Submission to Legitimate Authority in Scripture and Culture
The concept of submission to legitimate authority is a recurring theme in Scripture, emphasizing both divine and human structures of governance. The Apostle Peter exhorts believers to "submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority" [1, 4]. This instruction underscores that submission is not merely a civic duty but an act performed "for the Lord's sake," integrating it into Christian discipleship [4].
Paul similarly instructs in Romans, "Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience" [2]. This passage highlights that submission stems from a recognition of God's ordering of the world, where governing authorities are established by Him [6, 11]. The Tyndale House Commentary on Romans 13:1-2 explains that while submission usually takes the form of obedience, ultimate submission is always to God, allowing for instances where divine commands supersede human ones, as seen in Acts 4:19-20 [6].
The principle of submission extends beyond civil government to various relational dynamics. John Gill, in his commentary on Ephesians 5:19, suggests that "submitting yourselves one to another" can be understood in political, economical, and ecclesiastical senses, encompassing submission to civil magistrates, wives to husbands, children to parents, and servants to masters [8]. The Tyndale House Commentary on 1 Peter 3:1 further elaborates on wives accepting the authority of their husbands, noting that this submission, in the ancient world, often took the form of obedience [9].
The biblical understanding of "law" itself implies submission to recognized authority. Smith's Bible Dictionary defines law as a "definite commandment laid down by any recognized authority," with the Hebrew word torah emphasizing moral authority and guidance, and the Greek nomos highlighting constraining power [3]. Even Jesus acknowledged structures of authority, as seen in the centurion's statement, "For I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers" [5].
While the Bible calls for submission to human institutions, it is always within the framework of ultimate allegiance to God [6]. Matthew Henry's commentary on 1 Peter 2:13 notes that Christians were often accused of being disturbers of the state, making it essential for the apostles to clarify the rules of obedience to civil magistrates [7]. This submission is not absolute but is tempered by the understanding that "Scripture is the true source of all authority in questions of doctrine and practice" [10].
Sources
- 1 Peter “1 Peter 2:13 (NASB) — Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,”
- Romans “Romans 13:5 (BSB) — Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Law — The word is properly used, in Scripture as elsewhere, to express a definite commandment laid down by any recognized authority; but when the word is used with the article, and without any words of limitation, it refers to the expressed will to God, and in nine cases out of ten to the Mosaic law, or to the Pentateuch of which it forms the chief portion. The Hebrew word torah (law) lays more stress on its moral authority, as teaching the truth and guiding in the right way; the Greek nomos (law), on its constraining power as imposed and enforced by a recognized auth”
- I Peter “I Peter 2:13 (BSB) — Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority,”
- Luke “For I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” -- Luke 7:8”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 13:1: 13:1-2 The basic command of 13:1-7 is to submit to governing authorities. In God’s ordering of the world, we answer to those in positions of authority. Our submission to them will usually take the form of obedience. However, because God stands over all governments, our submission to governing authorities must always be in terms of our ultimate submission to God (see Acts 4:19-20). The Roman Christians might have been resisting government (see study note on Rom 13:6) based on a false understanding of the Good News, as if no longer copying “the behavior and customs ”
- 1 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Peter 2:13: The general rule of a Christian conversation is this, it must be honest, which it cannot be if there be not a conscientious discharge of all relative duties. The apostle here particularly treats of these distinctly. I. The case of subjects. Christians were not only reputed innovators in religion, but disturbers of the state; it was highly necessary, therefore, that the apostle should settle the rules and measures of obedience to the civil magistrate, which he does here, where, 1. The duty required is submission, which comprises loyalty and reverence to their pers”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 5:19: Submitting yourselves one to another,.... Which may be understood either in a political sense, of giving honour, obedience, and tribute, to civil magistrates, since they are set up by God for the good of men, and it is for the credit of religion for the saints to submit to them; or in an economical sense; thus the wife should be subject to the husband, children to their parents, and servants to their masters, which several things are afterwards insisted on, as explanative of this rule; or in an ecclesiastic sense, so the Ethiopic version renders it, "subject yourse”
- 1 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Peter 3:1: 3:1-7 The last of Peter’s three exhortations about accepting authority (2:13–3:7) concerns wives and husbands (cp. Eph 5:21-33; Col 3:18-19). 3:1 accept the authority of (literally submit to): Wives are instructed to acknowledge that God has appointed the husband as head of the relationship (see 2:13; Eph 5:22-25). Submission in the ancient world took the form of obedience (see 1 Pet 3:6). God also intends the husband to be a loving and respectful head (3:7; see Eph 5:25-30). However, Peter focuses especially on wives with pagan husbands who would potentially be h”
- 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 1:16: Scripture is the true source of all authority in questions of doctrine and practice. Be ye . . . for I am--It is I with whom ye have to do. Ye are mine. Therefore abstain from Gentile pollutions. We are too prone to have respect unto men [CALVIN]. As I am the fountain of holiness, being holy in My essence, be ye therefore zealous to be partakers of holiness, that ye may be as I also am [DIDYMUS]. God is essentially holy: the creature is holy in so far as it is sanctified by God. God, in giving the command, is willing to give also the power to obey i”
- Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 13 (introduction): SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED--POLITICAL AND SOCIAL RELATIONS--MOTIVES. (Rom 13:1-14) Let every soul--every man of you be subject unto the higher powers--or, "submit himself to the authorities that are above him." For there is no power--"no authority" but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God--"have been ordained of God."”