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Romans 13, verse 1, is one of the most misunderstood verses of the Bible and a vast system of control and power over the people of the world is dependent upon this pervasive misunderstanding and the resulting confusion.
The Higher Right to Choose"You can fool all of the people some of the time and You can fool some of the people all of the time, but you can't fool all the people all the time.” Abraham Lincoln.“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” Romans 13: 1Of course we should honor true authority, such as our Father and Mother, or others that God places over us (or we go under by contract and agreement), but is that even what Romans 13 is talking about? Have we been completely misled about the meaning of that scripture by Paul?Dunamis, dunamai, didomi, arche, ischus, ischuros, kratos and energes all appear in the New Testament as forms of the word 'power' but have decidedly different meanings than exousia. The appearance of the word 'power' in the translated text of Romans is misleading many people concerning the consistent ideas expressed by the authors of the Bible. In fact the confusion and misunderstanding is rampant in these modern times due to this subtle but pervasive sophistry.6The Greek word exousia translated in Romans 13:1 as power or authority actually means the "right to choose", the “power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases."1Paul is simply telling you in Romans 13 that you should remain subject to the better or higher liberty or right to choose.Exousia is even translated as "liberty" in 1 Corinthians and is also translated as the word "right" in Revelations.“But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.” 1Co 8:9The word liberty in this verse is the same word translated power in Romans 13.Christ came to set men free not to deliver them into the bondage of governments like those of Egypt or Babylon. Early Christians were part of a government appointed by Christ and were cast out2 of the Hellenized Pharisaical system of Corban in Judea when thousands accepted Christ at Pentecost. They began to live according to those precepts established in the perfect law of liberty, by faith, hope and charity. This was done with freewill offerings, and not the covetous and forced offerings of benefactors in other governments who exercised authority.The ministers appointed by Christ were told they were not to be like those governments of the other nations, who offered benefits to the people but exercised authority one over the other.3 They were not to use the right arm of government to enforce the charitable contributions on the left side of government.4 All the offerings in Christ's government were free will contributions under that perfect law of liberty.5The word ex-ousia is from two Greek words. Ex means 'of' or 'from', while ousia is "what one has, i.e. property, possessions, estate". Paul is simply telling you that you should remain subject to the right to choose the manner in which your property is distributed as freemen under Christ. From the Beginning, God gave mankind the right to choose. He stopped the rise of Nimrod's Babylonian tower,7 freed the Israelites from the bondage of Egypt, and has always desired that man be subject to liberty under God the Father and not other gods of men8. What would happen if we take the word 'exousia' and translate it "liberty" as we see in 1 Corinthians 8:9 and place it where we find exousia in other of Paul's writings:“Let every soul be subject unto the higher liberty. For there is no liberty but of God: the liberties that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth (opposes) the liberty, resisteth (opposes) the ordinance of God: and they that resist (sets one's self against) 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 liberty? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same.” Romans 13: 1,3Liberty is the power to choose to do something. It is a free estate. Liberty is frightening to many people because it also means responsibility. If you have given the power or right to choose to someone or something else, then they have power over you. But if you have made no such covenants or agreements then you keep your original right to choose, your free dominion granted by God.The word resisteth is from antitassomai and is defined as "to range in battle against". Resisteth is not the same as refusing to go under an authority or refusing to swear an oath of allegiance. Nor does resisteth have anything to do with not applying for benefits that might be considered deceitful dainties offered at the tables of the ruling powers. The word resisteth has to do with overt battle and railing against these powers and authorities that are established by individual agreement, consent or application and participation. .The word damnation is another one of those legal terms that has been twisted into a religious context only. The word is krima and means "a decree, judgments… the sentence of a judge… a matter to be judicially decided, a lawsuit, a case in court". Jesus was very much concerned with the activities of lawyers,9 judges10 and governments.11Couple this with the fact that both the words elohim and theos, which are translated God and gods, were commonly used in all the courts Israel and the Roman Empire to address magistrates and judges, and we began to see that to go under damnation would include going under the authority of other judges and courts. This can be done by entering into social welfare contracts,12 three party marriage contracts,13 or membership that allowed rulers of political bodies to make treaties and leagues14 for you. It would also include applications and acceptance of benefits from the benefactors who exercised authority one over the other to enforce a common welfare. These were the doctrines and creeds of the Nicolaitan.15Words can have a variety of meanings and are therefore always subjective. The word powers has over a dozen different definitions in The American Heritage alone. The first is "The ability or capacity to perform or act effectively." This of course includes the idea of the liberty and freedom to choose to act.The sixth definition is, "The might of a nation, political organization, or similar group." This could lend the definition of the word power to the idea that there is a superior power or government we are to be subject to. But is it by God putting a government in power, or is it due to our own rejection and sloth? Then there is the fifteenth definition appearing as: "powers Christianity. The sixth of the nine orders of angels in medieval angelology."So, which of these definitions should we apply to Paul's Romans 13, to say nothing of the thirteen other definitions found in the Heritage Dictionary for the same word, powers? This of course is why we should go back to the original manuscript to determine what the original intent of the author was and therefore what is the truth for us today.Even the religiously skewed Strong's clearly states that the word exousia is used in the sense of ability and uses words like "capacity, competency, freedom..." By pointing out that exousia is translated in the King James Bible as power 69 times, authority 29 times, right twice and liberty, jurisdiction, strength once each, we still cannot establish what the prime meaning of the word was when it was written down. We can establish that its meaning leans towards the idea of capacity and power of choice than exclusively the power of government.There is fairly conclusive evidence that the modern Church has been steadily deluded and deluding others---over many years by either negligence or design, arrogance or ignorance.To look at how the word exousia was used by the Greeks and Romans in the days of Christ and the authors of those sacred texts we can simply examine the scholars of that era. The meaning we derived is quite the opposite of that which we get from the translators of King James and others.The Greek Glossary of Aristotelian Terms states that exousia means "right".16Aristotle actually exemplifies its use in the statement, "The right (exousia) to do anything one wishes..."17And in Plato's notes "Greek words for freedom (is) eleutheros (liberal/Free), exousia (Freedom/Power to do something), ..."18Again in Bryn Mawr's Classical Review we see, "Enomaos maintained that we are absolutely masters of the most necessary things (52-53). Brancacci notices that the term used by Enomaos to refer to human freedom is not the typical Cynic one (eleutheria), but exousia, which expresses 'the new concept of freedom in opposition to the already defunct and unhelpful eleutheria'."19The evidence is clear that exousia does not mean governmental top down power, but rather undoubtedly means the right to choose. To use these few quotes to attempt to insert the idea that everyone should apply to authoritarian benefactors to care for every aspect of society does the gospel of the kingdom of God a brutal injury. Exousia clearly relates to a capacity or a right to decide. It certainly does not inherently mean an absolute or even far reaching central government power over individual choice.We know that men are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights or liberties. We also know that some governments of men are endowed by their creator with some powers of choice and authority. These men are those who go out of the presence of God20 and even reject God21, men like Cain, Nimrod, Pharaoh, Caesar, and the voice of the people who rejected God in the days of Samuel. Those governments are created by the hands of men not by the hand of God the Father who desired us to have free choice from the beginning of creation.22These governments are vested with those right and powers which men neglect, give up or, sell out in order to obtain the often imagined protection and profit, the surety and security, the benefits, bounties and blessings of those bound and civilized societies. Such as these socialized association of civil servitude (in return for their gifts and gratuities) require full faith and allegiance to their ideals and idols. Their prescribed pledges, prideful pomp and preponderating programs take the right to choose from men and bestow it upon the beast of a burgeoning bureaucracy.“What is freedom? Freedom is the right to choose; the right to create for yourself the alternative of choice. Without the responsibility and exercise of choice a man is not a man but a member, an instrument, a thing.”23The rights granted to governments are rights first granted to men by God. Governments are not instituted by God, but by men. Men who choose to create governments by giving away their divine endowment of rights and responsibilities are rejecting God. Governments operate on privileges granted them by the slothful, greedy, covetous souls of men. It is the voice of the people24 that rejects God, at least by the suffrage of the people. This binding on earth may or may not be lawfully revocable in the eyes of God, depending on the nature and terms of their compact, constitution, and covenant.Men have the option of vesting the "right to choose" in government, or to maintain that power and right as free men under God. Rights are responsibilities. When men make government responsible then governments obtain rights. Only to that degree do governments have any power or authority.When men chose to vest responsibilities in men like Saul, God warned them through Samuel not to do so. Power corrupts. But the subject in this article on Romans 13 is that exousia is the right of choice which was originally in the hands of men. It is the right of choice, granted first to the individual that is the higher authority spoken of in Romans 13.If we do not have the humility to recognize our own error and failure, then we will remain subject to the sophistic delusions of those who wish to keep you subject in body and in spirit rather than set free in spirit and in truth.The Covenants of the gods25 outlines many ways in which we physically become subject to the world, but the reason we fall prey to such ancient schemes is that we fail to love the character of our Father in heaven and the kingdom that comes by obeying His will. Thy Kingdom Comes26 outlines the history of His kingdom. We are slothful and covetous and will not forgive and give of ourselves for the sake of our neighbor.The spirit and power of the kingdom of God is always at hand. It is not of the world27 of Rome, Egypt, and Babylon but it is on this planet if it is in the hearts of the people.“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” 1Co 6:12This quote in 6:12 is consistent with Paul in 1Corinthians 7:21."Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather."Commonly people reply with, "But Paul was a citizen of Rome." Could it be true that we have been misled on this subject?32 Is this more sophistry, twisting the meaning of words?33 Are we the victims of centuries of sophistry?The reasons people are subject to the powers of governments is often, "Because of what appears to be a lawful command on the surface, many Citizens, because of respect for the law, are cunningly coerced into waiving their rights due to ignorance."34 The deception of Romans 13 merely adds to this process of a decline of liberty in the world.“Are men the property of the state? Or are they free souls under God?This same battle continues throughout the world?”40“Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another [man’s] conscience?” 1 Corinthians 10:29.“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13“The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,” Luke 4:18“For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.” 1 Peter 2:15“Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we ...are come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2“Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, [one] Jesus.” Acts 17:7“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, [be] honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:17“Which in his times he shall shew, [who is] the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;” 1 Timothy 6:15“And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS...” John 19:19-22“...Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king...” John 18:37Footnotes:1 Hebrew-English and Greek-English Lexicons, OnlineBible.com2John 9:22 These [words] spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.3ARTICLE X - The prime directive of the Church Http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/polity/articlex.html4Matthew 6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:5Isaiah 61:8 For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.Mark 12:33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love [his] neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.6Sophistry of Sacrifice, http://www.hisholychurch.net/words/articleburntoffering.pdf7migdal ldgm 1) tower...1b) elevated stage, pulpit8The Covenants of the gods http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/writings.htm9Luke 11:52 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered. See also Luke 11:4610Matthew 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.11Matthew 27:11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.12The City State http://www.hisholychurch.net/thykingdom/tkce2.html13Holy Matrimony vs. Marriage http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/mvm.html14Judges 2:2 And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ...” Also translated covenant , confederacy...15Who are the Nicolaitan? http://www.hisholychurch.net/news/nicolaitans.PDF16http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aristotle-politics/17Lawmakers and Ordinary People in Aristotle, by Paul Bullen (1996) http://paul.bullen.com/BullenLawmakers.html (VI. 4.1318b38-1319a4)18http://www.uiowa.edu/~lsa/bkh/lla/plato19Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2001.08.19 On this issue, see S. Bobzien, Determinism and Freedom in Stoic Philosophy, Oxford 1998, chap. 6 (not quoted by Brancacci, but listed in the bibliography).http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/bmcr/2001/2001-08-19.html20Genesis 4:16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.211 Samuel 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.22Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image,... Proverbs 22:26 Be not thou [one] of them that strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts. Isaiah 10:10 As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;23Archibald Macleish (1882-1982) Secretary of State under FDR.24The Voice of the People http://www.hisholychurch.net/news/voteking.asp25The Covenants of the gods http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/writings.htm26Thy Kingdom Comes http://www.hisholychurch.net/thykingdom/tkca.html27My kingdom is not of this world http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/world.HTM28There Are gods Many http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/theosgod.HTM29Acts 17:7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, [one] Jesus.30The Covenants of the gods http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/writings.htm312 Peter 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.32Did Paul claim to be a citizen of Rome? http://www.hisholychurch.net/news/article/roman.html33Adventures in Artifice and Language land. http://www.hisholychurch.net/words/articleburntoffering.pdf34U.S. v. Minker, 350 U.S. 179, 187 .35Rome vs. US http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/romeus.HTM36The Body of Christ Vs. The Body of the StateHttp://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/bvb.htm37Republic vs. Democracy http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/rvd.htmDemocracy vs. Demagogue http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/dvd.htm38Rome vs. US http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/romeus.HTM39Thy Kingdom Comes http://www.hisholychurch.net/thykingdom/tkca.html40Cecil B. DeMille in “The Ten Commandments.”41Mr 11:10 Blessed [be] the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. Mt 21:9 And the multitudes t... cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: .... John 12:13 ...cried, Hosanna: Blessed [is] the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.42John 8:20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury [ gazophulakion , public treasure ], as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.43Matthew 5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:44Deuteronomy 13:845Proverbs 1:1046Employ vs. Enslave http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/eve.htm47Matthew 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.48Luke 22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;49U.S. v. Minker, 350 U.S. 179, 18750Matthew 15:6 And honour not his father or his mother, [he shall be free]. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.51The Constitution Part I of X 1. The Party of the first parthttp://www.hisholychurch.net/news/4dconstitution.html52Conversion vs. Reconversion http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/cvr.htmMoney vs. Mammonhttp://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/movma.htm53 The Royal Treasury http://www.hisholychurch.net/thykingdom/tkczq9.htm54The Voice of the People http://www.hisholychurch.net/news/voteking.asp55Ex 18:25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.561 Samuel 8, 1 Samuel 10:18-19, 1 Samuel 12:1-25___________________________________________________________Any thoughts from anyone? what do you think of this understanding of Romans 13?I am looking forward to your commentsCheers,WolfgangYou need to be a member of Way Corps Site to add comments!
Comments
The author makes the statement that exousia is derived from both ek and "ousia". Look that one up in you digital lexicons. Uh, like, ousia doesn't appear anywhere. Even the Online Bible Lexicon from which the author draws this says that exousia (S#1849) comes from ekesti (s#1832). Esti (S#2076) comes from the word eimi (S#1510) which means "to be, to exist, to be present" in the 1st person indicative. Esti is in the 3rd person of the verb "to be".
A literal translation then of ekesti - "what comes out of one when they are" or even better "what comes out of of one when they know who they are!" What is it that comes out of us when we know who we are (Remember the acronym SOGWAP?) LIBERTY!!! That which we are to stand fast in (Gal 5.1).
Rom 8:21 Creation will be set free by the liberty of the glory of God's children.
Gal 5.14 This freedom should issue into loving service.
James 1:25 speaks of this perfectly mature law of liberty (Figure of speech?) and the Amplified translates it wonderfully:
But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the law of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer who obeys, he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).
Doesn't this come (OUT OF US) into true fruition when we understand WHO WE ARE AS THE SONS OF GOD?
Therefore when we get to the translation in Romans 13:
Tyndale translated it this way: Let every soul submit himself unto the authority of the higher powers.
With this understanding it could be construed, taken, or meant to mean that we are to submit ourselves to the underpinnings of the supreme understanding of who we are in Christ! And what comes out of this understanding. LIBERTY! The freedom to choose.
Corinthians tells us that where the spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty. Being then sons of the Most High God, housing the Holy Spirit (CAPS, I know, I know, I know) it behooves to be led by this spirit of liberty, the right to choose to do His will or not. For some of us it may mean that we are to be vocal in our opposition to things around us, should our our Lord lead us in that way. Others may be cave dwellers reserved for another time, should the spirit dictate that. We are not "clones" of Yahshua. He works in each one of us according to the way HE chooses, knowing our frame.
Does that mean that we should obey the government in power. Well, we are commanded to pray for the secular rulers so we can lead a quiet, peaceable life and that we may "stop the mouths of ignorant men" as Peter tells us. The stories of old are for our learning. Look at the prophets in there dealings with the governing authorities of the time in which they lived. The same God today can deliver us, hide us, fashion us, exalt us...to see His plans manifest and His glory shown among the kingdoms of the world.
Remember that the whole of creation groans, waiting for the evidential revealing of the fully mature sons (huios) of God. Those who know WHO they are and WHAT they house inside them and choose to walk in the LIBERTY bestowed upon and in them.
http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=arti...
Not that I necessarily agree with it in total, but found it interesting in light of your presentation Wolfgang, and your thoughts Kevin and Mike. I have struggled with this section of scriptures for quite some time and am excited to hear anyone's perspective.
Love and blessings,
George
There is no doctrinal section in Romans that corresponds to this verse the way it was translated.
Also if the verse is true the way it is translated, then the angel in Acts 12 is in violation of God's will. There are a number of these in the scriptures also Acts 5
This verse the way it is allowed to sit today,
1. demonstrates the shortcoming of the reformation
2. impact of traditions on subsequent translation.
Thanks again,
Mike
"Godless Goddammned government"
Ha, ha, that about sums it up for me too at times.
They were brutal back then in the Old Testament. No messin around in those records.
"Any government that leads people away from God's will is damned or judged already "
I see your point and it may very well be.,...
But sadly, I have known sincere Christians who were just as bad. and have done the very same thing while preaching bible verses aplenty. Some well know ponzi schemes involved churches and trusted ministers who swindled sincere families out of ever penny they owned.
We need to be wise on every hand whether it is a government or an individual.