Romans 13 Says Nothing About the Government

Politicians and preachers who quote Romans chapter 13 to convince people to obey government laws are not only interpreting the Bible wrongfully, but in an attempt to enforce stipulated laws of their choosing, are deceiving the people. Romans chapter 13 says nothing about the government.

If read in its entirety and understood under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Romans 13 is talking to and about church leadership, not government offices. Nowhere does it state that the “higher powers” are “authorities” of the Government. The higher powers are the gifts and callings of God that are to be used by church leadership, not laws written by politicians. That is a lie.

Today’s church leadership and politicians have taken the Word of God and distorted it into what they want to enforce upon the people. This is evil.

Instead of using the King James version (1611), they are using newer versions of the Bible that were written after the 1960s, such as the Amplified Bible (1965), the Living Bible (1971), and the New American Standard Bible (1971). These Bibles distort the original translations and read, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities…” which is not what the original King James version says or any Bible documented before the KJV.

All the older Bible translations documented centuries before the KJV, including the KJV, quote Romans chapter 13, verse one as saying “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.”

There is a substantial difference between the phrases “governing authorities” and “higher powers.” Higher powers as quoted in the older versions, means spiritual powers given to leaders of God, meaning ministers, preachers and pastors and any other offices held by anointed people of God for church service and the work of the ministry. It says nothing about government at all.

The problem is people do not read their bibles. It is deceptively easy to quote scriptures to a television camera broadcast to millions of people if those people do not read the Bible. They will believe what the reader is saying instead of looking at the actual verse for themselves.

For years, American politicians and pastors have used this deception on the public since they changed the wording of the Bibles into versions that fit the United Stated government agenda. The earliest version of the Bible being changed in America was the Darby version of the Bible written in 1890, a decade after the Civil War ended.

Not only did they distort Romans 13, but they distorted other verses also such as Ephesians 6:5, in which the newer versions say, “Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with respect for authority.” On the contrary, the original KJV version and all others documented before then says, “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh.” Slaves and Servants are completely different in meaning and translation. But again, the newer versions were written after the Civil War when slavery was abolished in the American south.

American politicians – backed by Evangelical preachers - needed a way to convince the people (mainly Blacks) that they needed to obey them so they used scholars and Christian Universities to create new Bible versions and change the wording and meaning to fit their agenda. For example, In 2018, Jeff Sessions used the false verse of Romans 13 to support the Trump administrations agenda on separating children from their parents at the border.

Just recently, an Evangelical pastor named David Netzorg used the distortion in a speech in Florida at a board meeting with the Florida governor and his culture war with Disney and “said government work is "a calling" and government employees "actually work for God. So, we're to obey the police, firefighters, government, all of those in authority" Netzorg offered as commentary.”

This is all false doctrine and an abomination to God, who commands that no one is allowed to change His words or to be used in any private interpretation. “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:18, 19.

People argue that the various Bibles are simply “versions,” written by men who see God in their own view. Nevertheless, scholars of old did not create their own versions, they translated the original words of God into different languages and did not add to or take away from its meaning and spiritual authority. Unfortunately, only after the changes in American demographics and economic power did men begin to write their own versions as interpreted by them for whatever agenda they wanted to instill upon the people.

This is evil and will not go unpunished by God. Too many pastors and politicians who want to control the beliefs of the people have written many different versions of their own interpretations, which strip the Word of its power and meaning. This began happenings just recently in the last 50 to 100 years, and only in America.

Today, millions of Christians read from these distorted Bible versions and misunderstand the true will of God. This falsehood is being used in government policy, cultural and social norms, and sadly in the churches.

In an extremely distorted version of the Bible, and in a desperate and ridiculous attempt to deceive the public, in the God’s Word translation of the Bible, “released by World Publishing in March 1995. The publishing rights were acquired in June 2003 by Green Key Books of Holiday, Florida, and in 2008, rights to the translation were acquired by Baker Publishing Group…” here is Romans 13 in their view:

“13 Every person should obey the government in power. No government would exist if it hadn’t been established by God. The governments which exist have been put in place by God. 2 Therefore, whoever resists the government opposes what God has established. Those who resist will bring punishment on themselves.

3 People who do what is right don’t have to be afraid of the government. But people who do what is wrong should be afraid of it. Would you like to live without being afraid of the government? Do what is right, and it will praise you. 4 The government is God’s servant working for your good.

But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid. The government has the right to carry out the death sentence. It is God’s servant, an avenger to execute God’s anger on anyone who does what is wrong. 5 Therefore, it is necessary for you to obey, not only because you’re afraid of God’s anger but also because of your own conscience.

6 That is also why you pay your taxes. People in the government are God’s servants while they do the work he has given them. 7 Pay everyone whatever you owe them. If you owe taxes, pay them. If you owe tolls, pay them. If you owe someone respect, respect that person. If you owe someone honor, honor that person."

Again, Romans 13 says nothing about the government nor does dues refer to taxes. Dues, tribute, honour and custom refer to respect of the ministers and church leaders by way of support. The references to government authority and taxes is what men today who run the government want people to believe, and this is a lie from hell.

These liars and false prophets will be held accountable by God for this deception and will suffer the consequences of false doctrine and leading the flock astray. Believers should stay with the KJV at all times and ignore any Bible versions written after the 1611 KJV.

Here is the original and authentic verse of Romans 13:1-7 from the KJV:

1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 

2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 

3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 

4 for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 

5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 

6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 

7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.