ACC ~ Romans 13 v5

PUNISHMENT FOR CRIMES. ORIGEN: Paul tells the church not to do anything against the princes and powers of this world so that it may live in peace and quiet. For if the church rebels … then it will be punished, not because of its faith but because of its crimes, and instead of dying for a worthy cause people will die for an unworthy one. COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

BE SUBJECT. AMBROSIASTER: One must be subject … because of the coming judgment, for whoever escapes now will be punished then, his own conscience accusing him. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

AVOID GOD’S WRATH. CHRYSOSTOM: What is the meaning of “not only to avoid God’s wrath”? It means not only because you resist God by not being subject, nor only because you are bringing great evils on yourself both from God and from the ruler, but also because the ruler is a benefactor to you in things of the utmost importance, because he brings you peace and the blessings of civil institutions. States receive countless blessings through these authorities, and if they were taken away, everything would go to pieces. HOMILIES ON ROMANS 23.

FOR THE SAKE OF CONSCIENCE. AUGUSTINE: This is helpful for understanding that because of this life we must be subject and not offer resistance if anyone wants to take something from us, if it is in his power to do so, because authority has been given to him over temporal things, which will pass away. We are not to be subject in those good things which remain forever but only in the needs of this age.

But when he says “one must be subject,” lest anyone submit to the authorities halfheartedly and not from pure love, Paul adds: “not only to avoid … wrath but also for the sake of conscience.” That is to say, you should not submit simply to avoid the authority’s anger, which can be done by pretense, but so that you might be assured in your conscience that you are doing this out of love for him. For you submit at your Lord’s command. AUGUSTINE ON ROMANS 74.

[PSEUDO-]CONSTANTIUS: Those who do wrong and who live in opposition to the commandments, are subject to the authorities for their punishment, but those who live rightly are subject for conscience’s sake, because the things which they are commanded to do are just and good. THE HOLY LETTER OF ST. PAUL TO THE ROMANS.

PELAGIUS: You must be subject, not only because the authorities can become angry even without cause but also so that you may not be condemned for the consciousness of some sin. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

THEODORET OF CYR: “For the sake of conscience” means “in order to do what is right.” INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS.

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