Does Romans 13 Mean We Have To Be Subject To The Evil Authority Of Men?

Adam and Eve were given a choice. They made the wrong choice, and their eyes were opened to good and evil. Rather than remaining in the grace of God, and now out of the garden in Eden, they were faced with the choice of which path to follow in life, good or evil. There is renewed discussion in light of the resurrection of the failed "covid" experimental injections, mask wearing and lockdown mandates, etc., about the first few verses in Romans 13 regarding absolute obedience to those in authority who do evil. "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, for there is no power but from [Greek, ἀπό] God. The powers that be are ordained [Greek, τάσσω, tasso, i.e., put there] by [Greek, ὑπό] God. Whosoever therefore resists the power [from God], resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation." [v. 1, 2, KJV]. So where does this leave us?

To be clear, this is not saying we are to be in obedience to men who do evil when we allow the Biblical record to interpret itself. This principle was borne out during the Nuremberg trials in the aftermath of WW2.

The word power here, "be subject to the higher powers" is the Greek exousia. Exousia is translated into English versions of the Bible either as a singular or as a plural noun, sometimes only a few words apart in the same verse. Using the English plural form in Romans 13 incorrectly implies the higher powers here refers to the authority of men, rather than that from God. It throws the entire gist of what is meant here off in the wrong direction.

We are being told about the power of God in context, not the "powers" of men, "For there is no power but from God." The word authority does not appear in these Biblical verses. It is mistakenly assumed from the English wording in the statement, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers …." By definition, there are no higher powers as in the authority of men in play here as we’ll see from verses 3 and 4. Be subject to, the Greek word, hypotassō, is a voluntary attitude of acquiescence. It is a decision made of free will by the individual.

Omitting the plural translation from our consideration, incorrectly understood to mean the authority of men in what Paul is explaining, it is much clearer to our understanding what we are to be subject to. It's the higher power of God being discussed, “... there is no power but from God.”

So then, what is the “higher power” we are to be subject to here? Let’s allow the Biblical record to interpret itself rather than assuming things. Firstly, the word higher in Greek is hyperechō. It simply means superior or better. So what is the superior power? In the Biblical Greek, power, exousia, ἐξουσία, is the power of choice, the liberty of doing, making those choices as in the higher power from God, the liberty to choose to do good or do evil and reap the fruit of our choices, as delineated by God.¹ [Deu. 30:15; Heb. 13:8]. Therefore, our time here on planet Earth is spent making and living one choice or the other, living the truth, doing good, or abiding in the lies, evil. [Pro. 16:25; 16:17]. This is as basic as it gets. [Luke 11:23; see the Sneakers article, As It Was In The Beginning, So It Is At The End].

The individual Christian's power of choice [this is the identical wording used in the Nuremberg Code, Primary Source, Voluntary Informed Consent, Section 1], the liberty of doing, as spelled out here in context, does not address the subject of the authority of men over others. It's quite the opposite. It's about the preeminence, the superiority of individual choice in a Christian's life given to us by God. We can't abdicate this power to anyone. There are no piggy-back rides into the kingdom of God. We can't stand before God and say, "But so and so told me what to do." Again, this principle was borne out during the Nuremberg trials in the aftermath of WW2. [Still, They Live Amongst Us].

As Christians with the Spirit of God, we are given the liberty of choice [see Gal. 5:13], to follow God's word, his truth, or we have the choice to follow the lies. As we read, " ... the power [the choice, either to do good or do evil] that be [Greek, ōn, being, existing] are ordained of God." Our existing choices are put in place by God. It is God who determines what is good and what is evil, not men. This is a foundational principle of Christianity. Any lack of choice foisted on us by others is not of God, but is antichristian. The liberty to choose to do good or to do evil is given to us, ordained by God, not men. [See Pro. 16:2].

It’s our Lord's rules based order if you will. We no longer are under the lower power of the law, that which was mandated, and applied universally, i.e., no choice, no liberty in the matter. We were in "lockdown" under the terms of the law covenant. [See Gal. 3:23-25, faith, Greek pistis, conviction of the truth]. Then, we didn't have access to the higher power of choice through faith now afforded to us as Christians. This liberty, the freedom of the power of choice for those in the first century would have been a wholly new concept, totally alien after more than a millennia of no power of choice. The choice of what we were to do were made by God under the terms of the law covenant, "Thou shall not ...". [See the Feature article, And It's Still A Mystery].

Paul is laying out the major theological paradigm shift instituted by Christ in the Christian age. As Christians, we are under grace through the Spirit, which is superior to the law covenant. "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage [i.e., the mandates of the law covenant]." [Gal. 5:1]. The liberty to choose what we do, whether good or evil, has been placed in us by God. "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." [2 Cor. 3:17]. And where the spirit of evil is, there is subjugation.

The fundamental basis of Christianity in the New Testament is the liberty to choose, as opposed to the lower power no liberty of choice Old Testament law covenant.²  And this is the point Paul is making here in Romans 13. It has nothing to do with rulers authority over people. It's all about the covenants. [See the Feature article, The Tale Of Two Covenants].

According to the new covenant, ours is the liberty to choose which path we follow. This "authority," if you will, over ourselves as individuals to choose to do good or evil, comes with a personal responsibility. No one else has this power of choice for us. It is the grace of our God-given liberty through God's Spirit. "Give unto God those things which are of God ...." This includes our God-given power to choose to vax or not. This applies to everyone no matter their station in life. God is our sole authority in these matters. The article of faith Paul is explaining here is from God's perspective, not man's. This is a key distinction.

Remember, our LORD rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he pleases. [Dan. 5:21]. So, what choice are we to make? What are we to do? Verse three gives us our answer. "For [honest and just] rulers [Greek, diakonos,] are not a terror [Greek, phobos, frightened, be afraid] of good works, but of the evil [Greek, kakos, of a bad nature, intrinsically worthless]. Will you then not be afraid of the power [exousia, the power of choice, not rulers of men, diakonos], do that which is good, and you shall have praise of the same: for he is [he is, one word in Greek, no pronoun, only the verb, esti, is] the minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid; for he bears [he bears, one word in Greek, no pronoun, only the verb, phoreō, to bear constantly] the sword not in vain: for he is [again, he is, one word in Greek, no pronoun, only the verb, esti, is] the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil." For a bit of clarification, see footnote.³

As much as they might like to think otherwise, rulers, the elites, do not have a free pass merely because of any lofty mortal position in life. Their hearts deceive them if they do. They are subject to the same choices and consequences as everyone else. In spite of self-delusional thoughts, they cannot make up a different set of consequences for the evil they do in the eyes of God. [See Isa. 5:20]. They need to be afraid to choose to do evil, for the sword of God falls upon evil doers. [See Acts 12:20-24].

While the Biblical record has examples of God's people having evil rulers, in the New Testament, as Christians, our sole ruler, our chief prince, our Lord in these matters is Christ, for he is "the way, the truth, and the life." [See John 14:6]. Contrast this with our adversary whose evil way is the lie and death. [See John 8:44]. "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." [Mat. 20:28]. When we, as Christian nations, choose to do good, when we love and live the truth of God, when we put evilness away from us, "not allowing evilness to dwell in oour tents," he blesses us with God-fearing leaders. When we don't, we get ....  [Video: The Warning We Ignored, Let's Heed The Warning From Our LORD].

Given the turbulent times in England by the early 1600s with the authority of the church, Protestant or Catholic versus the religion of the king or queen in power at the moment, one gets the feeling here that the King James translators of the book of Romans took the opportunity to define the Greek word exousia as power, as in higher powers, rather than the higher power of choice or the liberty of doing by the individual in order to keep the Protestant church rulers in a superior position to the king, and the state going forward. As we read, " ... for there is no power but from God." And who represents God on Earth? The church and its rulers.

However, the church, the ekklesia, are members of Christ individually. We are "the church," called and chosen by God. The power of choice is an individual, not a group, pursuit when it comes to our relationship with God. "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus ..." [1 Tim. 2:5; see the Sneakers article, 23 Skidoo]. A building or man-made organization is not the church of the Biblical record. " ... so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another." "Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually." This Christian principle of individual responsibility within the framework of a nation was incorporated into the US republic's Constitution by the founding fathers.⁴ They followed the pattern established by Christ. [Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:27]. This echos what we read in John 14:6 above. This principle has shifted. Today, we have centralized federal governments making decisions for the masses. 

This brings us back to individual choice, the liberty, the exousia of doing good or evil. As we read in 1 John 2:27 KJV, "But the anointing [the Spirit of God] which you have received of him abides in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall abide in him." No man-made organization, including governments of men, can make the decision of what is good or evil. That is the prerogative of God alone. No man-made organization can be baptized and receive the Spirit of God. As individuals with the liberty to repent, and the power of choice, we can. [See Acts 2:38, also the Feature article, Christianity Is Not A Surrogate For Christ].

As Christians, our liberty of choice places the burden of doing good or evil squarely on our individual shoulders. [Job 11:13-20]. It is a serious responsibility, not to be taken lightly. Therefore, we should be fearful of doing that which is evil, those things in the eyes of God that are worthless, contrary to the will of God. This is the foundation of Godly wisdom. [See Proverbs 2]. The choice we are given by God, to the rulers and to the rest of us, are to do good, obey the word of God, or to do evil, follow the lies. We all need to be afraid of making the choice of doing evil, that which is contrary to God's word, rulers included. It was the same for Adam and Eve.

" ... there is no power but from God." Again, the power of choice for Christians is from God. And this power equally applies to the mortal leaders, the rulers, before God, to do good or do evil. If they choose to do evil, as did the deceitful and duplicitous serpent in the garden, we are given, by our Lord and Savior, the liberty to make the superior choice not to slither in their crooked, evil, lying ways. When we do good, loving and living the truth of the word of God, the straight and narrow path [Mat. 7:14], we are blessed.

The liberty to choose, the power of choice is from God in the Christian age. Mandatory participation in evil is not. While these atheist evil elites may seek to take away our legal, constitutional liberties, they have no authority over us, and our God-given liberty to choose what to do. It is just as the US founding fathers understood and pointed out. These are inalienable rights bestowed upon us from God.

As Christians, we need to do that which is good, or of God. "But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the [good] work, this one will be blessed in what he does," including standing up with the truth of the word of God in all that we do. [James 1:25]. This is the Christian liberty of doing, making good choices as expressed by exousia, the higher power of God over any authority of men in the Biblical record. It is those who are evil doers, who forsake the love and knowledge of God in their lives, that seek to negate our God-given right, the power of choice. This is one reason for their desire to destroy the freedom of religion. Christian allegiance is to our LORD and Savior, not them.

We are warned, and should be afraid to do that which is evil. And being coerced through the use of fear to debase our Christian bodies with a lethal poison is not good. "Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." [1 Cor. 6:19, 20]. We don't glorify God by making evil choices, following the decitful propaganda of "doing our part," to inject our bodies with toxins designed to kill us. Also, "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which you are." [1 Cor. 3:16, 17; see John 2:13-17; Psa. 69:9; also The Feature article, Three Temple Ages Make A Plan].

In their self-righteous mortal impotency, officials who mistakenly think they can do away with any religious exemption for the experimental injection need to take this warning seriously. They are delusional if they think they can change that which belongs to God. Those who seek to do this, "God will destroy him." This, of course, also places a responsibility on us. We need to be right with God in all aspects of our lives, choosing to do that which is good, not evil, as in participating in heathen customs. For if we choose to do that which is evil in God's sight, then we, too, will be destroyed. For God is not a respecter of persons. [Acts 10:34, 35]. The current situation in our nations attest to this.

"Give unto God those things ...." As we noted above, "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty." [eleutheria, liberty to do, as with exousia; 2 Cor. 3:17]. Therefore, this evil path, allowing the injecting of poisons into our body does not glorify God. It is destroying the lives of people daily. It is not the path to be followed lest we suffer the wrath of making this choice. And we have increasing amounts of evidence daily that bears this out. [The Covid Death Cult Hoax].

Bottom line, if there is no power, no choice, but from God, and God is good, then our wise choice lies in only one direction, obey the truth of the word of God in all that we do that we will be blessed. But if we don't heed his truth, we should be afraid to follow evil, the pagan traditions, participating in heathen practices, guilty of doing evil before God. Otherwise, we get into the situation we are experiencing now. Our hands are not clean before God. It is not enough that we despise the evilness of these covid lies and mandates [John 8:44], but as Christians we need to have an unwavering love of the truth of the word of God in all aspects of our lives. We need to be righteous doers of good as set before us by God, not self-righteous doers of what we think is good. [Pro. 14:12].

As mentioned above, our LORD rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he pleases. So which path in all aspects of our lives do we choose? "The instant [Heb. reḡaʿ, in the wink of an eye] I [our LORD] speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it." [Jer. 18:7-10].

We are deceived if we think we can choose to do good concerning the evilness of these elite families and their minions who are doing evil to us, human sacrifice on a large scale if you will, but then go ahead and jump right into self-righteously celebrating the pagan customs of Christmas and Easter et al [See the Feature articles, Easter, Babylon And The Antichrist and You Know You're A Christian When ...] in defiance of the word of God, not giving glory to God, but to debase ourselves with false gods, the pagan holidays of trees and bunnies, and don't believe we "shall receive to ourselves damnation." [2 Ths. 2:10-12]. In principle, this is no different than being a vax "Covid" cult true believer. [See the Feature article, Our Corrupted Compass].

Look at how quickly life has degenerated in the last three  to four years. Look at the low quality of our leaders throughout our western nations. None of this is for the better. This should be ample evidence of which path we doers have chosen to walk. And these experimental injections are the effect, not the cause, of our predicament.

Use your God-given liberty to resist doing evil, but do not resist the choice to do good, that which is the superior power of choice from God. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith [conviction of the truth], knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." [1 Pet. 5:8, 9].

As Paul finishes the 13th chapter of Romans, "And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts." [v. 13, 14].


¹ The power of choice is from God. And when we read of the kingdom of God in the New Testament, the Greek word used for kingdom is basileia. It is the royal power and rule of God. Again, there is no power but of God. There is no kingdom but of God. "Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” [Rev. 11:15; also see 1st century CE, Dan. 2:44; and the Feature article, Why Was Jesus Jewish, But Not Moses?]. Again, kingdoms here refers to the power of rulership and authority. Christ has established the power of rulership over all the kingdoms of the Earth. It will be formally implemented at his return. Basileia, therefore, does not refer to a geographical location or territory.

And as those who are raised in the first resurrection, exercising our higher power of choice to do good here in this life is important. For as we read in Rev. 1:5, 6, " ... and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." The word kings here in Greek is basileus, as in a leader of the people, again the power of rulership. As we read in Pro. 25:28, "He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls."

Therefore, as Christians in this life with the power of choice to do good or evil, those whom he calls to be kings must be strong in our choices to do good if we are to have rulership in the kingdom of God. This includes having the ability to discern between the truth, and lies proffered as truth, which goes back to Paul's admonition, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [1 Ths. 5:21].

² As an analogy, if there is a stop sign at the corner of your street, the law has mandated the decision that everyone must come to a full and complete stop before safely proceeding. Our individual liberty to choose to do good or evil would be the same corner of your street with no stop sign at the intersection. Realizing the importance of safety, for yourself and others, you have the liberty of choosing to stop, or slow down and proceed safely without stopping or just fly through the intersection without regard for life or limb. It is your individual choice. Do you choose to do that which is good, or evil?

³ The wording here in Romans 13:3,4 in the KJV and other translations is skewed by the fact they believe these verses are discussing the authority of rulers over us. But rather, it is about the results of our personal God-given choices. We can do good and be blessed, or we can do evil and be cursed in our lives. It's garden in Eden basics, only the scale has changed. As Paul points out, even rulers are afraid of evil works. So shouldn't we, as Christians, be fearful too? Therefore, we need to be judicious, exercising the liberty we have in Christ in the choices we make. "For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." [Gal. 5:13]. This is a fundamental principle of Christianity throughout the Biblical record's New Testament.

So if we separate the sentences a bit differently than the KJV, using the correct definition of exousia, this principle becomes more clear. The subject here, doing good or evil and the consequences of each choice, Paul is specifically addressing his remarks to the saints in Rome, the capital city of the Roman Empire at that time. “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints ….” Rom. 1:7.

“For rulers are not afraid of good works, but of the evil works.

Will you then [the saints in Rome, not rulers] not be afraid of the power of choice, the liberty to do [exousia]?

Do that which is good, and you shall have praise of the same: [which] is the minister of God to you for good.

But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for [evil] constantly bears the sword not in vain: [and] is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil.”

In other words, the fruit of doing, good or evil, is inherent in the choices we have the power to make. It's reaping what we sow. Both are the minister of God. One to you for good, the other a revenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil. This is how God created it. It's woven into the fabric of life on Earth. As a fig tree brings forth figs, not bananas, so evil brings forth curses, not blessings. Our nations today speak to this truth.

The apostle Paul is telling the saints in Rome, do good and be blessed. But as Christians with the liberty of choice, Paul is warning the saints, be afraid of doing evil and the consequential wrath it produces. [See Jer. 6:16-19]. Therefore, be wise in making choices in our daily lives. Again, keep in mind, the historical context for first century Christians was 1500 years or so of bondage to the law covenant. No choices. So Paul is cautioning them in the exercise of their new found liberty, the power of choice, to do good or evil. Either choice has inherent consequences. [See the Feature article, Can A Christian Sin?].

One thing is clear. This is not about rulers having authority over us. It's about exercising our individual God-given power of choice as Christians.

See US religious exemptions for vax mandate, Title VII Civil Rights Act. https://www.eeoc.gov/statutes/title-vii-civil-rights-act-1964#:~:text=88%2D352)%20(Title%20VII,religion%2C%20sex%20and%20national%20origin.

⁴ It is interesting to note that the founding fathers were white Protestant men. Today, there is not one white Protestant male on the US Supreme Court.

Postscript: Now that we know the word exousia refers to an individual's power of choice, let's re-read the beginning of Romans 13 with this in mind. "Let every soul be subject unto the higher power of choice [compared to our situation under the law], for there is no power of choice but from God. The power of choice is ordained [Greek, tasso, i.e., put there] of God. Whosoever therefore resists the power of choice [from God], resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation." Any leader, government, employer who mandates an evil choice is resisting the power of choice from God for us to do good. This is a big difference in our correct understanding.

See the Sneakers articles, We Don’t Believe You, Bum’s Rush, A Life And Death Pickle Of A Predicament and the Feature article, Why Do We Believe The Lies? 

Italics, underline, bold and [ ] are the author’s.

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