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Romans 13 has been weaponized for years—but what did Paul actually mean?

In this episode of the Greater Than Podcast, Elijah Murrell dives into Scripture—not politics—to unpack Romans 13, submission to governing authorities, honoring leaders while upholding conscience, and what it truly means for government to be God’s minister for good, not unchecked power.

Paul wrote these words during the brutal reign of Nero, yet still urged believers to pray for kings and all in authority (1 Timothy 2:1–2). We explore how Christians can honor authority without compromising truth, resist injustice when it defies God, and live out a faith marked by both order and courage.

This conversation also draws from early church history, including Justin Martyr’s defense before Roman rulers, and examines how Christian apologetics shaped the church’s response to power, persecution, and public life.

In This Episode:

What biblical submission to authority really means

Where the limits of government authority are according to Scripture

How Christians should respond to unjust or tyrannical leadership

Why Romans 13 does not teach blind obedience.