Romans 13:1, I never can grasp this , can you read and give insight ?

Question

I received in Zondervan's email today this verse above and then this:
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
So then please answer in kindness for I seek only the hard truth, what about Hitler. It doesn't read to me that there are any exceptions, what am I missing ? and Musolini ???

In the general course of human affairs, rulers are not a terror to honest, quiet, and good subjects, but to evil-doers. ...was stated below in an answer and I totally disagree, I think we are only fooling ourselves if we take this la la attitude. ignorance is no excuse

Answer 1

Romans 13:1

Obey the Government, for God is the one who has put it there. There is no government anywhere that God has not placed in power.

Hitler was not doing the will of God.

Answer 2

The grace of the gospel teaches us submission and quiet, where pride and the carnal mind only see causes for murmuring and discontent. Whatever the persons in authority over us themselves may be, yet the just power they have, must be submitted to and obeyed. In the general course of human affairs, rulers are not a terror to honest, quiet, and good subjects, but to evil-doers. Such is the power of sin and corruption, that many will be kept back from crimes only by the fear of punishment. Thou hast the benefit of the government, therefore do what thou canst to preserve it, and nothing to disturb it. This directs private persons to behave quietly and peaceably where God has set them, 1Ti 2:1, 2. Christians must not use any trick or fraud. All smuggling, dealing in contraband goods, withholding or evading duties, is rebellion against the express command of God. Thus honest neighbours are robbed, who will have to pay the more; and the crimes of smugglers, and others who join with them, are abetted. It is painful that some professors of the gospel should countenance such dishonest practices. The lesson here taught it becomes all Christians to learn and practise, that the godly in the land will always be found the quiet and the peaceable in the land, whatever others are. (Ro 13:8-10)

Answer 3

When you take just one verse I can see where that would seem to lead to a ludicrous conclusion -- Christians should obey Hitler because he is the government authority.

However if you read the entire passage, it is referring to a theology called "easy believeism" Some Christians believed that since they were no longer subject to the law because Jesus paid the price for their sins, then they could sin all they want to. This included breaking civil law. In the passage Paul condemns "easy believeism."

Paul reminds Christians that if they have the Spirit of Christ living in their hearts then they will do good not bad. Some people believed that when someone became a Christian then they were no longer subject to the laws of the state.
Paul was warning the early church that they should not listen to those who said it was okay not to obey the laws of the state that kept order. This was a sign of "easy believeism" and Paul is giving warning to Christians not to be fooled.

Paul spoke out against sin in so many passages I don't see how anyone could come to the conclusion that he would support the evil practices of Hitler and Musolini. In some of Paul's letters he is clearly referring to Nero and condemning his excesses which is part of the reason Paul was martyred. If Paul spoke out against Nero, the Christians should also speak out when they see evil being done by government officials.

Answer 4

I know, it is hard to think about God establishing the Nazi Government - but could even that horrific regime been part of His master plan - for example, the restoration of the Jewish State in Israel? Also - at what point if any would God perhaps accept the open revolt of His people against an oppressive government?

Honestly I don't know.

I think in some things - we just have to accept we are not God and won't have all the answers - "now we know in part, and we see but as a poor reflection in a mirror; then we shall know fully even as we are fully known" - and I can be content just knowing Jesus Christ and His Crucifixion and my salvation.

Answer 5

When this passage was written, there was no human law which was in contradiction to the will of God. Paul could truly say "obey the law" without qualification, because there was no law on the books at the time that was objectionable from a Christian perspective: Christians weren't being persecuted or told to give up or compromise their faith; they were under the protective classification of being a Jewish sect.

Had this been written ten years later, the instructions would assuredly have been tempered differently, and be more along the lines of Acts 5:29, where a choice did indeed have to be made between obeying God and man.

Answer 6

The authority implied would mean God's law, (ten commandments as the base). His church and the people who are the priests, nuns, deacons, pastors, preachers, etc are the authorities representing God. As for Hitler and Mussy, read the next passage, 13:2; IMO.

Answer 7

some argue that that could very well mean "church" authorities
not governmental authorities.

and the correct KJV reads:

Rom 13:1 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.

Answer 8

Hitler and Mussolini did not exist at the time this was written....I do not think this refers to people like them....it was referring to righteous governments....not evil ones.

I am not sure where the verse is, but there is another one that says we can disobey any government in any matter that opposes the law of God.

Answer 9

(vs 1-5) Submission to Civil Authorities
I have found consistently when the subject of submission to human authority comes up people will object on the basis of the imperfection of human authority. It seems a part of human nature to find excuses not to submit to authority. We may demonize them in our thinking, only calling to mind their sinfulness so as to feel justfied in rebelling against them. I'm sure that Paul often was faced with Christians complaining about the injustice and oppression of the Roman authorities. Of course human authority only has a limited realm of authority, but within that realm they are legitimate God-ministering authorities. And in this sense Paul is speaking of these civil authorities. If they are rewarding evil and punishing good, they are acting outside their legitimate realm of authority. But that does not nullify their God-given authority to reward good and punish evil. The Old Testament has many examples of God using pagan authority figures as his ministers, and punishing them if they overstep their authority. "Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath!" Isaiah 10:5 (niv)

At the time, FEAR was the primary motivator to get people to submit to authority. The more rebellious the people, the more oppressive the Romans were. The Romans even developed crucifixion to terrorize the people into submission. However, Paul was introducing another motivation here - submission FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE. As imperfect as they were, these civil authorities were legitimate ministers of God. I suppose that Paul empathized with them, as he also was a minister of God in a position of authority. And he also motivated people to follow Jesus out of fear and for conscience sake.

From http://www.bcbsr.com/books/rom13.html

Answer 10

Probably going to get a violation for this answer. But I will explain what I think anyway.

Throughout the OT God often punished the Jews before redeeming them. I often wonder if Hitler was a punishment of God upon the Jews for their faithlessness before returning them to their homeland.