultimate question is not: "Do I trust government?"
• The ultimate question is: "Do I trust God?"

20. Closing Truth

• Governments change.
• Rulers change.
• Laws change.
• Nations rise and fall.
• Jesus Christ remains the same.
• Be courageous without being consumed.
• Resist evil without becoming evil.
• Honor authority without worshiping authority.
• Submit without surrendering conscience.
• Disagree without hatred.
• Accept consequences without abandoning conviction.
• Every earthly authority is real, but temporary.
• Every earthly throne sits beneath a higher throne.
• Caesar may deserve honor, but only Jesus deserves worship.
• Jesus is Lord, and every other authority answers to Him.