What in the Word? Must Christians Submit to Government? | Kaitlyn Schiess on Romans 13:1–7
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Feb 20, 2025 
Kaitlyn Schiess, author of "The Ballot and the Bible" and a theology student at Duke Divinity School, dives deep into Romans 13, exploring the nuanced command for Christians to submit to governing authorities. She discusses various interpretations of this passage, the historical context, and the implications of civil disobedience. Schiess highlights the balance between obedience to earthly powers and the ultimate authority of Christ while encouraging thoughtful engagement with politics informed by faith.
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Contextual Interpretation of Romans 13
- Arguing that Romans 13 is entirely contextual and offers no instruction is problematic.
- Paul's reasoning, that governing authorities are instituted by God, applies to all authorities.
Consistent Application of Romans 13
- A good test of understanding a passage is consistency in its application.
- Selectively appealing to Romans 13 suggests a misunderstanding.
God's Appointment of Rulers
- God's appointment of rulers doesn't equal endorsement of all their actions, just like with Cyrus in Isaiah.
- Paul uses Romans 13 to address the early church's questions about identity and authority.
