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.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
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:
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 his is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath up him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath but also for conscience sake.
6 For this is cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually up this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due: custom to whom custom: fear to whom fear: honor to whom honor.
Romans 13: 1-7 KJV
As nearly all Christian Anarchists can attest, the usage of Romans 13 has been thrown in our faces countless times as a sort of no contest card by those in support of the state. However, I argue that their perverted usage of this chapter is nothing short of ignorant when it is read from the King James Version(KJV).
As we see in Romans verse 1 (KJV), our souls are subject to the higher powers and the “powers that be are ordained by God”. In Matthew 23:10 we are told: “Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.” If Christ is the only man that we call Master then who is the higher power that we are subject to? It surely can’t be the “governing authorities” that you will read of in the New American Standard Bible (NASB) and English Standard (ESV) translations.
In Romans verse 2 of the KJV, we are told: “whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God.” For it to be true that resisting a government’s laws also means we are resisting the ordinance of God, then the laws put in place by any government would have to be God’s laws. This would including taxation (theft), incarceration (kidnapping), murder (the death penalty) and genocide (war). These clearly fly directly in the face of Romans 13:9 (KVJ) which states:
Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shall not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet: and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
There are countless examples of atrocities committed, not only by those currently in power, but those who have been in power in the past, who have used Romans 13 as justification for their actions and to garner support. There are countless examples, from German pastors of the 1930’s and 40’s amassing support for the Third Reich, to the defense of slavery in the American south, all the way to 2018, when Attorney General Jeff Sessions quoted Romans 13 (poorly), in order to defend the separation of families and the caging of children. A mild understanding of history and the atrocities committed by those in power is all it takes to see that the Government cannot possibly be who Paul is directing us to obey, i.e. Christ. Even as Paul tells us that rulers “are not a terror to good works,” we must remember that, ultimately, it was the Roman State that killed Christ for his good works.
We will now examine Romans 13:4 (KJV) in relation to Romans 12:19 (KJV). Romans 12:19 (KJV) states:
“Dearly beloved avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written Vengeance is mine: I will repay, saith the Lord.”
When we turn to Romans 13:4 (KJV) we see it is written:
“...he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”
I remember the first time I read Romans 12 and 13 back to back, and as soon as I read “revenger” in Romans 13 (KJV) the first thing that came to my mind was: “I JUST READ ABOUT THIS GUY!”. If vengeance belongs to the Lord, which we are told us explicitly in Deuteronomy 32:35 (KJV), how can Romans 13 (KJV) possibly be talking about anyone else? When we look at Romans verses 6 and 7(KJV), Paul has laid out exactly who we should recognize as the higher power. This higher power is the one who we are supposed to pay tribute and custom. In Mark 12:17 (KJV) we are told to:
“render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.”
In Luke 23:2 (KJV), as Christ is taken before Pilate, the chief priests proclaim:
“We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar.”
It is because of this verse in Luke that we know Christ was in fact repudiating the state’s claim to tributes as well as customs. Paul continues in Romans 13:7(KJV), he tells us that we owe “fear to whom fear” is due. As Christ told us in Matthew 10:28 (KJV), “fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell,” if we are to pay fear to anyone then it is to God and God alone and not those who kill the body, i.e. the state.
The last thing we are told by Paul in verse 7 (KJV), is that we owe “honour to whom honour” is due. Christ tells us, in John 5:23 (KJV), “that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.” This stands to reason that Paul would not be telling us to honour the state after Christ had already given us instruction to honour Him and the Father.
As Christians, Paul gave us a step by step guide to giving glory to God in this particular chapter of Romans. However, it is of no great surprise that such a powerful chapter has been perverted to be used as propaganda by those who seek to rule. Yet, when we read from the King James Version of the Bible, it allows us to understand that Paul was most definitely not referring to any “governing authorities” when he addressed the Romans.