Subject To Rulers & Authorities (part 2)

Of course, this is not the only time that Paul touches on this subject of relationship to governing powers.  In his letter to the Romans, Paul instructs the recipients of that letter, a group of believers that are located in the power center of the world in that day, writing “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities” (13:1).  “Yes,” Paul would in effect say, “Jesus has had all things put under His feet, and yes, all are subject to Him, even the Caesar;” but also, “there is no authority except by God’s appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God.  So the person who resists such authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment” (13:1b-2). 

We hear this with the backdrop of the accusations leveled against Christians (Nero would effectively blame the Christian community for the burning of Rome, building on those accusations), and the corresponding need to be wise and circumspect in their public dealings, so that even though their recognized a king superior to Jesus and a kingdom superior to Rome, they were not a threat to public order.  By way of digression, we could certainly note that the truth of Paul’s communication would be remarkably displayed during the Jewish revolt of 66-70 A.D., which resulted in the devastating destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple and the banishment of Jews from their promised land. 

Returning then to Titus, Paul adds to his instructions regarding subjection, obedience, and readiness, writing that “They must not slander anyone, but be peaceable, gentle, showing complete courtesy to all people” (3:2).  This is Paul’s charge to those that refer to the Christ as their Lord.  The question of “why” would probably and reasonably have been ventured at this point.  Answering that question, Paul writes, “For we too were once foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another” (3:3).  It is possible to believe that Paul could very well have been speaking biographically here, reflecting on his attitude towards the Roman rulers and authorities to whom he had been subject for the entirety of his life. 

If he was speaking biographically, then it would have been natural for him to extend his thinking beyond his own mindset and to consider the attitude towards Rome that was widely held by an undoubtedly large percentage of the nation of Israel.  In that attitude and mindset, in which hopes of rebellion and revolt played such a large part---with its narrow focus on the nationalistic benefits to be obtained through God’s action on behalf of Israel through a warring and conquering Messiah---words such as foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved, evil, envious, and hateful could have sprung to mind.  If Paul was indeed reflecting on God’s covenant with His people who were given the responsibility to be a light to the nations and a blessing to all peoples, and their failure to come anywhere close to that ideal though given repeated warnings and experiences of God’s power that should have jolted them on to that path, then perhaps such thoughts were entirely appropriate.   

After recounting his own position, that of his people, and undoubtedly that of humankind in general as part of his insistence that believers in the Lord Jesus Christ rightfully submit themselves to rulers and authorities, in spite of foolishness, disobedience, being misled, enslavement, evil, enviousness, and hatefulness, Paul writes, “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of His mercy” (Titus 3:4-5a).  Effectively, for Paul, the kindness of God appeared when the Christ, the Messiah, appeared.  He adds that said kindness was applied “through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit” (3:5b).  This washing and renewing, again, demonstrating the kindness of God, was fully manifested in “Jesus Christ our Savior” (3:6b), for it was in Him that God “poured out on us in full measure” (3:6a), the Spirit that would lead to the reception of His salvation.