Comments on: Romans 13:1-7

By: Marcie

Marcie — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:26:39 +0000

We will always have the issue of enmity between good and evil, that too is from Genesis. But as I see it, we're obligated to do our best without pointing a finger at others.
God knew Elijah was not the only one 'that did not bend a knee to Baal,' God knew there were 7000 besides Elijah, even though Elijah felt like the last person on earth that loved God.
But God was workiing with Elijah, not the other 7000 (as far as Elijah knew).
So that tells me we need to do our best as we feel led. Yes, some brave men have done a lot more for our country than others, I say, God Bless them.
Personally I do not want to disappoint Jesus with my life. I know I have at times failed miserably, but thank God He has forgiven me.

By: Marcie

Marcie — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:16:54 +0000

so true

By: Marcie Mathews

Marcie Mathews — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:20:36 +0000

I'm not saying I cannot discuss the Bible. I only meant that I read it for myself in that I don't need a pile of commentaries to tell me what to believe. I trust the word and I stand on the word as the foundation for my faith. And I come to it as a little child as Jesus told us to.

By: Marcie Mathews

Marcie Mathews — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:17:03 +0000

Wait a darn second. Did you really just suggest that Jesus submitted to Pilate's authority concerning life and death? Is that a typo? You said, "Wait a darn second. Did you really just suggest that Jesus submitted to Pilate's authority concerning life and death? Is that a typo?" No, it is no typo. I don't see your issue on what I said here. Of course Pilate was involved with Jesus's death. God used Pilate in his authority in order to bring about God's ultimate will, purpose and good. But again, that's yours and mine issue from the start of this dialoge. I believe God is in contol in all of these things. Just like a flower needs air, rain, soil, sunshine as well as the ability to grow that are all provided by God. We people indeed have a role in what happens and that is why God warned: "These things will happen but woe unto him from whom they come"

By: Anthony Martin

Anthony Martin — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:23:30 +0000

Let me ask you this. Twenty years ago would you have believed that the US government would ever be so bold as to take ownership of GM, or that they would give 100 billion dollars to an insurance company, or that they would purchase 90% of all new mortgages or that they would run a 2 Trillion Dollar deficit while funneling hundreds of billions to Wall Street?

All of this would have seemed inconceivable to me. And except for the vestiges of civil rights we still possess we are literally turning into the old USSR where our entire economy is run by central government command.

Why stop there? World government is the obvious next step. We're there already. Treaties have been signed to make international law have full force in the US. It would place itself as yet another higher power, above the sovereign nations of the world. I guess my question is when does something that calls itself world government suddenly become an illegitimate higher power, if ever? Do we offer any non-cooperation or resistance to it and the body that appointed it?

By: Anthony Martin

Anthony Martin — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:37:32 +0000

Wait a darn second. Did you really just suggest that Jesus submitted to Pilate's authority concerning life and death? Is that a typo?

By: Marcie Mathews

Marcie Mathews — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:34:32 +0000

He submitted to Pilate's authority concerning life and death.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:28:26 +0000

"I'm a simple person and I would rather read God's word and let it speak to my heart as a "little child". I don't need all these great debates to fill my days."

That is just about the most unbiblical view of how followers of Christ are to approach the Scriptures ever. Unfortunately, it is also a view that automatically prevents another follower of Christ from explaining why it is wrong because it has a built-in defense, namely, "I don't need to discuss this because I just let the Bible speak to me". This view is very young historically speaking (about 150-170 years), and would be considered heretical by just about every church father from the first century on.

It is ironic that you would say this considering that your interpretation above is based (apparently by accident) on three principles of strong exegesis: 1) historical/cultural context 2) literary context, and 3) interpretive history...none of these things can be done by letting the bible "speak to me". Even if you pulled your interpretation from something you heard someone else say, you can be assured that someone at some point did the hard work for you...and you were lucky enough to hear this view and not one that someone just heard the Bible "speak to them".

By: Anthony Martin

Anthony Martin — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:27:49 +0000

So what do you do with the book of Acts where it records the Apostles "going against the decrees of Caesar" (Acts 17:6-8) and being cast in prison? How does one exegete that the principle that they were obeying the civil authorities. Paul was imprisoned numerous times for going against the Roman State. Paul was even scourged and beheaded by the civil authorities, it is said.

I'm curious, was the Roman centurion who scourged and beheaded Apostle Paul the "minister of God" sent for our good, as referenced in Romans 13:4?

By: Aaron

Aaron — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:15:15 +0000

Each of your "bullet points" here are probably true, but that does not change the principles Paul was teaching here...and elsewhere.

Jesus taught that there is a literal hell and lots of people will go there. I'm really not comfortable with that or the myriad of implications that follow, but it doesn't change well done exegesis.

I still think you are misinterpreting Paul's words and your observations about our world do not change that...rather it should challenge you to figure out a biblical response to those things that takes into account an explanation of Paul's words based on well principled exegesis...