Romans 13 - Submission to authorities

[Hannamarie.Tribe]

Exactly! The whole idea is to submit ourselves to HIM and HE will take care of us in the face of our leaders, etc.

[Jasgirl]

Most people when they read Romans 13 see Paul as talking about government authorities--that we should submit to secular authorities. I would suggest that maybe Paul is actually talking about submitting to a religious authority rather than telling the believers to submit to the Roman government.

But- Paul didn't submit to the religious authorities, like the Pharisee's. And also, i have a feeling it is more about government, because it talks a lot of Proverbs about obeying the king and such, and in other parts of the Bible, too.

[MadMath]

But- Paul didn't submit to the religious authorities, like the Pharisee's.

He didn't?

Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial."
(Acts 23:6 ESV)

Paul argued in his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense."
(Acts 25:8 ESV)

Additionally, to not submit to the religious authorities would have been to go against Yeshua's words:
"The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you--but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice."
(Matthew 23:2-3 ESV)