Most people today, including most Christians, believe government exists to meet the needs of its citizens. Scripture says otherwise. In Romans 13, when Paul directed the Roman Christians to be good citizens by obeying civil authorities, he explained that civil leaders affirm those who do right and punish evildoers. “Do you want to be unafraid of the authority?” Paul asked. “Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same” (v. 3). Peter echoed this principle in 1 Peter 2:13-14.
God established governments to promote and maintain order in society by punishing those who do wrong and honoring those who do right. This is not their only duty, but this task is primary.
This truth gives rise to some important questions. How are the people’s needs to be met? What happens when civil authorities don’t know right from wrong? In future commentaries, we’ll address such questions.
Romans 13:1-7
1 Peter 2:13-17
Copyright © 2014 by B. Nathaniel Sullivan. All rights reserved.