Re:Verse passage – Romans 13:1-7 (day six)
“[Jesus] was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead…Jesus Christ our Lord [King].” —Romans 1:4
For Paul, the good news was a royal announcement: Jesus the Messiah had risen from the dead and been enthroned as the world’s true king. Paul was not ashamed to make that declaration (Rom. 1:16), even as a Roman citizen living under Caesar’s rule.
Only a few years earlier, Emperor Claudius had expelled Jews from Rome because of unrest associated with “Chrestus.” Jewish Christians had only recently returned. Paul knew that unnecessary hostility or public disorder could bring suspicion upon this vulnerable church.
Paul was not asking Christians to conceal that Jesus is Lord. He was teaching them to live under Caesar in a way that displayed the goodness of Jesus’ reign. Their allegiance to Jesus should make them peaceful, honorable, and trustworthy neighbors—not agents of chaos.
This resembles the command to honor our parents. We honor them sincerely because we are Christians, but their authority remains beneath God’s authority. Likewise, Christians are expected to be good citizens without giving government the worship or absolute obedience that belongs only to Jesus.
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