To answer the question “Does Romans 13:1 pertain to human authority?”, let’s first acknowledge why many Bible-believing individuals hesitate to criticize government policies. The verse most often cited is Romans 13:1: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.”

Another relevant passage is 1 Peter 2:13-14: “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.”

On the surface, these verses appear to mandate absolute submission to human authority, but let’s dive deeper into their true meaning. Romans 13:1 suggests that Christians should submit to “governing authorities” because “there is no authority except that which God has established.” Some interpret this to mean that the government is the ultimate authority, as Peter mentions the “emperor” and “governors” as representatives of this authority.

But here’s where we must pause and ask a critical question: Is the Bible really teaching that we must submit to every human authority, no matter what? Are we to obey the authorities even when their actions contradict God’s will? Consider this: the same Bible that calls for submission to governing authorities also warns us that “the whole world is under the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19) and that believers must “not love the world or anything in the world” (1 John 2:15). If we were to take Romans 13:1 as a blanket endorsement of all human authority, we would be faced with a troubling contradiction: how can we submit to a world that the Bible warns us is under Satan’s influence?

Let’s turn to James 4:4, where we are told, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” This makes it clear that blind submission to human authority is not the answer. And Romans 12:2 further instructs us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”

So, what does it really mean to “submit” as a believer? James 4:7-8 provides clarity: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” Our ultimate submission should be to God alone. To “resist the devil” is to stand firm against all forms of evil, including unjust human authorities.

When we see evil, the Bible commands us to speak out against it. Habakkuk 1:13 asks, “Why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?” Silence in the face of evil is not an option for believers.

Reconciling these verses, we see that while Romans 13:1 calls for submission to authority, it is referring to the authority established by God. This does not automatically apply to every human leader. Peter’s instruction in 1 Peter to submit “for the Lord’s sake” underscores that our submission should be motivated by a desire to honor God, not by blind allegiance to any earthly power. He was concerned that Christians should not be seen as rebels or lawbreakers, which could harm the witness of the Gospel.

The true authority established by God is made clear in Matthew 28:18, where Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Jesus Christ is the ultimate authority. Ephesians 1:21 confirms that His authority is “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion.” When Romans 13:2 warns against rebelling against authority, it is primarily speaking about rebelling against God’s authority, not merely human rulers.

Acts 5:29 sums it up: “We must obey God rather than human beings.” The early Christians understood that obedience to authority means obedience to God above all else. We are called to submit to human authorities only insofar as their commands align with the will of God. Titus 3:1-2 advises us to “be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,” but always within the context of our primary loyalty to Christ.

In conclusion, Romans 13:1 does call for submission, but it must be understood in the context of the Bible as a whole. Our first and highest allegiance is to God and His authority. When human authorities act in ways that are contrary to God’s will, our duty is to resist and stand for righteousness.

My book, ” Are you Ready for Christ?” is being prepared for publication. For those who want a copy of this book, I was hoping you could email us at marketing@impactpubph.com or write to me at rickyrivera@impactpubph.com. “Are You Ready for Christ? is a publication by Impact Publishing.