Who is Unafraid of the Government's Authority?
Thinking about Romans 13:3-4.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. (Romans 13:3-4)
After commanding Christians to be subject to the governing authorities, explaining why this was necessary, and warning them of the consequences, Paul goes into greater detail about the consequences of not submitting to the government’s authority.
Who is not afraid of the government’s authority?
The United States government has the authority to put people into prison for the rest of their life, or even execute a person for their crimes.
And yet, I don’t live in fear of the government doing this to me - and you probably don’t either.
Why?
Because if you follow the laws and submit to the governing authorities, you do not need to be afraid of the consequences of breaking the law. The government tends not to bother people who are law-abiding citizens in subjection to the government.
Paul is urging Christians not to get caught up in the political unrest in Rome because that would make them a target for punishment.
But Paul may also be referring to something else as well.
Bruce Winter added another layer of interpretation. He said that doing “good” in Romans 13:3 did not have to do with being morally good, but with civic benefaction. In Rome, there was a “binding obligation on the ‘Council and the People’” to honor those who had become benefactors to Rome by using their money for some public good. For the “good” to be individual morally good acts that the Roman government recognized and rewarded would be impossible in a city of over one million inhabitants. Winter said, “Paul knew that there were individuals in the Christian community of sufficient influence and financial means to undertake such benefactions, some of whom he named in Romans 16. - Pollard, Truth for Today Commentary, 469
If this is the case, then Paul is not merely encouraging Christians to be law-abiding citizens, he is also encouraging them to be active forces for good in their communities - such as helping the poor and sick.
If Christians would abide by the laws, submit to the government, and work for the good of their community - this would not bring the government’s wrath upon them but would cause them to be praised.
Who should be afraid of the government’s authority?
In context, the ones who do evil are those who do not submit to the government’s authority. Paul said they ought to be afraid of the government.
Those who resist the government’s authority or rebel against the government make themselves a target. The government does not bear the sword in vain - they have the right to punish those who resist them.
The Bible points to many pagan peoples and rulers who served as instruments of God’s wrath (see Isaiah 13:5; Jeremiah 50:25). They functioned in this capacity, even while consciously fighting against God and His purposes. - Pollard, Truth for Today Commentary, 471
Those who resist the government’s authority are ultimately rebelling against God’s authority (Romans 13:1-2).
Rather than get caught up in political unrest or uprisings against the government, Christians should be law-abiding citizens who actively seek the good of their local communities.
Even if we do what Paul says here and we still are made to suffer unjustly by the government - as it happened to many Christians at the hands of Rome - Peter reminds us that it is still the blessed life.
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:13-17)
This is what it means to be a “living sacrifice” for God (Romans 12:1-2).
Basically it seems to come down to if the authority is being good stewards of the divine authority granted them it’s our duty to submit.
When they don’t and start to command things that places Christian in an either or position we have the duty to follow God and not men.
First let me start with a thanks for posting these articles, it’s been a challenging read even if I don’t fully agree. They are a great reminder that we sharpen each other towards living in accordance with Gods word.
In my question about lockdowns from your post on Roman’s 13:1-2 you said the principle is found in acts 5 that when faced with situations where we can’t obey both we obey God.
Here though you say in context of these verses doing evil it’s not obeying the authority God gave the government.
It seems that’s two contradictory stances, in fact these verses seem to be telling us groups of Christian’s shouldn’t have meet during the height of Covid lockdowns.
By meeting we were committing evil acts because we were disobeying the authorities.