Romans 13:4

for he is. minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is. minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil.

'For he' -'For it' (NASV), i.e. civil government.

'minister' -attendant or servant. This is how we need to view the government that we are under. Government exists to maintain law and order, to punish the evil-doer, to protect the innocent, etc..., and in so doing it serves the purpose of God.

'to thee for good' -the state exists for our benefit! It builds roads, maintains order, sets standards of quality in meats, dairy products, etc...it protects the rights of the innocent. It keeps us from being invaded by another power. Many regulations exist not because someone is trying to pry into our lives, but because of ABUSES! Every government regulation and law admits the fact that man is STILL. SINNER. Christians benefit greatly from government. Roads and avenues of communication help the spread of the gospel,. common currency enables preachers to be supported and the needy to be relieved. We can own. place of worship and worship God publicly. And the government even patrols the neighborhood in the attempt to help us avoid vandalism.

'but if thou do what which is evil' -Christians could act in such. way as to violate the laws of the land. Christians can fall away from the faith. (1 Peter 2:20; 1 Peter 4:15)

'be afraid' -'you have reason to be alarmed' (Phi)

'It would seem that the government's primary purpose (or at least the one Paul has in mind here) is to cause fear in relation to evil behavior...a government whose legal and judicial system is such that it strikes fear in the heart of the potential criminal and deter's his evil action is fulfilling its God-given purpose.'

'for he beareth' -present active indicative, to bear, wear. (Robertson p. 408)

'the sword' -'Borne as the symbol of the magistrate's right to inflict capital punishment.' (Vincent p. 164) 'Paul is writing to the Romans as. Roman citizen, hence he uses "sword", the Roman short sword, which was used for executing citizens.' (Lenski p. 792) 'Symbol of authority as to-day policemen carry clubs or pistols.' (Robertson p. 408)

'in vain' -'for nothing' (NASV); 'for the sword they carry is not without meaning' (TCNT); 'for they do not carry swords for nothing' (Gspd). 'For the sword as the symbol of power to punish, is not given to. ruler in vain.' (Erdman p. 151)

Points to Note:

1. Paul clearly taught that the civil authorities have the God-given right to execute the criminal. In fact, Paul wouldn't of made an exception to himself, if he had been convicted of. capital crime. (Acts 25:11. If then. am. wrongdoer, and have committed anything worthy of death,. do not refuse to die.. ')

2. Both these sections of Scripture admits the existence of. category of crimes that are 'worthy of death', where the sword needs to be used.

3. God says that the evil-doer should suffer (1 Peter 2:20; 1 Peter 3:17; 1 Peter 4:15). Never does God say, 'Keep the law-breaker from suffering.'

4. Protesting the execution of. convicted criminal is not. practice that Christians should be involved in. In fact, it is anti-Christian and anti-God. It is protesting, resisting (Romans 13:2), God's will for how civil government is to operate.

5. Christians should never vote to take the "sword" out of the hands of God's minister.. vote against the death penalty is. vote against God.

'an avenger of wrath' -'an avenger who brings wrath' (NASV). 'Carrying justice out, i.e.. punisher' (Strong). 'Exacting penalty from one' (Robertson p. 408) 'An avenger appointed to inflict wrath' (McGarvey p. 511)

'An avenger of wrath is an EXPLANATION of "he is. minister of God". Note it doesn't say: "For he is. minister of God and an avenger for wrath." Now the government of any country has more than one reason to exist. They build roads, schools, medical services and on and on.' (McGuiggan p. 383)

'to him that doeth evil' -Civil government serves God, when it (among other things), punishes the law-breaker. God has given government the "right" to execute some of His wrath. When the child molester is put to death, some of God's wrath has been witnessed. God is in agreement with the execution.

Points to Note:

1. While the individual is forbidden to execute vengeance (Romans 12:19); civil government has been given the right to. Therefore, the vengeance that Christians need to leave room for (Romans 12:19), includes the 'wrath' that the civil authorities will inflict.

2. This is why mob action, vigilantes and lynching are sinful, but. state execution isn't.

3. Civil government isn't under all the same laws that the individual is. See Matthew 5:39; Luke 17:3. I am to forgive the person that sincerely repents of killing. loved one, and yet, the state still has the right to execute, even. repentant murderer. (1 Peter 3:17; 1 Peter 4:15)

4. If God has given the state the right to execute some of His wrath, then those that work for the state (police-officers, district attorney's, detectives, prison guards, and military personnel), do not sin when they are involved in 'avenging wrath' upon the evil-doer. In fact, they are serving the purposes of God.

'Some people think it is more noble or more "Christian" not to report crime (even against oneself), or to try to abolish punishment altogether as. barbaric relic. But such decisions are misinformed and are. violation of justice (and this context).'

Christians need to learn: We aren't doing God any favors by trying to remove the death penalty; by showing disrespect to police-officers; by belittling the government; by cheating on our taxes; by voting for individuals who are soft on crime, and who see the criminal as. victim, rather than an evil-doer who is victimizing others.

In view of some recent jury verdicts, many people in our society need to read this Chapter