Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5200 Human civilisation » 5257 civil authorities
Divinely appointed servants and agents of God exercising their God-given authority for the good of those they govern and punishing those who do wrong, and to whom all must submit.
Civil authorities are divinely appointed
John 19:11; Romans 13:1 See also 1 Samuel 9:17; Samuel 16:1; Psalm 78:70-71; Proverbs 8:15-16; Jeremiah 27:6; Jeremiah 43:10; Daniel 2:21,37-38; Daniel 4:17,32; Daniel 5:18-21,26-28
Civil authorities are God's servants and agents
Romans 13:4 See also Isaiah 45:1; Jeremiah 25:9; Jeremiah 27:6; Jeremiah 43:10; Romans 13:6
Civil authority exercised for the good of all and in order to punish wrongdoers
Proverbs 21:15; 1 Peter 2:13-14 See also Genesis 9:6; Ezra 7:26; Psalm 72:12-14; Psalm 78:72; Proverbs 19:12; Proverbs 29:4,14; Acts 25:11; Romans 13:3-4; 1 Timothy 2:2
Everyone must submit to civil authorities
Proverbs 24:21-22; Titus 3:1 See also Ecclesiastes 8:2-5; Matthew 17:24-27; Matthew 22:15-21 pp Mark 12:13-17 pp Luke 20:20-25; Romans 13:1,5-7; 1 Peter 2:13-14,17
Civil authorities are only to be obeyed in what is lawful according to Scripture
Acts 5:29 See also Exodus 1:17; 1 Kings 21:2-3; Daniel 1:8; Daniel 3:28; Daniel 6:7-10; Matthew 22:21 pp Mark 12:17 pp Luke 20:25; Acts 4:19; Hebrews 11:23
See also
4065 orderliness 5219 authority, human institutions 5326 government 5358 judges 5366 king 5375 law 5464 proconsul 5485 punishment, legal aspects 5509 rulers 5577 taxation 5959 submission 8456 obedience to authorities
