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For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to<\/strong><\/span> execute<\/em><\/span><\/strong> wrath on him who practices evil.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n We are to submit to those in authority and give God the glory.<\/p>\n The word translated \u201cminister<\/span>\u201d is diakonos<\/em><\/span>, which means \u201cone who waits on tables.\u201d It is the word from which we get our English word \u201cdeacon.\u201d It specifically means one who serves the needs and desires of someone else, and it is most often used in reference to a spiritual hierarchy. It is sometimes translated as \u201cservant.\u201d<\/p>\n The word translated \u201cavenger<\/span>\u201d is ekdikos<\/em><\/span>, which is made up of ek<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cout\u201d or \u201cfrom\u201d and dike<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cjustice.\u201d Thus, we see that this refers to someone who carries out justice, that is, a punisher or an executioner.<\/p>\n \u201cWrath<\/span>\u201d is from org\u0113<\/em><\/span>, which we have looked at before. It refers to \u201cexcitement of the mind.\u201d This word can be interpreted as \u201cstrong desire,\u201d but it can also be interpreted as \u201cviolent passion, anger, or wrath.\u201d<\/p>\n The first thing that we need to ascertain in this verse is who \u201che<\/span>\u201d is. \u201cHe<\/span>\u201d is a reference to \u201cthe <\/span>authority<\/span>\u201d spoken of in the previous verse, and it refers both to the position and to the person in that position. Those who are in authority are placed there as ministers or servants in God\u2019s hierarchy and they are there for the purpose of doing good.<\/p>\n In the previous verse Paul told us that the way to not fear those in authority is to do good. In this verse he addresses the other side of that coin. \u201cBut if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain.<\/span>\u201d The use of the word sword here is a reference to the ability of those in authority to execute justice on those who disobey. It may, in fact, be a reference to the ability of civil government to execute capital punishment. Paul even supports this in his next phrase, \u201cfor he is God’s minister, an avenger to <\/span>execute<\/em> <\/span>wrath on him who practices evil.<\/span>\u201d<\/p>\n Clearly, Paul is telling us that the power and authorization of those who are in authority over us comes directly from God for the purpose of keeping peace and punishing evildoers. But what about those in authority who are themselves evil; should we resist them? Let\u2019s look at David as our example here. In 1Samuel 24<\/strong><\/span> he was being pursued by Saul, the King, even though David has done nothing to warrant this persecution. David and his men, hidden in a cave, have the opportunity to kill Saul when he comes into the same cave to take a nap. David refuses to kill Saul because he is God\u2019s anointed.<\/p>\n And he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he<\/span> is<\/em> <\/span>the anointed of the LORD.”<\/span> (1Samuel 24:6<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n If David refused to strike Saul because he was God\u2019s anointed ruler, then we should also refuse to act against one who God has ordained to be over us.<\/p>\n We Christians must respect those in authority over us though they have power to do evil to us. We may not like them and they may not like us, but we are to submit ourselves to them because of their position. Such submission pleases God.<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ministryofgrace.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Signature1.gif\" "\\"Will\\"")
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