“Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.”
Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. — Antitassō (resist, set against) the exousia is implicitly antitassō God. This does not mean authorities are righteous or infallible—Paul acknowledges they bear the sword (v. 4)—but that resistance to legitimate authority is rebellion against God's order. The judgment (krima) is self-inflicted through the social consequences of resistance.
Church Fathers on Romans 13:2
Of this subject he makes much account in other epistles also, setting subjects under their rulers as household servants are under their masters. And this he does to show that it was not for the subversion of the commonwealth that Christ introduced His laws, but for the better ordering of it, and to teach men not to be taking up unnecessary and unprofitable wars. For the plots that are formed against us for the truth's sake are sufficient and we have no need to be adding…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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