Romans 13 is one of the most misused passages in scripture. It is often pulled out of its context to sanctify government power with divine approval.
Clobber Verses
I wrote this post on January 20th. I wanted to get my thoughts down and then hold them at the ready for a timely moment. Less than 5 days later the moment arrived all too soon and sadly.
I am not going to post this to social media. It’s for our REVwords readers.
Romans 13:1 is one of those classic verses, used to coerce the compliance of Christians. The passage has it’s own Wikipedia page.
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities…” Romans 13:1
History is clear that Scripture can easily be weaponized in the hands of authoritarian leadership.
Less than 24 hours after the heartbreaking killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026, a prominent evangelical leaders in America rolled out Romans 13 to remind Christians of their biblical responsibility to submit to any authority. I mean no disrespect or disparagement intended to this leader.
The problem with how Romans 13 gets applied in moments like this is that it’s almost always ripped from its context. According to biblical scholars John Barton and John Muddiman:
“Few if any passages in the Pauline corpus have been more subject to abuse than Romans 13:1–7.”
A sign for 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer earlier in the day, is displayed during a vigil Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
Romans’ 13 Purpose
Paul was writing to a church in tension. Jews had been expelled from Rome under Claudius in AD 49, returning only after his death in AD 54. The church was navigating reunification between Jewish and Gentile believers. Political unrest was brewing. Paul needed to prevent the Christians from becoming known as troublemakers or rebels, which would wreck their witness and hinder the gospel mission.
His point in Romans 13:1-7 wasn’t to provide a comprehensive theology of church-state relations for all time. He was addressing a specific pastoral need: don’t give the authorities reason to crack down on the church. Paul knew that the early Christian movement would be suspect enough without adding accusations of sedition and rebellion.
But considering context has been a hurdle for church leaders in applying the Scripture.
Take a walk down history’s lane with the help of Benjamin Cremer.
A History of Misapplication
Protestant theologian Otto Dibelius invoked Romans 13:1 to urge Germans to support Hitler. That was March 21, 1933. It had only been two months into Nazi rule. Even those who supported the government were expressing discontent with the growing hostile measures of the Nazis. 
Otto said that Christians must not fail to support the state and its leaders. He viewed the state’s power as divinely ordained and felt Christians shouldn’t abandon it, even when it acted harshly.
Otto Dibelius
Later he deeply regretted and questioned his stance, especially as Nazi atrocities became known.
Slavery
Romans 13 was also used in the years leading up to the American Civil War to justify and legitimize slavery. It was used to argue that the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 must be obeyed,making it a moral obligation to return escaped slaves to bondage.
Apartheid
The Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa invoked Romans 13 to justify apartheid, even in the face of all the horrors it was causing among the South African people. Key figures and documents presented apartheid as consistent with biblical principles, portraying God as the “Great Separator” and asserting racial separation reflected divine order, though dissenting theologians challenged these interpretations, eventually leading to the DRC’s official condemnation of apartheid as morally wrong
Immigration
In June 2018, Americans dug out their Bibles during President Trump’s first term, hunting for the Romans 13 passage that attorney general Jeff Sessions quoted when arguing for the US administration’s policy on separating migrant children from their families. Said Sessions: “I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained them for the purpose of order.” 
Renee Good
Romans 13 was used again to support President Trump’s use of ICE against immigrants. One evangelical preacher watched the video of the shooting of Renee Good and pronounced it was “the justice of God”. On January 11th, a professor at John Piper’s Bethlehem Seminary prayed not for God to protect the terrified people of Minneapolis, but for God to protect ICE from the violent people of Minneapolis. The Centre For Baptist Leadership amen’ed on January 13th.
Context
Here’s the beauty of context. Notice what comes immediately before Romans 13.
In Romans 12:9-21, Paul commands:
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position and do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:14-18, 20 (NIV)
Paul was not calling Christians to confuse government power with God’s reign, nor was he suggesting that violence can be carried out in the name of Christ. In fact Paul commanded Christians not to repay evil for evil, not to seek vengeance, but to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:17–21). He made it clear: vengeance belongs to God alone.”
Personal
I watched the video of Mr Pretti’s split-second reaction to a woman being violently shoved to the ground by a masked man. If that had been me that day would I have instinctively reacted the same way?
Would I have been on that street under those circumstances? Maybe. I hope so. Would I have carried a holstered weapon? No. And no judgment. Would I have stepped in? Christian men are taught to step in when a vulnerable woman is under threat from a masked man. I fear I would have stepped in as an instinctive reaction.
Instinctive, as in the same way trained law enforcement officers are instructed to deescalate.situations like the in Minneapolis.
Our Calling
Governments are accountable to God’s standards of mercy and justice, not free to claim divine endorsement for every action.
When rulers wield power in ways that exploit, dehumanize, or seek vengeance, they are not serving God’s purposes but resisting them.
Our calling is to hold those in power accountable, especially if they claim to be Christian, reminding them that true authority is measured by how they serve the most vulnerable, pursue mercy, and reflect the justice of God’s kingdom. Anything less distorts the gospel and risks turning faith into an instrument of oppression rather than liberation.
If we think erring on the side of mercy and empathy is a worse misuse of Christianity than using it to justify authoritarianism, then we not only deeply misunderstand our history, but worst of all, we deeply misunderstand the gospel of Jesus.
History shows that well-intentioned pastors using Romans 13 to support authoritarian governments, repented and resisted their corrupt use of authority.
And some pastors and Christians resisted from the get go. Let’s be the latter.
Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful.” Matthew 5:7 (KJV)
“Love does no harm to a neighbour. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.” Romans 13:10 (NIV)
What do you think? Post a comment and join the conversation.
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