Principalities, Powers, & Allegiances: 1 Peter 2:13-17 & Romans 13:1-7

1 Peter 2 and Romans 13 have some parallelisms. Yet in 1 Peter there’s no mention of 1) Taxes, 2) Wrath, 3) governing officials being God’s servants, and 4) the discussion of “fear” is in relation to God and not authorities in 1 Peter vs Romans.

The American/Western interpretation of Romans 13 (4 myths)

From Luther’s justification of the prince killing peasants in a revolt to Hitler and the holocaust to the apartheid in Africa, Romans 13 has been used to justify the “divine right of kings” and the goodness of the government. Recently Jeff Sessions used Rom 13 to justify splitting immigrant families up at the border because the government has the right to because it was ordained by God.

#1- Everyone should “obey” the government

#2- God chooses government leaders

#3- God approves of the government’s use of violence (bearing the sword)

#4- Christians can/should work in government

An Alternative Examination of Romans 13

The Context of Romans

A Deuteronomy 32 Worldview

Submit to Governing Authorities

Ordained by God

Bear the sword and avengers of wrath

Authorities are God’s servants and Ministers of God

Taxes

3 Options of interpretation

Western view

• Paul is telling everyone to “obey” government
• God chooses even the leaders
• God approves of Government’s use of the sword (war and capital punishment)
• Since this is all approved and God ordained, it is a good thing for even Christians to work in government and military

Anti-Imperial view

• Romans 12 is about the Christian, Romans 13 is about the hardest enemy to love- the state, because it is anti-Kingdom of God (the Greek voice changes between these chapters)
• God allows the system government to keep peace and justice until Jesus returns, but it is ultimately a rejection of God
• Christians should not revolt or take revenge but leave that to God, zealotry and patriotism go against the Romans 12/Sermon on the Mount way of life. This leads to the fact that Christians should not work in Government. “The sword” is about local civil justice (policing)
• Evil nations were used for God’s purposes in the OT and this explains the “servants” and “ministers” of God verses. It doesn’t mean that God approved of them. God uses Assyria to punish Israel but then God condemned them for the excessive violence.
• Need to keep “Wrath” in its context in Romans (God handing people over to the consequences of that they chose).
• Taxes are given but not owed- Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and God what is God’s. The only debt owed is love (Rom 13:8).

Neighborhood view

• Based on historical findings and the literary context of the weak and the strong, it seems like Paul is talking about interpersonal relationships in the local neighborhood.
• Rome was divided up into neighborhoods with an “authority” appointed (like an HOA manager). The authorities were in charge of keeping order. These people were not necessarily “government officials” but they did manage the neighborhood for Caesar and the state.
• Christians may have been tempted to not pay the “dues” (not a tax) due to how the money might be used (upkeep of altars, pagan festivals, etc). Paul’s concern is that they should still pay them but what is “owed” is love alone.
• This fits with the context of Romans 12 which is all about how to live and love as a living sacrifice.
• Similar to 1 Peter 2 this behavior may lead to the winning over of their pagan neighbors.