A critical appropriation of Romans 13:1–7 in contemporary African politics
Nothing makes the interpretation of Romans 13:1–7 more problematic than the active presence of repressive regimes around the world. The controversies that the interpretations of the text have raised over the centuries have not been whittled down, particularly in Africa. The text has more often than...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
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2025-03-01
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| Series: | HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies |
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| Online Access: | https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/9911 |
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| author | Benson O. Igboin |
| author_facet | Benson O. Igboin |
| author_sort | Benson O. Igboin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nothing makes the interpretation of Romans 13:1–7 more problematic than the active presence of repressive regimes around the world. The controversies that the interpretations of the text have raised over the centuries have not been whittled down, particularly in Africa. The text has more often than not been invoked to silence oppositions and criticisms of regimes, while enabling bad regimes to continue in their oppressive dealing with the citizens as a strategy for coercive legitimisation. This article raises two important issues that have not received enough scholarly attention. One, it argues that the text cannot be uncritically and universally applied without impugning on the attributes of God and endorsing illegitimate and repressive regimes. Two, it queries whether Christians are duty-bound to ‘pray for’ regimes that derive their legitimacy from ‘God’s will’ while repressing God’s children. The article suggests a contextual approach to interpreting and applying the text, based on how each regime administers their space. It concludes that Christians should practise spiritual disobedience towards ‘blasphemous regimes’.
Contribution: The article expands the social ethical and political application of Romans 13:1–7 by arguing that the text cannot be universally applied; a particular regime must be evaluated to determine whether or not it should be obeyed or the level of obedience it can garner from the people. Thus, rather than pray for blasphemous regimes, the oppressed should pray against them as a form of spiritual disobedience to the regimes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1ce432db816d435babec4519dddf24ed |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0259-9422 2072-8050 |
| language | Afrikaans |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies |
| spelling | doaj-art-1ce432db816d435babec4519dddf24ed2025-08-20T03:03:46ZafrAOSISHTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies0259-94222072-80502025-03-01811e1e710.4102/hts.v81i1.99116096A critical appropriation of Romans 13:1–7 in contemporary African politicsBenson O. Igboin0Department of Religion and African Culture, Faculty of Arts, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria; and, Department of Gender Studies, University of South Africa, PretoriaNothing makes the interpretation of Romans 13:1–7 more problematic than the active presence of repressive regimes around the world. The controversies that the interpretations of the text have raised over the centuries have not been whittled down, particularly in Africa. The text has more often than not been invoked to silence oppositions and criticisms of regimes, while enabling bad regimes to continue in their oppressive dealing with the citizens as a strategy for coercive legitimisation. This article raises two important issues that have not received enough scholarly attention. One, it argues that the text cannot be uncritically and universally applied without impugning on the attributes of God and endorsing illegitimate and repressive regimes. Two, it queries whether Christians are duty-bound to ‘pray for’ regimes that derive their legitimacy from ‘God’s will’ while repressing God’s children. The article suggests a contextual approach to interpreting and applying the text, based on how each regime administers their space. It concludes that Christians should practise spiritual disobedience towards ‘blasphemous regimes’. Contribution: The article expands the social ethical and political application of Romans 13:1–7 by arguing that the text cannot be universally applied; a particular regime must be evaluated to determine whether or not it should be obeyed or the level of obedience it can garner from the people. Thus, rather than pray for blasphemous regimes, the oppressed should pray against them as a form of spiritual disobedience to the regimes.https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/9911blasphemous regimescivil disobediencespiritual disobediencepray againstpray for. |
| spellingShingle | Benson O. Igboin A critical appropriation of Romans 13:1–7 in contemporary African politics HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies blasphemous regimes civil disobedience spiritual disobedience pray against pray for. |
| title | A critical appropriation of Romans 13:1–7 in contemporary African politics |
| title_full | A critical appropriation of Romans 13:1–7 in contemporary African politics |
| title_fullStr | A critical appropriation of Romans 13:1–7 in contemporary African politics |
| title_full_unstemmed | A critical appropriation of Romans 13:1–7 in contemporary African politics |
| title_short | A critical appropriation of Romans 13:1–7 in contemporary African politics |
| title_sort | critical appropriation of romans 13 1 7 in contemporary african politics |
| topic | blasphemous regimes civil disobedience spiritual disobedience pray against pray for. |
| url | https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/9911 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bensonoigboin acriticalappropriationofromans1317incontemporaryafricanpolitics AT bensonoigboin criticalappropriationofromans1317incontemporaryafricanpolitics |