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Jumpstarter 9 of 10

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Romans Commentary Chapters 9-16  /  Romans 13:1-7 Submit to the Governing Authorities Part Two  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 9
The lesson’s boundary for disobedience is narrow: “The only time a Christian can disobey Caesar…is when the government’s laws violate Christ’s laws,” with Acts 4–5 as the model; what are realistic modern examples where obedience to Jesus would force illegal action, and how willing are we—really—to accept “penal labor…dishonor and death” rather than adjust Jesus’ commands?
Another way to ask: The lesson says you can disobey the government only when it tells you to break Jesus’ commands, like in Acts 4–5. What are modern situations where obeying Jesus could make you break the law, and would we really accept prison, shame, or death instead of softening Jesus’ commands?

Direct Answer The transcript’s main concrete example of illegal obedience is continuing to preach when authorities forbid it, as in Acts 4–5; it also implies refusing commands to violate Christ’s teachings, even if punished. The transcript doesn’t list modern scenarios, but it strongly emphasizes that Christians must be willing to accept penalties—even death—rather than compromise when laws directly contradict Jesus.

Support from Transcript:

  • Boundary stated: “The only time a Christian can disobey Caesar and must disobey Caesar is when the government’s laws violate Christ’s laws.”
  • Acts model: Peter and John ordered to stop preaching, but answer: “we cannot help speaking…”
  • Second time: “We must obey God rather than men.”
  • Origen: when God’s law opposes man’s law, we must “bid a long farewell to man’s written code” even if it brings “dangers, penal labor, and even dishonor and death.”
  • Examples of consequences: apostles “flogged”; later authorities “executed James, Peter, and Paul”; Domitian sent John to Patmos.
  • Lactantius: do not be deterred by “threats or punishments… we choose the commandments of God over… man.”
Discussion Follow-ups Where might preaching, conscience, or refusing violence put believers in conflict with modern law? If suffering is the expected outcome, what practices now would form believers to endure it rather than explain away Jesus’ commands?

Jumpstarter 9 of 10
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