Contradiction with Acts 5:29
This verse suggests that obeying God rather than human authorities is the priority, which can contradict the idea of rulers as a terror to evil works only.
Acts 5:29: Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Contradiction with Matthew 10:17-18
This verse indicates that followers of Christ will be brought before councils and governors for persecution, suggesting that rulers can also oppose righteous works.
Matthew 10:17-18: But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
Contradiction with 1 Peter 2:20
This verse acknowledges suffering for doing well, contradicting the notion that rulers should only be a terror to evil works.
1 Peter 2:20: For what glory [is it], if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it], ye take it patiently, this [is] acceptable with God. [acceptable: or, thank]
Paradox #1
One potential contradiction with the verse could be its implication that rulers are always just and act as a terror only to those who do wrong. This may conflict with other parts of the Bible or real-world examples where rulers behave unjustly or oppress innocent people. This could create tension with teachings about God's justice and the experiences of persecution described elsewhere in scripture.
Paradox #2
The contradiction or conflict might arise when Romans 13:3, which suggests that rulers are not a terror to good works but to evil, is contrasted with historical and contemporary instances where governments have oppressed or punished good actions and supported harmful ones. This can create tension between the idea of submitting to authorities as divinely ordained and the reality of unjust governance.
Paradox #3
Some contradictions or conflicts regarding Romans 13:3 can arise when considering times and societies where rulers and authorities have been unjust or oppressive. The verse suggests that rulers are not a threat to good actions, but history shows instances where governments have persecuted and harmed those doing good, leading to debates about blind obedience versus moral resistance.
Paradox #4
Romans 13:3 suggests that rulers or authorities are a source of fear for those who do wrong, not for those who do right. A potential contradiction might be that, in reality, history and social studies show many instances where authorities have unjustly punished or oppressed innocent people, indicating that doing right does not always protect individuals from fear or harm by those in power.
Paradox #5
Romans 13:3 can create a conflict because it suggests that rulers are not a threat to good conduct, only to bad conduct. The contradiction arises when considering historical and modern examples of unjust rulers or governments that persecute good people. This creates tension between the biblical instruction to submit to authorities and the reality that some authorities act unjustly.