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What the New Testament Says About Obeying Rulers

What the New Testament Says About Obeying Rulers

Last updated on: September 6, 2026 at 8:31 am by Al Baker

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What the New Testament Says About Obeying Rulers 2026-09-06T08:31:40-05:00 Al Baker

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What Our Heritage and the New Testament say about the Relationship between Christians and their “Rulers?”

Protesting peaceably and unlawful protesting

Peaceably protesting on the sidewalk and unlawfully blocking traffic.

This series is a tangent on my thoughts about “Christian Nationalism” and how a Christian can support President Trump.

Early Christian History Matters

The New Testament clearly states how the Church (and Christians) are supposed to relate to our “rulers.”
Did Christians in the first century aggressively and publicly protest against Rome?
Did they publicly refer to the Roman Empire as evil?
Did the first Christians openly break the laws of the empire to protest?

Let’s Begin with Jesus

The average first-century Jew probably hated the Roman Empire. In fact, most Jews despised having Roman soldiers in Judea, and especially hated seeing soldiers in Jerusalem. It was probably like pouring salt on their wounds to see Roman soldiers in their capital during important festivals like Passover and Pentecost.

Jesus lived His life under the oppression of a racist, colonial regime.
Yet, when asked about paying taxes, Jesus sent Peter out to find a coin in the mouth of a fish – to PAY the Temple Tax. Matthew 17:24
Jesus then tells Peter that the Temple should not be demanding a tax from its children.
THIS was His opinion on paying a tax for the Jewish Temple!

Yet, when asked by the Pharisees if He was for or against paying taxes to
THE OCCUPYING ROMAN EMPIRE…Jesus said,

“…give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar,
and give to God what belongs to God.” Matt 22: 15-22

So Jesus did not curse paying taxes to a racist colonial regime?! He also did not publicly preach against the Roman Empire. He did not publicly use slurs and/or slander against Caesar or at any governmental official.

(Jesus did call Herod a “fox,” but this could read as a rhetorical device to say, “I will not stop doing what I came to do.”)

Jesus did not lead street riots against the occupying soldiers. We have no evidence that He shouted at soldiers, spit on them, threw bricks at them, nor called them nasty names. (The Zealots may have done these things, but not Jesus)

“Well,” you might say, “if Jesus had done these things, the Romans would have quickly killed Him!” Ok. We found a point of agreement!

But Jesus went beyond refraining from calling the Roman soldiers “baby-killers!”
He healed a servant of a racist soldier serving in the racist colonial regime (a Roman centurion, Matt 8; Luke 7).
Jesus did not urge the officer to step down from his racist profession.
He healed the man’s servant…and then praised the centurion for his faith. Notice that Jesus did not lecture the centurion for being a racist and having slaves! Nor did Jesus gather His followers and protest outside the centurion’s home.

What about Paul’s View of Rome

Paul was arrested several times by Roman and city officials, BUT not because he was cursing them in the streets OR breaking the law. Almost every arrest happened when Jewish opponents were disturbing the peace. The Romans blamed Paul for the illegal protesters. What does Paul write about this evil government?

Romans 13 – You Knew I Would Go Here!

[Speaking to Christians in Rome] Paul makes it clear that we are to
“submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.” Romans 13:1

Every Christian is called to obey the laws of their government AND show respect to the authorities that have been established by God:

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be
ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. Titus 3:1-2 (emphasis added)

[also see Romans 13:3-4; and pray for your government: 1 Tim 2:1]

Christians and Their Government

If you are a Christian, I do not know how you get around these verses.
When Obama was elected, I was greatly disappointed. But I accepted the fact that my fellow Americans elected him, and secondly, I had to accept that God either allowed OR wanted Obama to be our President.
I remember the quick rebukes one would get if/when you failed to say “President Obama.” Now look at how Trump is ridiculed day and night. (Can you say “hypocrite?”)

The Greek term used in Romans 13:1 [the root is hupotasso = “submit”] is used in the epistles 35 times. Submission is clearly an important concept in our faith.
As Christians, we are supposed to submit to our government. We are to be law-abiding citizens. If you keep reading Romans 13, Paul makes it more explicit:

“If you rebel against the government, you are rebelling against God.” Romans 13:2
WOW. Let that sink in as you ponder how protests in our streets are typically NOT peaceful. Screaming in the face of a cop is your first Amendment free-speech right, but should a Christian take part in that kind of protest?

Paul is talking about the Roman Empire!

This same empire would eventually persecute, torture, and kill Christians.

As Americans, we cherish our rights: to peaceably assemble, protest, and exercise our free speech. I agree 100% with these rights given to us by God in the Bill of Rights, our first 10 Amendments.

BUT…we are commanded to submit to our government…AND we have the right to “peaceably assemble” to celebrate our choice of friends or “tribe.” We also have the right to peaceably protest when the government does something clearly condemned in the New Testament. Tension runs throughout the New Testament. This is an example of tension.

Christians are Called to Pray for their Government

As Christians, we are supposed to pray for our government leaders. Why? “…that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2

In this passage, Christians are also commanded to offer “thanksgiving for kings and all those in authority!” v. 2

Where/How did Paul come up with this concept?

Our History and Heritage

Cyrus, King of Persia

Cyrus the King of Persia (photo: worldhistory.org – public domain)

Cyrus, King of Persia, issued an order when he authorized the Jewish leaders to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem:

Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, male lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven…requested by the priests in Jerusalem…so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons. Ezra 6:8-10

Alexander the Great visited Israel

Alexander the Great
(photo: worldhistory.org – public domain)

Alexander the Great adopted many Persian customs, and some scholars believe that he issued a similar order on his arrival in Jerusalem. Josephus, the first-century Jewish historian, logs an amazing story: Alexander gave honor to the LORD of the Jews. The high priest offered a sacrifice for Alexander and prayed for him. (This story may not be 100% accurate, but something unusual must have happened) Alexander asked for continued prayers for his success and asked any Jew who wanted to serve in his army to join him…some did.
Antiquities of the Jews 11.8.4–5

Josephus also records an interesting story about circumstances that led to the Romans taking over Judea.

Eleazar, the High Priest, instructed those who offered sacrifices to stop offering a sacrifice [and probably prayers] for the Roman ruler:

“…for they rejected the sacrifice of Caesar…many of the…priests besought them not to omit the sacrifice, which it was customary for them to offer for their princes…” Wars of the Jews 2.17.2. (emphasis added)

For the Romans, this refusal to offer sacrifices for the Caesar was considered treason (the Zealot attack on Masada didn’t help).

Philo of Alexandria, Jewish theologian, philosopher and historian

Philo of Alexandria
(photo: Wikipedia)

Philo of Alexandria (a first-century Jewish philosopher/theologian) seems to corroborate what we read in Josephus, noting that Augustus Caesar “commanded perfect sacrifices of whole burnt offerings to be offered up to the most high God every day, out of his revenues, which are performed up to the present time.”
On the Embassy to Gaius 40.317

From these biblical and historical references, we can see that Christians are part of an ancient story.
God’s people are supposed to be law-abiding and loyal citizens under their ruler. Our heritage is to offer sacrifices and pray for our rulers.

The Conclusion is Clear: Christians should be showing respect for our “rulers,” not speaking words of condemnation, not praying for them to be assassinated or to die, and we certainly should not break the law in protest.

Christians should not be publicly using slurs against their leaders. (Titus 3:1)
[I am not judging here, especially if you make nasty comments in the privacy of your own home…I admit that I am guilty of this. But we are not to slander our rulers publicly – that is NOT showing honor.]

USA TODAY
Christian Leaders Denounce Trump

“Hundreds of Christian leaders and scholars nationwide are denouncing President Donald Trump’s administration and urging more active resistance among the faithful to ‘the injustices and anti-democratic danger sweeping across the nation’.” (emphasis added)
When these “Christian leaders…[are] urging more active resistance” in our now divided culture, this coalition is NOT following the New Testament commands to be positive, pray for the success of, and give thanks for “the authorities” put in place by God.

I wonder how often these leaders pray for President Trump and give thanks for him as directed in 1 Timothy 2, Titus 3:1 and Romans 13:1-3.

In my next article, I will present the early church fathers who follow in the footsteps of what we have just seen as historical precedent and biblical admonishment.

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