Romans 13:1 : Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God. Paul here speaks of civil governments, human governments. These injunctions apply to all men, especially to all Christians, in all times and places; but there was then a special need for such teaching. Christianity was new, and was regarded by some as antagonistic to human governments. There was likely to be such a notion among Christians. The Jews were especially averse to being subject to the Roman government, and Jews who became Chris-tians would likely hold to their former prejudice against being subject to Rome. And converts from heathen-ism might feel that, having confessed Jesus Christ as their king, they were not subject to any other government. Hence the special need for Paul's plain and emphatic teaching. To make such submission to earthly governments seem more reasonable and necessary he informs them that all power is of God, and that civil governments are ordained of God. He who denies this fact denies the voice of inspiration. The fact that governments sometimes turn out bad, and do unjust things, does not prove Paul's statement to be untrue. The devil sometimes controls the actions of governments, but that does not prove that all governments belong to the devil. The devil sometimes gets into churches and causes them to do evil and unjust things, but that does not prove that the devil owns and controls all churches. The design of civil government is to promote the security and the well-being of its citizens; and there would be no security of life and property, if there were no human governments. And so obedience to civil authorities is a fundamental requirement of the gospel. "Put them in mind to be in subjection to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready unto every good work" (Titus 3:1). "Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake whether to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well. For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men" (1 Peter 2:13-15). One can scarcely imagine a government that would be worse than none. In all he says, Paul assumed that governments would carry out their God-appointed mission. Of course, if a government demands that a Christian must do anything against the will of God, he must obey God rather than man. Aside from this one thing, the Christian should be the best of all citizens; for "the powers that be are ordained of God."