13:3
Governments are essential for the proper running and ordering of society. This verse clearly shows that Paul is talking about governments acting in a normal way. There are clearly many examples where innocent people had much to fear from evil governments. But our first action should be “to do what is good”.
13:4
When we do this, if the government is normal we will usually receive approval. Moreover, governments have a duty to punish those who do wrong, and this is a God-given duty. So these words of Paul place a responsibility on us, but also on Governments. The underlying principles behind Paul’s teaching is that we look first to God, and that God is sovereign. No government gains power against the will of God. Now we need to be careful how we understand this. It does not mean a government has the “approval” of God. Things are very complicated.
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