Did NT Christians appeal to secular authorities?

[Bootstrap]

In the NT, Christians did appeal to secular authorities, asking them to intervene. Paul appealed to his Roman citizenship when he did this. This may be the closest thing we see to voting in the New Testament. How does this inform our thinking on voting?

In the New Testament, there are several instances where Christians appealed to secular authorities, often as a means of seeking justice, protection, or to exercise their legal rights under Roman law. Here are a few notable examples - what do we learn from them?

Acts 16:37-39:

37 But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”

38 The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. 39 They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city.

Acts 22:25-29:

25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”

26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.”

27 The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”

“Yes, I am,” he answered.

28 Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.”

“But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.

29 Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.

Acts 24

9 The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.

10 When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. 11 You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13 And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. 14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

17 “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. 18 I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. 19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. 20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— 21 unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”

22 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.

24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.

27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.

Acts 25:10-12

10 Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. 11 If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

12 After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

[Heirbyadoption]

In the NT, Christians did appeal to secular authorities, asking them to intervene. Paul appealed to his Roman citizenship when he did this. This may be the closest thing we see to voting in the New Testament. How does this inform our thinking on voting?

In the New Testament, there are several instances where Christians appealed to secular authorities, often as a means of seeking justice, protection, or to exercise their legal rights under Roman law. Here are a few notable examples - what do we learn from them?

Acts 16:37-39:

37 But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”

38 The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. 39 They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city.

Acts 22:25-29:

25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”

26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.”

27 The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”

“Yes, I am,” he answered.

28 Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.”

“But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.

29 Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.

Acts 24

9 The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.

10 When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. 11 You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13 And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. 14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

17 “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. 18 I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. 19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. 20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— 21 unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”

22 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.

24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.

27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.

Acts 25:10-12

10 Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. 11 If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

12 After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

Boot, I'm not sure it really makes much difference to your argument either way, but with reference to "Christians" (plural), it seems to be worth noting that only one particular individual [Paul] is referenced here in all four of your examples, not Christians plural. Just a thought.

[Bootstrap]

Boot, I'm not sure it really makes much difference to your argument either way, but with reference to "Christians" (plural), it seems to be worth noting that only one particular individual [Paul] is referenced here in all four of your examples, not Christians plural. Just a thought.

Yes, that's true - and it's always good to point out anything that helps explain what's going on.

Paul may well have been the only apostle who was a Roman citizen. He was definitely the only one who appealed to his Roman citizenship. Note that they were surprised to learn that he was a citizen after beating him.

[Sudsy]

In the NT, Christians did appeal to secular authorities, asking them to intervene. Paul appealed to his Roman citizenship when he did this. This may be the closest thing we see to voting in the New Testament. How does this inform our thinking on voting?

Not at all, for me. If there are circumstances where the laws of the land that are in place gives me some protection against being unjustly treated, then why not appeal to them, especially if they could interfere with my being an ambassador of another place. Seems like common sense to me. I don't see any linkage here to voting.

[Soloist]

Wife: is that really the same as voting though? I mean, we would probably mention our American citizenship if we were in another country and they were trying to throw us in jail or draft us or something, for example, and if we were going through the US court system, we would use the legal process to try to increase our chances of a fair trial. This might be a better argument for being willing to call the police though, because Paul also had his nephew inform the Romans of a plot against his life. I just think the voting connection is a stretch.

[Bootstrap]

Wife: is that really the same as voting though?

No, and I don't think anything in the New Testament is the same as voting or deciding not to vote.

But when I ask the closest equivalent that can shed light on these questions, I keep coming up with (1) Romans 13 and other admonitions for Christians to submit to secular, imperfect authority, and (2) Paul's use of his Roman citizenship, which was apparently not forbidden by his theology. It's not the same, so we have to think and pray about what applies and what does not.

I mean, we would probably mention our American citizenship if we were in another country and they were trying to throw us in jail or draft us or something, for example, and if we were going through the US court system, we would use the legal process to try to increase our chances of a fair trial. This might be a better argument for being willing to call the police though, because Paul also had his nephew inform the Romans of a plot against his life.

So if we would do that for ourselves, would we also intervene with the government on someone else's behalf? And if for an individual, perhaps even for groups of people who are facing injustice? There is precedent for that in the Old Testament, but it is not something we see people do in the New Testament.

I just think the voting connection is a stretch.

So far, I think every use of Scripture to say voting is prohibited or voting is encouraged is a stretch. Scripture does not directly address these questions. The best we can do is look at what does occur in Scripture, ask about the values it expresses, and ask how we would apply that today.

I'm fine with other Christians reaching different conclusions than I have.

[Soloist]

Wife: I think some early church leaders wrote letters to Ceasar, appealing on behalf of the Christians, and I suppose that’s sort of what happened in regards to the private school/homeschool movement, as well as the early anabaptists. It wouldn’t be wrong in my mind to speak out against injustice, like in the case of Nazi Germany, or other things, especially if it’s happening in the name of the church, but I personally would feel uncomfortable with the aspects specifically of voting for people since they might promote some good things, but it usually comes with bad things too. I also don’t think we should legislate righteousness, so there would be very limited things that I could come up with voting for or against.

[JohnHurt]

There is a good reason why Paul would appeal to the secular authorities, and Christ and the Apostles did not.

Paul has a different view of government than Christ and the other Christian disciples.

Paul believes that all government ministers are ordained of God, to resist them is to resist God, and that you must be subject to them. Romans 13:1-6

The 2nd Temptation of Christ tells us that the Devil was given power to control all of the kingdoms of the world, and offered this power to Christ if He would worship the Devil. (Luke 4:5-7)

These viewpoints are polar opposites on how Christians should view their governments. You cannot be a "minister of God to thee for good" and given to the Devil at the same time.

And there are other differences:

Paul said you should pay your taxes to the government. (Romans 13:7). Christ said the children of the King do not owe taxes, but pay them so that the government will not be offended (and note that Christ did not pay this tax, but he had Peter find the tax money and pay for both of them.) Matthew 17:24-27.

In dealing with government courts, Christ said we needed to settle out of court as we would not find justice in man's courts of law. Matt 5:25-26

In how we verbally respond to the leaders of Government, Christ said that we should not think what to say, but that God will speak for us. Matthew 10:18-20.

The best examples of this type of inspiration before government leaders is how Peter and the Apostles not only disobeyed the High Priest by preaching that Christ had been killed by the religious establishment, but boldly told them to their face that they killed Christ and hanged Him on a tree. They were almost killed. Acts 5:28-33. Stephen also blamed them for the murder of Christ, and he was killed. (Acts 7:51-54)

Paul reacts quite differently when speaking to government officials.

Paul was consenting to the murder of Stephen (Acts 8:1), yet he had a completely different approach when it came his turn before the Sanhedrin in Acts 23:1-9.

First, he reviled the High Priest as a "whited wall", then Paul said he was a Pharisee and not a Christian, and then Paul said the reason he was before the Sanhedrin was because he believed in the resurrection of the dead, and not for bringing Greeks into the Temple, which was the real reason he was arrested. Acts 21:28

I don't believe Paul was inspired by God when he did these things.

The Bible is a story of men, both good and bad. We are told the failings of King Saul, the adultery of David, how Noah had a drinking problem and cursed Ham/Canaan, how Abraham lied and said his wife was his sister while in Egypt, and how Moses hit the rock and did not speak to it as God commanded.

We see the same kind of moral failure with Paul. He claims his Roman citizenship when he wanted to escape being flogged, and he appeals to Caesar to go to Rome and escape a certain death sentence from the Jews in Palestine for bringing Trophimus the Ephesian into the Temple and telling Trophimus he could go past the middle wall of partition into the sacred area reserved for Israelites. (Ephesians 2:14)

That Paul appealed to the secular authorities to get himself out of a jam that he created - this is not a commandment that all Christians should do the same. This is just what one man did, that had as many moral failures as the rest of us.

Paul was not perfect, only Christ is perfect. And so we should look at the example of Christ, and model ourselves after Him, and not Paul. Paul is in every way, inferior to Christ. As Christ said concerning His superiority to all of His apostles and disciples:

John 13:16 verily, verily, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his lord, nor an apostle greater than he who sent him;

Should you appeal to secular authorities? Did Christ?

When someone injures you, should you appeal to the authorities and have them arrested, or turn the other cheek? Matt 5:39

If someone sues you, should you fight them in court, or agree with your adversary quickly? Matt 5:25

If someone sues you for your coat, would Christ tell you to hire an attorney, or give them your cloak also? Matt 5:40

What would Christ do? That is all we need to consider. That is our only answer.

[Praxis+Theodicy]

Paul appeals to the Roman authorities, but not "New Testament Christians." It's just Paul, as far as we know. And I think it's mostly this one ongoing case, he keeps getting shoved to a higher court by making appeals.

I wouldn't say he is appealing the the Roman authorities "to intervene". More like, he is appealing to them to reconsider an intervention they have already begun against him. If we see Paul's actions as an example of Christians "asking the authorities to intervene", we might be tempted to say that Christians today can "ask the government to intervene" by attacking migrants at the border or jailing women for having abortions or shutting down speakers because we don't like what they have to say.

Paul isn't asking Rome to intervene in a situation. They are already intervening. He is appealing to an higher court for them to reconsider their intervention.

[RZehr]

I see nothing wrong with appealing to the government, either a higher judicial court, or appealing to legislators or governors or presidents or sheriffs.

One thing though about using Paul’s example. Paul isn’t Jesus. He isn’t God and he wasn’t perfect. So I’m not comfortable with wholesale taking everything he did as license to copy it. Same thing with Peter. The fact that something they did got recorded is not at all the same thing as Paul or Peter writing that we should or shouldn’t do a given thing.

But generally, I would look favorably on their examples and accounts provided there isn’t any violation of other known scriptural teachings that show that their actions were problematic.