This week Impact will continue studying Romans with Romans 13. Please read the chapter and review the discussion questions below.
Romans 13 Study Questions
Read verses 1-7.
1. To what governing authorities is Paul referring in verses 1-2? Are these religious
authorities, civic authorities, or both? Why does Paul command believers to obey
authority? Consider I Tim 2:1-2, I Peter 2:13-17.
2. Consider Gen 1:28, I Cor 14:33, and I Cor 11. How might these passages relate
to the teachings in Romans 13?
3. Read Acts 23:1-5. What does Paul do in this instance? Is he holding to the standards
he later lays out in Romans 13:1-7?
4. Consider Romans 13:5. How would our behavior differ if we acted based on our conscience
rather than based on potential consequences?
5. How should a Christian respond when he/she disagrees significantly with the policies of a
government, or when that government is corrupt and/or dysfunctional? Do Paul's instructions
in this chapter apply to such governments? Why or why not?
6. What do you think would have been Paul's personal view of the Roman government based
on his own experiences? Would he have seen it as a just or unjust institution?
Read verses 8-14
7. In verse 8, what does it mean to owe nothing to any man?
8. In verse 14, what does it mean to put on the Lord Jesus Christ?
