Bible Study - Romans 13

S - Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), Romans 13:1

O - Commentary:

The apostle’s basic exhortation is, Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities (lit., “higher authorities”). The basic reason for such submission is that those authorities are established by God (cf. Dan. 4:17, 25, 34–35). An individual who rebels against the authority, therefore, is rebelling against (lit., “has taken a stand against”) what God has instituted (lit., “the ordinance of God”). Such persons are thus actually rebelling against God, and bring civil and/or divine judgment on themselves. Those who obey and do right need have no fear of authorities; in fact, civil leaders commend those who do good.

John A. Witmer, “Romans,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 490.

A — Application

God raises up leaders. Some make it easy to follow — you admire their character, their wisdom, their heart. Others make you grit your teeth. Government, your workplace, your small group — good leaders and bad leaders are part of the deal. That's not a flaw in the system. That's the system.

Here's the hard part: our job isn't to fix the leader. It's to submit — and let God shine through us anyway. Your stand for Christ speaks louder than your rebellion against the system ever will. Authorities can punish disobedience. They cannot touch a person who obeys them fully while living wholly convinced that God comes first. That kind of conviction is untouchable.

R — Response/Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are Sovereign — over every leader, every system, every authority we answer to. Give us the strength to obey the laws of this land and submit to its structure. But we belong to You first. Holding both of those at once gets messy, Lord. So go before us. Strip away anything that would shrink our witness or silence the gospel in Your name. In Jesus' name, Amen.