J. SUBJECTION TO "THE POWERS THAT BE" (Ch. 13) The following extract from Thomas Scott's remarks on Romans 13 is full of strong sense and clear statement: "Perhaps nothing involves greater difficulties, in very many instances, than to ascertain to whom, either individually or collectively, the auth... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 13:1-7. Christian practice: civil duties: authority and obedience 1. _Let every soul be subject_, &c. A new subject is here treated Civil Obedience. It is not isolated, however, from the previous context, in which (from Romans 12:19) _subjection_to individuals in private life was considered.... [ Continue Reading ]
The passage does not touch on the question of _forms_of government. "The powers that be" is a phrase which, on the whole, accepts authority _de facto_, irrespective of its theory, or of its circumstances of origin. Just so both human and Divine law, after no long lapse of time, recognize _property d... [ Continue Reading ]
The passage distinctly forbids revolutionary action in a Christian. Action within the limits of the existing constitution he may employ; for the constitution is, in fact, the "power that is," be it good or bad. But he must not _plot_for its demolition, nor indeed _act_for its demolition in any way o... [ Continue Reading ]
The passage by no means forbids Christians to take full advantage of existing authority and law; as St Paul himself took advantage of his civil rights. But its unmistakable drift is, what is always the drift of Scripture, (as it is _not_that of human nature), to emphasize the Christian's _duties_far... [ Continue Reading ]
As regards the special question of _despotism_, it is treated here not by explicit condemnation, but by the statement of principles which will peacefully undermine its own _distinctive_principles. It is dealt with precisely as elsewhere the ownership of slaves is dealt with. Just as the Gospel bids... [ Continue Reading ]
The passage assumes, of course, that where human law, or its minister, _contradicts Divine precepts_, (as when a Christian is commanded to _do wrong_,) then obedience to the Higher Authority must take precedence. Christian officials, for instance, under a despot must not _plot against him_, but also... [ Continue Reading ]
This and other considerations combine to assure us that the principles of the Gospel, so far from favouring tyranny, tend _ultimately_to make it impossible. A perfectly Christian nation under tyrannic authority is an inconceivable thing. _to all_ To all persons in authority over you. The precept is... [ Continue Reading ]
It is manifest how indispensable to the early growth of the Christian Church these precepts of obedience were. Though their truth is for all generations, whatever may be the phases of political speculation or popular feeling, it was a truth of special and urgent necessity _then_. But for these princ... [ Continue Reading ]
_For this_ Lit. FOR THE; each precept being a quasi-substantive with the definite article. _Thou shalt not bear false witness_ Perhaps to be omitted, on documentary evidence. _and if there be any other commandment_, &c. The Gr. phrase nearly = AND WHATEVER OTHER COMMANDMENTS THERE ARE, ALL ARE SUM... [ Continue Reading ]
_Love worketh_, &c. Such is its very nature, to avoid the kind of acts which as a fact the Law forbids. Therefore Love ("Charity," 1 Corinthians 13, &c.), though its action is not, strictly speaking, originated by the Law, but the necessary result of its being Love, is in perfect harmony with the La... [ Continue Reading ]
Christian practice: duty enforced by the prospect of the Lord's Return 11. _And that_, &c. In this last section of the chapter, St Paul enforces all the preceding precepts (of cch. 12, 13) by the solemn assertion of the approach of the eternal Day of Resurrection and Glory. Then all that was painfu... [ Continue Reading ]
_The night is far spent_ Lit. THE NIGHT WAS FAR SPENT. The Gr. verb is in the aorist; and the time-reference is, very probably, to the First Advent, when the Morning Star (Revelation 22:16) of the final Day appeared. We have here, clearly, a combination of metaphors. The "sleep" of Romans 13:11 was... [ Continue Reading ]
_honestly_ Margin, DECENTLY, i.e. BECOMINGLY; with the true _decorum_of a life of obedience to the will of God. _as in the day_ Here again the metaphor slightly varies its point. The Gr. is, nearly lit., AS BY DAY; "as men walk by day." The Christian is thus bidden to think of himself as in the day... [ Continue Reading ]
_But put ye on_, &c. For similar language see Galatians 3:27; (where Baptism is to be viewed in its ideal, as involving and sealing the acceptance and confession of Christ.) Cp. also Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10. Here again (see Romans 13:12, last note,) observe how the _new effort_of the life of... [ Continue Reading ]