Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Romans 13:1

"Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the [powers] that be are ordained of God." — Romans 13:1 (ASV)

The teaching in this section is addressed to “everyone,” i.e., every believer. What Paul requires is to “submit” (GK 5718) to those who ruled from Rome. Submission means placing oneself under someone else. Paul seems to avoid using the stronger word “obey” (cf. also v.5), probably because believers may find it impossible to comply with every demand of the government. A circumstance may arise in which they must choose between obeying God and obeying people (Acts 5:29). But even then they must be submissive in that, if their Christian convictions do not permit their compliance, they will accept the consequences of such refusal.

Paul makes a sweeping statement when he says, “There is no authority except that which God has established.” This is true even of Satan: what authority he exercises has been given him by God (cf. Lk 4:6). The name of Christ does not appear anywhere in the passage, probably because Paul’s concern is not with redemption or the life of the church as such, but with one’s relation to the state. While Christians have citizenship in heaven , they are not excused from responsibility to acknowledge the state as possessing authority from God to govern them. They hold a dual citizenship.