Under God, Not from God (6)

Most translations of Romans 13:1 say,

There is no authority except from God.

The Greek word translated as "from" is "upo". This word means "under" rather than "from". This is a subtle but important difference (another example of the translators favouring the political authorities).

Saying that all authority is from God implies that he created it, but has given it to someone else. It has gone from him to the political authorities. This is a distortion of the truth.

Authority under God has not gone anywhere. True authority can only be received by those who move "under" God.

Paul is saying that there is no legitimate authority except under God. Any authority which is not under God has been stolen and is illegitimate.

A doctine has emerged that

Jesus is Lord of the church and the spiritual world.
The state has authority in the secular realm.

This is nonsense. Jesus is Lord of all. He said that all authority has been given to him. He has not handed any authority over to the secular state. (He has not even handed authority over to a Christian state that just pays lipservice to his authority.

Kings and Parliaments do not operate in an political sphere with an independent authority. Unless the are totally submitted to God, they are operating with an authority that they have stolen from Jesus, so their authority is illegitmate. Paul was actually warning that they are rebels and usurpers. The truth is exactly opposite of the traditional interpretation.

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