I don`t understand Romans 13:3. It says rulers hold no terror for those who do right, yet there have been rulers that have tortured and killed Christians simply for being Christian. Why does it say that?

First we must consider the historical context when apostle wrote Romans 13:3. Paul wrote this letter during the "Pax Romana," a long period of peace during the reign of the Roman Empire when they used minimum military force in expanding their empire throughout the known world. This is the kind of rulership that Apostle Paul primarily referred to in Romans 13. The Romans have given their colonies the freedom to exercise their right of religion although Roman government became cruel to Christians later when Emperor Nero launched the first organized persecutions of Christians in 64 AD. As the book of Romans was written between 56-58 AD, Apostle Paul wrote his letter with the tone of "Pax Romana."

Secondly, it can be said just as Paul has written that generally speaking, "all rulers hold no terror for those who do right" with the exception of worshipping God and practicing Christian worship and service in countries where Christianity is forbidden such as in Iraq and Syria where Christian are now being killed and tortured for their faith. Generally speaking, rulers are not against those who follow government rules. They are just antagonistic to those who disobey the government rules as their job is to implement them. In countries where Christianity is forbidden, Christians must obey government rules aside from the prohibition of worship. Our obedience with our government rulers stops when our disobedience with God and His words begins.


Paul was saying here in Romans 13 that Christians should obey the government rules that are not going against the commands of God. He didn't issue a blanket command that Christians should submit to all rulers regardless of its implications to their faith. He is telling the Roman Christians to be obedient citizens so that their good testimony may be used by God for others to see the difference that their faith makes in their lives.