Submission to Authority: Romans 13: 1-7

“No!” “I don’t want to!” “You can’t make me!” While these three phrases may sound like a three-year-old’s temper tantrum, probably more than a few of us have thought or said these words aloud to parents, teachers, and others that we are asked to obey and respect. In Romans, Paul uses the Greek word ύποτάσσω to describe submission. It means “to be under obedience; submit self unto.” That is a tall order in this “be your own person” age. Hopefully in the next few paragraphs, why God wants us to submit to authority will be revealed.

The title, “Romans” tells us that this book was written to the Church in Rome. The audience is a mixed group of Greek and Jewish Christians that make up the Roman Church. These people both shared a hatred of their Roman leaders, because they were unable to rule their own ethnicity groups. “Paul may have been intent on warning the Roman church…not to identify with any revolutionary movement advocating rebellion against Rome (Expositor’s).” Romans was written by Paul about 57 AD. At this time the emperor was Nero, who eventually came to be known as one of the most intolerant rulers where the Christian Church was concerned. Also, some Jews were returning to Rome after being kicked out by Claudius. They might have been returning embittered and so Paul was trying to keep them away from open rebellion (Expositor’s).

Submitting or obeying those who are above oneself is never something that is completely voluntary. Sometimes one has to dragged out by the ear in order for them to follow their authority. So, why is submitting to authority such a big deal? The first reason is that Jesus did it. Jesus set an example for us by submitting to the authority of His day. The second reason is we will be judged if we do not. In verse 2 of chapter 13 it is written, “Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” The word translated as judgment is κρίμα, meaning “avenge” or “condemnation.” God will avenge what we do wrong, and with Him being a righteous and just God, who wants to have that justice coming down on them? The third reason is, if we do what is right, the God ordained authority will commend you. The Literal Translation of the Bible differs from the NIV in that it does not use the word commend to describe what the authority will do, but the word “praise.” We can receive praise from our authority (and God) for submitting and obeying our authority.

This is so significant because so many people want a reason for having to obey authority. People, even in the Church, want to know what obeying their authority is going to get them. Paul has clearly outlined here that God will judge us for not submitting ourselves to those in charge, and he also states that praise will result from obeying those above us. This is our incentive for submitting to authority.

The Life Application Bible Commentary says, “To measure our progress in learning practical submission we can ask 5 questions (247).” 1) What challenges me in my submission? 2) To what persons in authority am I accountable to? 3) How submissive is my attitude toward each of these persons? 4) How well can I separate matters of authority from matters of differences, disagreements, envy, and ambition? And 5) In what specific ways can I demonstrate respect for authorities, even those I do not admire? These questions are a good start to bringing yourself to applying the principle of submitting to authorities in everyday life, but we are called to go farther. For some people that means listening and correcting their tone of voice when talking to their parents or teachers. For others, it may mean taking time out of the day to do something to serve the person in authority such as correcting papers, listening to them talk, or even just asking how their day went. However, the hardest thing to do would probably be to pray for those people; to ask God to bless the men and women above you. Being faithful to that prayer would probably help more than we can see.

To conclude, we all have difficulty obeying those who are above us, and we sometimes even have more trouble with respecting and honoring them, but God has placed them above us. Whether it is for the good of the state or nation, or for our own personal piece of humble pie, is God’s final, good, and perfect decision. He sees what we cannot, He knows what we never will, and He will do what is best for us. Let us face the facts: Authority is good for us.

Works Cited:

Barton, Bruce B. et all. Life Application Bible Commentary. Wheaton Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, 1992

Expositor’s Bible Commentary Software

Green, Jay P. Sr. The Interlinear Bible. (The Literal Translation of the Bible) Layfayette, Indiana: Sovereign Grace Publishers, 1986.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Nashville Tennesse: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990.

Life Application Study Bible. (NIV) Wheaton Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, 1991.