Recently, in reviewing a verse within the Bible I examined different translations. Most of the Bibles composed in the twentieth century translated the verse along the same lines as the NIV Bible in Romans 13:1 “Let everyone be subject to the governing authority, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” Verses 2-7 define those authorities as rulers who are “God’s servants for your good.” So, this verse implies all rulers or those in authority are servants for our good and as Christians we need to obey them. Of course, with known authoritarian leaders like Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini as well as other authoritarian leaders who have murdered millions, we cannot that believe they are “God’s servants for your good.” For this passage to make sense in this translation, we have to consider other Bible verses such as Jeremiah 23:1-4, Proverbs 29:2, and Proverbs 29:12 which call out wicked rulers.
But what I find interesting was one Bible translation of Romans 13:1-7 that read very differently – the Kings James Version first published in 1611. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained by God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”
It wasn’t clear to me what the word “powers” was referring to in verse 1. Although I am not a student of linguistics, I researched through an online dictionary the origin of words used in the NIV versus the King James Bible. The word power is from the Latin word posse – to be able. The word ruler is from the Latin regula meaning straight stick and the word minister in Latin means servant. The word authorities in Latin means someone who creates or initiates something. The original of the word soul is Germanic from the Middle Ages and the word everyone has no Latin root and was not widely used until the 20th Century.
The NIV Bible is referring to the powers (the ability to act) wielded by authorities and cites in verse 7 one example as taxes. In the King James Bible, it is to give ministers (from the word servant in Latin) their dues (from the word meaning owe in Latin) not necessarily meaning to owe taxes. Therefore, the King James Version translation can emphasize several different meanings.
In thinking further, I asked, if there is no power but that ordained of God, what specific power is being attributed to God? Is power referring to a person or an ability? Since, all of creation is from God, we can conclude that everything within creation is ordained by God. And therefore, within his dominion including our power to exercise to free will and our ability to think and act. This would include those who act from love and those who act to invoke fear. And nothing within creation can be made without the substance formed by God. Then is creation itself God’s higher powers? But when I contemplate the meaning of higher powers, I wonder could it also mean powers such as God’s ability to love and grant grace, healing, favor, and redemption? Not the specific power of Roman emperors and other governments in the 1st Century AD as indicated in the NIV translation? Could the minister referred to in the Kings James Bible mean servants of God?
In reviewing this Bible passage, I learned that some Bibles such as the NIV take a very specific interpretation consistent with a human perspective. Other translations such as the King James Bible require the reader to think deeper within the spiritual. And while I do not have the education to know why these translations are so different, I think those translations such as the King James Bible that ask us to consider both the spiritual and human perspectives are closer to an understanding of God as inspired by the Holy Spirit.
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