abundant to the part which had a lack, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have the same care for one another. Now you are Christ’s body, and members individually. And God has set the respective ones in the congregation, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then powerful works; then gifts of healings; helpful services, abilities to direct, different tongues.”—1 Cor. 12:12, 13, 18, 24, 25, 27, 28, NW.

27, 28. So who is highest, and who has been placed next highest?

²⁷ Rightfully Jehovah God has reserved for himself the position of Supreme One of the “superior authorities”. He shares that position with no one else, trinitarians to the contrary. Whom, then, has he placed next highest with relation to himself? Jesus Christ, who proved his loyalty to his heavenly Father to a violent death in the midst of Satan’s hostile world. “Keep this mental attitude in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he was existing in God’s form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God. No, but he emptied himself and took a slave’s form and came to be in the likeness of men. More than that, when he found himself in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient as far as death, yes, death on a torture stake. For this very reason also God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every other name, so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground, and every tongue should openly confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”—Phil. 2:5-11, NW.

²⁸ Further testifying that the Most High God has made Jesus Christ one of the “superior authorities”, Paul writes: “It is according to the operation of the mightiness of his strength, with which he has operated in the case of the Christ when he raised him up from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above every government and authority and power and lordship and every name named, not only in this system of things, but also in that to come. He also subjected all things under his feet, and made him head over all things to the congregation, which is his body.” (Eph. 1:19-23, NW) “He is at God’s right hand, for he went his way to heaven, and angels and authorities and powers were made subject to him.”—1 Pet. 3:22, NW.

29. To whom, therefore, does God rightly command us to be subject? How is our subjectlon to him pictured?

²⁹ Since Jesus has thus been exalted next to God far above every other government in this world or in that which is to come, then God rightly commands us who adhere to his organization to be subject to Christ Jesus as the Head of the congregation which is his body. To picture this theocratic subjection of the congregation to its Head Christ Jesus, the Christian wives maintain themselves subject to their husbands. To show they are subject to the “superior authorities”, they do not usurp authority over the men in the congregation and set themselves up as teachers. (1 Cor. 14:33-35; 1 Tim. 2:11-13) When they receive an appointment through the theocratic organization and temporarily occupy the position of service that a man should carry out within the congregation, they subject themselves to the rule at 1 Corinthians 11:10 (NW): “That is why the woman ought to have a sign of authority upon her head because of the angels.” They are safeguarded through such. subjection.

GOVERNING BODY

30. Who else were superior authorities in the first century? Why?

³⁰ The entire body of Christ is to be associated with Jesus in the heavenly kingdom in the world to come. This Kingdom body with Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords will be Jehovah’s capital organization over the universe. It was during the first century that “God has set the respective ones in the congregation, first, apostles”. (1 Cor. 12:28, NW) Hence in the theocratic organization the apostles, that is, the “twelve apostles of the Lamb”, were next to Jesus Christ the Head. (Rev. 21:14) Hence they formed part of the “superior authorities” to which every Christian soul was to be subject. This is indicated to us by various scriptures.

31. How does Paul further indicate that fact, even in his own case?

³¹ For example, Paul speaks of those then governing within the entire congregation, saying: “Remember those who are governing you, who have spoken the word of God to you, and as you contemplate how their conduct turns out imitate their faith. Be obedient to those who are governing you and be submissive, for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will render an account, that they may do this with joy and not with sighing, for this would be damaging to you. Give my greetings to all those who are governing you and to all the holy ones.” (Heb. 13:7, 17, 24, NW) In no way could this refer to political governors appointed by Caesar or by the Roman Senate. Paul says that these holy governors spoke God’s Word to the Christians and their conduct showed faith that is worthy of Christian imitation and they were keeping watch over the souls of the congregation most conscientiously because they had to give an accounting to God. Paul was one of that governing body, and in a number of places he speaks of his authority, which God gave him in the congregation in order to build it up and not tear it down.—1 Cor. 9:12, 18; 2 Cor. 10:8; 13:10; 2 Thess. 3:9.

32. How about the governing body on earth today?

³² According to the theocratic arrangement today there must be a governing body for the congregation of Jehovah’s witnesses throughout the earth. The facts show these to be associated with the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. However, the twentieth-century governing body are not a part of the “superior authorities” as the twelve apostles were. They are subject to the invisible “superior authorities” and merely represent them on earth.

33. Who is the Head Governor? What class has he now promoted in service, and does this make it part of the superior authorities?

³³ Christ Jesus now is invisibly present in his second par·ou·siʹa and is the acting Head Governor over his congregation. He is the one whose birth on earth was foretold at Micah 5:2, the prophecy which is quoted at Matthew 2:6: “You, however, O Bethlehem of the land of Judah, are by no means the most insignificant city among the governors of Judah; for out of you will come forth a leader who will shepherd my people, Israel.” (NW) In the capacity of Governor with superior authority Jesus in this his second par·ou·siʹa appoints his anointed slave class to a more responsible service and so fulfills his own prophecy: “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics to give them their food at the proper time? Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so. Truly I say to you that he will appoint him over all his belongings.” (Matt. 24:45-47, NW) But that does not mean making this “faithful and discreet slave” class a part of the “superior authorities” to wield the sword of execution. Since the appointment of this faithful class is theocratic, they should be respected and their services should be gladly received as from the “superior authorities”.

Execution of Judgment upon Opposers

1. To what organization does Romans 13:2 apply? So why must the “authority” be respected and not taken a stand against?

IT IS with respect to Jehovah’s theocratic organization that Paul says: “Therefore he who ranges himself up against the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God; those who have taken a stand against it will receive judgment to themselves.” (Rom. 13:2, NW) Jehovah God has built up a universal organization of his faithful creatures in heaven and earth, and various creatures he sets in positions with special authority. These represent him, and for this reason they are to be respected. They have not assumed this authority themselves. They received it from God in a theocratic way. We are therefore to respect the “authority”, the office which the servant of God occupies, even though personally we might want to take exception to the servant in the office. God set up the theocratic organization of the Christian congregation. He made Jesus of Nazareth Head of it and also stationed unlettered and ordinary men as apostles next to him in the organization. The unbelieving Jews, especially their religious leaders, opposed this arrangement of God, and persecuted Jesus and his apostles. In doing so they were taking a stand against God’s arrangement and really fighting him. Gamaliel, a Law teacher, warned the Jewish Sánhedrin of this, saying: “Do not meddle with these men, but let them alone; (because, if this scheme and this work is from men, it will be overthrown; but if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them;) otherwise, you may perhaps be found fighters actually against God.” (Acts 5:38, 39, NW) Because it is God’s arrangement against which the opposers take a stand and fight, they subject themselves to direct judgment from him. They will surely have it executed upon them by him.

2. Why has the course of the nations since 1914 shown they are not the “superior authorities”? Why cannot we range ourselves with them?

² A.D. 1914 the appointed times of the nations expired. Then God put his Son into authority as King of the new world. Thus the “authority of his Christ” came, and God says now: “Let all God’s angels worship him.” (Rev. 12:10 and Heb. 1:6, NW) The nations of this world, intent on keeping up their own domination of the earth, opposed this theocratic appointment of Christ, and they have since raged and imagined vain things in opposition. Jehovah’s witnesses continue to warn them that they have thus taken a stand against the invincible arrangement of God and will receive adverse judgment from him for it. His fiery judgment will be executed upon them in their utter destruction at the battle of Armageddon. For this special reason the worldly political rulers could not be the “superior authorities” to whom Christian souls are to be subject in everything. Were we to subject ourselves to them in their ideas for perpetuating their political domination of the earth, we would be ranging ourselves with them against Jehovah’s kingdom and his Christ. We would then receive judgment to ourselves with them and would suffer annihilation with them at Armageddon.

3, 4. Are worldly rulers no object of fear to the good deed? Are they God’s ministers to us for good?

³ It is for our good that we subject ourselves