Not too long ago, our preacher at Hope Evangelical Free Church College Station Texas, gave a presentation on Romans 13, the message of his presentation was that we were to "submit to government for all government is of God."
I was wondering where and how this came to be. So I located the passage as it was written and found it in the NIV Bible. Now I know the NIV is fairly young so I went further back to the King James.
I have spent many years looking at the Bible from the original writings point of view. Meaning that when I have a problem with the passage, I will go back to the earliest translation of that passage and look to see if there is a discrepancy in the New interpretation and the original interpretation.
Sever years ago I did this with Romans 13 and put the information in the back of my mind as a trigger of sort. So the next time I heard Romans 13 preached I would be ready. Well the trigger was pulled and now the situation must be looked at carefully and resolved or we risk the chance of leading our friends at Hope Evangelical Free Church in College Station down the wrong path.
My point is this, Romans 13 was NEVER supposed to be translated to say "Submit to Government" matter of fact, the word "Government" was never supposed to be in the passage even once. Not once did the Greek writings or the first translations ever mention government.
Here is a synopsis of what I found:
I quote Romans Chapter 13, verses 1 through 7, from the Authorized King James text:
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the 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 the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor."
All we have to do to resolve this apparent dilemma is look at the text itself.
To understand Paul we simply need to know what the word Paul actually used and what it truly means within the context of the Bible. The word translated into power in Romans 13 is one of more than half a dozen Greek words which are all translated into the single English word power within the New Testament.
The Greek word used in Romans 13 by Paul is exousia, which is defined: "power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases." It is translated "right" in Hebrews 13:10 and Revelations 22:14, and it is even translated "liberty" in Paul's own 1Corinthians 8:9.
Everywhere in the original text of the Bible the translation of exousia as liberty or right would fit the context of scripture. One may translate it as power, but only in the sense of the power of choice. Most modern ministers might object to this conclusion and no one should merely take my word for this interpretation. What is the opinion of others concerning the word exousia? Does it mean the power of government, or the power of choice?
In Plato's notes, we find the "Greek words for freedom (are) eleutheros (liberal/Free), exousia (Freedom/Power to do something), …" You would think that Plato would know what the words meant back then.
In Bryn Mawr's Classical Review, the word exousia is said to express "the new concept of freedom, in opposition to the already defunct and unhelpful eleutheria." Even the Greek Glossary of Aristotelian Terms states that exousia means "right". Aristotle, another guy who should know what the Greek actually means exemplifies exousia's use in the statement, "The right (exousia) to do anything one wishes…"
The Greek word exousia is considered to be one of the strongest words in the Greek language representing the idea of liberty. Accepting the idea that Romans 13 is actually a statement by Paul in support of individual liberty, rather than a command to submit to the commands of authoritarian rulers, will be difficult for some pastors and Christians alike to admit.
There should be no question that the word exousia in the original text means power in the sense of "the right to choose" or "liberty of choice." And if so, then Romans 13 should be read and understood as saying:
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher liberty. For there is no liberty but of God: the liberties that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the liberty, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the liberty? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same." Romans 13: 1,3
Can this really be true? Was Paul talking about liberty and not the subjugation of the people under rulers? From the beginning to the end, the Bible is talking about the liberty of men under God rather than the subjection of the people under other men like Cain, Lemech, Nimrod, Pharaoh, and even Herod or Caesar. If God endowed us with our right to choose why would he want us to give that right to choose to other men? Understanding that the word exousia can and does mean liberty seems to turn the world upside down for some ministers.
I hope that this can be resolved peaceably. This is about the whole church not just Hope Evangelical Free Church in College Station Texas, it's about teaching the word of God as it was written by his hand, not keeping with the traditions of man and the erroneous translations either by ignorance or intent.
God does not like his words to be twisted and he really dislikes those that teach twisted words. For more detailed information please visit www.hisholychurch.info and read 2 Peter 3:16,17
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