Honor the Emperor. It is routine every November, in the week following our nation’s Election Day sort of like a cleansing exercise, to remind myself about what the Scripture teaches explicitly about the relationship between the Christian and the State. (Hint: it isn’t much.) No commentary. No diatribes. No polemics. Just Bible, plus one piece of historical background—the emperor to whom both Peter and Paul refer respectfully in their letters is Nero. Crazy, vicious, sadistic Nero, who will shortly take the lives of Peter and Paul, is the ruler they had in mind when most of these verses were written. (Note: for space, I will merely cite from the New Testament Epistles).
Romans
13:1—“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.”
1
Timothy 2:1-2a—“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who
are in high positions.”
Titus
3:1—"Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be
obedient, to be ready for every good work.”
1
Peter 2:13-14—“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution,
whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to
punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.”
1
Peter 2:17—“Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”
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