The Powers that Be (23)

The message of submission to good judges is confirmed by Paul's use of the expression “the authorities that exist”. In the King James Version this was translated as the “the powers that be”.

The authorities that exist have been established by God (Rom 13:1b).

When explaining which authorities are from God, Paul constructs a strange sentence that uses the verb “to be” twice in the same phrase. Translated literally the verse means

the authorities that are, are from God.

So the answer to the question: "Which authorities are from God?”
is as follows,

the authorities that are.

This odd expression provides a link back to the Old Testament and is the key to understanding Paul's message to the Romans. He is referring back to the book of Deuteronomy, which refers to “the judges that are”.

Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before Jehovah, before the priests and the judges that shall be in those days (Deut 19:17 ASV).

Thou shalt come..… unto the judge that shall be in those days: and thou shalt inquire; and they shall show thee the sentence of judgment (Deut 17:9 ASV).

The modern translations refer to the "judges that are in office in those days", but the word "office" does not exist in the Hebrew text. A literal translation is “the judges that be in those days” or the “the judges that are in those days”. Paul would have been familiar with these texts. When he started thinking about justice, the Holy Spirit brought this expression to his mind.

Exodus and Deuteronomy described a unique system of government: God’s law applied by excellent judges. Paul is simply confirming that system.

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