Paul, it is claimed by some, says that all governments are from God. (or does he?)

Romans 13:1-8
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of יהוה [Yahweh, our god]: the powers that be are ordained of יהוה [Yahweh]. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of יהוה [Yahweh]: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of יהוה [Yahweh] to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of יהוה [Yahweh], a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are יהוה [Yahweh]'s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

On its face, this text seems to support the contention of unlimited government of men. Before jumping to this conclusion though, let's do a little exploring, starting with the most extreme and working toward the more subtle and hidden.

For 4000 years Satan was the ruler (prince) of this world (appointed by Yahweh, according to this text?) and higher than man. Does this mean we are to honor, respect and obey Satan? Taken at face value, that is exactly what this text says. There must be more.

How much respect and worship is/was due Satan as a false god? Likewise, how much respect obedience and authority is/was due Satan as an usurper of the throne and prince of this world?

None of course!

Less extreme, barely:

Hitler was a servant of his father, Satan. Do you think Paul was saying that he and his government were appointed by Yahweh and deserved our respect and obedience?

If so, the Nuremberg trials were wrong because they convicted men of crimes (found fault with them and judged them guilty of crimes) for obeying this Satanic government of Hitler. One set of rulers (after the war) were opposed to another set of rulers (Hitler and his gang). This would mean, if both were of Yahweh, (if they BOTH truly were His kingdom or His governments by appointment?) that Yahweh's kingdom was divided against itself. Rather than the kingdom being divided, it makes more sense to censure Hitler's gang and uphold the Nuremberg trials as just. This is based simply and easily on the fruits of the two.

How much obedience and respect was owed to the chief priests and Pharisees who killed our Saviour?

Jesus is our example. Did He obey and do their will? or did He operate contrary to Paul's admonition? Or, have we misunderstood Paul?

What happens when two governments (both supposedly appointed by Yahweh, according to one interpretation of this text) go to war? Which is the ONE appointed by Yahweh, or are two appointees (both of Yahweh) fighting each other? Is Yahweh fighting Himself? One appointee against another?

The correct interpretation of this text is going to depend primarily on the meaning of two words "higher" "power". They are translated from the Greek as follows:

HIGHER (huperecho)

5242 huperecho hoop-er-ekh'-o from 5228 and 2192; to hold oneself above, i.e. (figuratively) to excel; participle (as adjective, or neuter as noun) superior, superiority:--better, excellency, higher, pass, supreme. see GREEK for 5228 see GREEK for 2192

Higher or better are relative terms. Higher/better than what? Higher/better than me? Higher/better than Satan? Higher/better than Christ? Higher/better than what?

Is Satan a "higher" power? If so, we must obey him. If we don't have to obey (or must not obey) him, he must not be a "higher" power.

Was Satan a higher power before the cross (requiring our obedience then), but not after the cross?

Or, is "higher / better" in relation to Christ (there being no higher/better than He)?

Or, does "huperecho" mean "supreme" as in the ultimate sovereign (Yahweh almighty and His delegated authority to Jesus the Christ)?

Are "Peter and the other apostles" in disagreement with Paul when they said:

Acts 5:29
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey Elohim rather than men.

Or, does Paul simply mean "we ought to obey government as long as it is in accord with Yahweh's law?" Paul concludes this text with "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."

If this is all he means, it is easy to follow his advice. He is making no comment about government, at all. Some authorities believe this was a "coded" message from Paul and that all true Christians of the time knew that Paul was NOT recommending anything other than obedience to Yahweh (remember, Yahweh's servants were being killed for treason at this time).

The first verse of Paul's saying helps explain:

Romans 13:1
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of יהוה [Yahweh]: the powers that be are ordained of יהוה [Yahweh].

This corresponds with the "delegated authority" as the correct translation for "power".

POWER

1849 exousia ex-oo-see'-ah from 1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence:--authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength. see GREEK for 1832

Interpreted in this manner, it means that Rome was NO authority at all (in fact it is the beast of Daniel and Revelation) Yahweh didn't appoint Herod or Constantine, or Nero!

Yahweh appointed Saul and David (against His will), but NOT any Roman emperor!

Show me Yahweh's appointment (His delegation of authority) and I will know that (true) authority exists. When Yahweh makes an appointment, the appointee is anointed. What government authority today has been anointed by a man of Yahweh?

This agrees with Yahweh's Word:

Hosea 8:4
They set up kings, but not by Me; They made princes, but I did not acknowledge them.

When Paul says "Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs" this just begs the question: to whom are taxes and customs due? The answer could quite possibly be "No one - owe no man anything, but love." And this is precisely how Paul proceeds to answer his own question-begging statement, in Romans 13:8-10:

And what of Paul writing in Titus 3:1: "Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work"? As was clearly demonstrated above, Paul was referring to the true higher authorities as recognized by Yahweh, not to the diabolical, Satanic, mortal governments as they have existed on Earth. Paul spent his entire ministry in rebellion against the Earth-bound, mortal "authorities," and was at last put to death by them.

A similar discourse occurs in Hebrews:

Hebrews 13:17
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

This text seems to be telling us to obey government. But who are these that rule?

Hebrews 13:7
Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of יהוה [Yahweh]: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

They are Yahweh's servants, branches of the true vine and seed of His Kingdom to whom we are to obey and submit ourselves - NOT some government of men, proxy for Satan.