church and state

¹Let every soul be subject to higher authorities. For there is no authority except from God and those who have been ordained by God. ²And so, whoever resists authority, resists what has been ordained by God. And those who resist are acquiring damnation for themselves. ³For leaders are not a source of fear to those who work good, but to those who work evil. And would you prefer not to be afraid of authority? Then do what is good, and you shall have praise from them. ⁴For he is a minister of God for you unto good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid. For it is not without reason that he carries a sword. For he is a minister of God; an avenger to execute wrath upon whomever does evil. ⁵For this reason, it is necessary to be subject, not solely because of wrath, but also because of conscience. ⁶Therefore, you must also offer tribute. For they are the ministers of God, serving him in this.

²⁹But Peter and the Apostles responded by saying: “It is necessary to obey God, more so than men.

¹⁷So in response, Jesus said to them, “Then render to Caesar, the things that are of Caesar; and to God, the things that are of God.” And they wondered over him.

³⁶Jesus responded: “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my ministers would certainly strive so that I would not be handed over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not now from here.”

¹³Therefore, be subject to every human creature because of God, whether it is to the king as preeminent, ¹⁴or to leaders as having been sent from him for vindication over evildoers, it is truly for the praise of what is good. ¹⁵For such is the will of God, that by doing good you may bring about the silence of imprudent and ignorant men, ¹⁶in an open manner, and not as if cloaking malice with liberty, but like servants of God. ¹⁷Honor everyone. Love brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

²⁴Likewise, we would make known to you, about all the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the temple servants, and the ministers of the house of this God, that you have no authority to impose tax, or tribute, or duty upon them.

²¹They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Then render to Caesar what is of Caesar; and to God what is of God.”

¹Then king Darius instructed, and they searched in the library of books that were deposited in Babylon. ²And there was found at Ecbatana, which is a fortified place in the province of Media, one volume, and this record was written in it: ³“In the first year of king Cyrus, Cyrus the king decreed that the house of God, which is in Jerusalem, shall be built in the place where they immolate victims, and that they should set the foundations so as to support a height of sixty cubits and a width of sixty cubits, ⁴with three rows of rough stones, and so as to have rows of new timber, and that the expenses shall be given from the house of the king. ⁵But also, let the gold and silver vessels of the temple of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple of Jerusalem, and which he carried away to Babylon, be restored and be carried back to the temple of Jerusalem, to their place, just as they had been placed in the temple of God. ⁶Now therefore, let Tattenai, the governor of the region which is beyond the river, Shetharbozenai, and your counselors, the rulers who are beyond the river, withdraw far away from them,

⁴⁷Whoever is of God, hears the words of God. For this reason, you do not hear them: because you are not of God.”

¹⁹We know that we are of God, and that the entire world is established in wickedness.