Scripture teaches that believers are to respect and honor governing authorities, as seen in Romans 13:1, where submission to rulers is commanded. The apostle Paul also instructs Christians to live quietly and mind their own business, as stated in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, avoiding unnecessary entanglements with worldly affairs. In Romans 13:1-7, Paul further explains the role of government and the Christian's responsibility to obey the law. Additionally, 1 Timothy 2:1-2 encourages believers to pray for those in authority, promoting a peaceful and orderly society, while Titus 3:9 warns against getting entangled in foolish debates and controversies.
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Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.
and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you. Then you will behave properly toward outsiders, without being dependent on anyone.
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer. Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work. Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law, because these things are pointless and worthless.
First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone— for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men. Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
This decision is the decree of the watchers, the verdict declared by the holy ones, so that the living will know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes, setting over it the lowliest of men.’
No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.