ROM 13:1-7, SUBMISSION TO THE POLITICAL AUTHORITIES

A Literary-Rhetorical Study

Abstract

The pericope, ‘submission to the political authorities,’ found within
the exhortative section of Romans (12:1–15:13) has contributed
number of studies to support and deny its authenticity within the
letter. Those, who argue against the pericope, present various literary
and thematical problems within the text. They say that it is
impossible for Paul to ask for submission to the authorities, because
the authorities are not always acting for good and justice, but often
are considered as oppressive. It is also argued that the pericope
within two agape pericopes (12:9-21 and 13:8-10) interrupts the flow of
the love theme. Similarly, some of its terminologies rarely occur in
the Pauline writings.Thus, they accuse it as a “content buy-in” from
Graeco-Roman political ideology, “an interpolation,” “material
incorporated into in a later stage,” “a fully articulated doctrine of the
church” and “a situational counsel.”