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The subject is very important because—as I have said—many, even sincere people who want to please God, do not understand it due to confusion. Children have problems with respecting their parents, wives struggle with respecting their husbands, and husbands with submitting to secular authority. It also happens that, even though they want to submit to Christ, they do not know what exactly He expects—and it’s no wonder, since they are not always able to recognize it. Today there are many altered forms of authority: once there were kings, rulers, and princes, and today we have democracy, in which—in my opinion—you simply cannot have full trust. It is the worst system, as one can see by how we live. It is a system in which it is easy to manipulate those who are chosen for a specific term. The very fact that they have power only for some period makes them try to „grab as much as they can” and get rich during that time, because they do not know if they will be chosen again. That is why I call it demons-cracy: we are sold the etymology „demos” + „kratos” (which is disturbing in itself, since Kratos is a deity in Greek mythology), and as an abbreviation it sounds like „demon,” because that’s just how the word is cut—and in my view, the „demos” slogan hides a „demon.” This is also related to the fact that today we do not commonly have kingdoms or principalities; instead, we have states—meaning „lords” rule. In a kingdom, a king ruled; in an empire, an emperor; in a principality, a prince; but in a state? Some lords—unfortunately, usually hidden.

Yet in order to properly recognize Christ’s teaching on authority and hierarchy, we must go back to the sources and carefully read His teachings. Why is this so important?

John 8:51 „Amen, amen, I assure you: Whoever keeps my teaching will never die and will live forever.”

Christ says this several times—we are to keep His teaching (as a whole) and His teachings (plural). Since one of the conditions for obtaining eternal life is to keep His teachings, we must know and understand them. And today we will talk about authority and hierarchal order—this is one of the teachings both of Christ and of His disciples, who developed these ideas more broadly.

To understand what is happening in the world, let’s go back several thousand years to the time after the flood, to the moment of the confusion of languages. Then the Most High separated the nations and divided them, assigning each nation a guardian. We read about this in the Book of Deuteronomy. The text is translated in various ways, but the latest discoveries from the times of Christ and the apostles support the version I cite here.

Deuteronomy 30:8 „When the Most High divided the nations, He separated the sons of Adam [human], then He set boundaries for the peoples according to the number of the sons of God [angels].”

The Septuagint in this place has „according to the number of the angels,” but many versions give „according to the number of the Israelites,” which sounds illogical. However, the oldest manuscripts confirm „Sons of God.” This shows that after the confusion of languages, each nation received its own guardian—called in Scripture a Son of God or an angel. Here’s the first heavenly structure of authority: the Sons of God exercised dominion over the nations, with the task of leading them to know the true God. Unfortunately, something went wrong. We do not know all the details, but we know that initially much pointed toward success: Melchizedek was a priest of the Most High God even before the nation of Israel existed; Job also lived before it arose, and yet he knew the true God, as did his friends. So at first, many nations worshipped the same God; later, however, dispersion and distortions followed. This can be seen in Mesopotamia, in the stories of the Anunnaki—there appear the first myths about pushing aside God the Father and rebellion in the heavenly reality. The Bible does not describe this directly; it does mention the rebellion of angels who descended to the earth before the flood. From extra-biblical Sumerian traditions, we learn about a rebellion against God the Father, in which the firstborn Son did not take part while others opposed it. The result was the creation, after the flood, of their own civilization, where each city had its own “god” and a separate agenda. In any case, the first heavenly authority over nations was established by God—He divided it. At that time, there was not yet a nation of Israel; it appeared later, most likely because the nations began to betray God. Then the Most High decided to select a people for Himself. He had already promised Abraham that He would make a nation from him and bring forth the Seed through whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed—this is a very important covenant, made even before Moses, about 400 years earlier.

But how did that nation come into being? Apart from the promise given to Abraham, there needed to be a real beginning of a new people. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob—Jacob had twelve sons and was himself given the name Israel (Iszrael), from which the Israelites descend. Interestingly, many things in heaven also happen according to specific rules—one could say: legal or even “commercial.” There is a certain civilizational order there, which I will mention again in a moment. Let’s return to the quoted passage:

Deuteronomy 30:8-9 “When the Most High separated the nations, dividing up the sons of Adam [mankind], then He marked out the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God [angels]. The property of YHWH became His people Jacob, His inherited portion Israel.”

But at the moment of the division of nations, Israel did not yet exist—it had yet to be formed. How did it happen? The prophet Isaiah answers:

Isaiah 43:1-4 “And now thus says YHWH, who created you, Jacob, who formed you, Israel: Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame will not consume you. For I am YHWH, your gods, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I have paid Egypt, Ethiopia, and Seba in exchange for you. You were valuable in my eyes, you gained weight. I have loved you, therefore I will give a man for you and peoples for your life.”

Here we see the language of redemption and selection—God creates for Himself a people who become His property. We know that the name YHWH in the history of revelation served a certain temporary function: Abraham and Isaac did not know it directly—God told Moses that He revealed Himself to them as God Almighty (El Shaddai), but did not make known to them the name YHWH. He reveals Himself by this name to Moses, and this name accompanies the nation up until the coming of the Son of God, at which point the name of the Son becomes the most important, and salvation is given in that very name. Thus, God “withdraws” the previous name from the forefront, giving way to the name of the Son. On careful reading, one may notice a suggestion that the Most High God stands above YHWH, and at the same time, YHWH is presented as the Only and Most High—this is a broad topic, which we will not expand on today. In short: behind the name YHWH stood a group of angels working together, headed by our Lord Yeshu, before He appeared on earth. That is why the prophet announces: “I will send an angel who will prepare the way for YHWH”—that messenger turned out to be John the Baptist, and YHWH came in the person of the Son. The angels operating under the name YHWH do not seek their own glory, but the glory of the Most High God—therefore, they do not present themselves as separate gods, but act in the name of the Most High God. For this reason, they usually do not reveal their own names.

Even when there are cases where Christ appears under the name YHWH, He does not disclose His name. Another argument that YHWH is not necessarily directly the Most High God, but rather an angel representing Christ Himself, appears in the scene where three angels—Christ with two angels—visit Abraham and speak with him. They negotiate over Sodom: Abraham asks if, should there be found fifty righteous people, the city will be spared. In this context, it is said that YHWH appeared to Abraham. But we know that no one has ever seen the Most High God, which Christ himself confirmed. Then in the next chapter we read that YHWH rained fire and brimstone on Sodom from God YHWH out of heaven—as if there were two of them. This suggests not so much two gods, but rather that a group of angels acts under this name. There are more verses like this.

Let’s get back to the topic. So, God divided the nations, and this is reflected in the Book of Daniel, which points out that certain spiritual beings watch over the nations.

Daniel 10:13 “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me for twenty-one days, until Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; I left him there with the kings of Persia.”

This is the moment when the angel (traditionally identified as Gabriel) wants to reach Daniel. Daniel decided to fast and not eat any delicacies until the angel arrived. The angel sets out, but is confronted by another spiritual being called the “prince of Persia”. This is entirely compatible with the Book of Deuteronomy, which says that God divided the nations among spiritual beings. So the Persian kingdom was ruled by a spirit who decided to block Gabriel and not let him reach Daniel. However, Michael comes to help, enabling the messenger to reach Daniel, although the prophet is already very weakened. Various issues are revealed at this point, but that’s not the topic of our discussion. The crucial thing is that nations are truly ruled by spiritual beings, and the spirit that is more powerful, with the help of its hosts, subjugates other nations and dominates them. So if you are wondering why some countries—even though they are large and populous—are not powers, cannot act fully independently, and are often dependent on other countries, the answer might be simple: the spirit ruling that country is not as powerful as the spirits ruling the countries it is dependent on. That matters more than our earthly potential.

Alright, now let’s see how this translates to further conclusions: these spiritual beings received their authority from God. This, then, is an inviolable order—which we’ll discuss in a moment. No human can effectively challenge it. Even if these rulers do not please God, only God can remove them; we cannot. For this reason, even in the New Testament, we learn that some heavenly beings are hostile to those who chose to serve Christ. And now we will read a series of verses that show this:

Colossians 2:8-15 “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to human tradition, according to the rules of the world, and not according to the Anointed One. For in him dwells all the fullness of divinity bodily (formed). And you are filled in him, who is the head of all principality and authority, in whom you are also circumcised with a circumcision not made by hand, that is, having put off the body of all the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. Buried with him in immersion, in which you were also raised with him through faith. The power of God raised Him from the dead and you, who were dead in the trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made alive together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses. He erased the hand-written record of commandments that was against us—and took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the principalities and rulers, he made a spectacle of them in a bold (triumphal) procession.”

These are difficult words, but they relate to what Christ accomplished on earth. Christ undertook a secret mission—secret because even the angels did not know how it would end or what exactly it entailed. They could only guess. The Son of God descended to legally liberate people from the power of the once-rebellious Sons of God. That is why now the Son of God is called not only the Firstborn but also the Only Begotten—the only Son of God at this moment. Previously, the Bible spoke of many Sons of God; those lost their sonship, and a new adoption is to take place. They will come from the earth—among them, the apostles and other disciples of Christ. So we have a situation in which Christ, after the resurrection, won a triumph and acquired the right to all authority; he does not appropriate it himself, but receives it from God, because he completed the mission. By dying, he redeemed people from the bondage of sin, but also from the bondage of Satan and other rebellious spirits. This mission foiled their plans and made Him the victor. Nevertheless, the fruits of this triumph did not become apparent immediately.

Almost 2000 years have passed, and the fullness of its effects has not yet come. Satan still has access to heaven, continues to accuse, and the Book of Revelation only foretells that he will be cast out of it. Not all opponents of Christ have been defeated yet: some operate in heaven, some on earth. In fact, the entire earth is under the influence of these spiritual powers, though we do not know how many inhabitants of heaven rebelled. We also know about the existence of several levels of heaven, so the rebellion may concern only some of them. These beings are described in various ways: principalities, dominions, powers—we will soon see more names; sometimes they are called „princedoms,” depending on the translation. Let us now look at the Letter to the Ephesians:

Ephesians 1:20-23 „which He demonstrated in the case of the Anointed One when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavens, above every Archon and Authority, Power, and Dominion, and every name invoked not only in this eon but also in the one to come. He put all things under His feet and made Him head over the entire assembly of the called, which is His body, the Fullness, filling everything in everything.”

There are many thoughts here, but the most important is that there exist archons, rulers, powers, and dominions about which we know little, although they have real strength. Since they are mentioned, it is no accident that casting Satan out with his angels will require war: Michael with his angels will have to remove them by force. There is a deep meaning behind this: it is about achieving fullness in Christ. The assembly of the called (Catholics say „the Church,” Protestants „the congregation,” one could also say „the community”) constitutes the body of Christ. Together with Him, it is to form the fullness to which He aspires, to unite what is in heaven with what is on earth. Everything is to be united in Christ—that is what we are moving toward. So let us remember: archons, rulers, powers, and dominions—these are often hostile beings to us, not necessarily cooperating with Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:22-23 „For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in their own order, Christ the firstfruits,” this has already happened, „then those who belong to Christ at His coming.”

So the first to be resurrected is Christ; then, only at His return, will His disciples be resurrected. There is no earlier resurrection: no Abraham, Isaac, or Moses rose before to go to heaven.

1 Corinthians 15:24 „Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God and the Father, when He puts an end to every Archon, every Authority and Power.”

Christ will put an end to every authority and power. Since He is to abolish them and take away their dominion, it can be inferred that these are the rebellious powers. He must reign until He has put all enemies under His feet. Here they are explicitly called enemies. The last enemy to be deprived of power will be death. For everything has been put under His feet; and when the Scripture says that everything is subject to Him, it is clear that this does not include the One who subjected everything to Him, that is, God the Father Himself. Apart from the Father, all authority is subordinated to Christ. As we read elsewhere: whatever bears the name of authority, power, dominion, princes, kings, emperors—everything, whatever you call it—except God the Father, will be subjected to Him. Such is the will of the Father, and Christ „earned” this through His faithful stance. We remember the moment of temptation, when He was offered all the kingdoms of the earth on the condition that He serve someone else. Christ rejected this proposal. We will return to this.

Romans 8:38-39 „I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor Messengers, nor First Ones [those who were from the beginning], nor what is, nor what will be, nor Powers, nor Height, nor Depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God, in Anointed Yeshu, our Lord.”

Again, we see that the passage speaks about beings. Even angels may try to turn us away – they cannot stop God’s love, but they can deceive or scandalize. God does not disappoint us, but we can disappoint God if we lose vigilance. That is why we care for the „armor of God,” to stand our ground.

Ephesians 3:8-15 „To me, the least of all the saints, this grace was given, to proclaim among the nations the good news of the unfathomable riches of the Anointed one, and to enlighten everyone about what is the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created everything. Through this, now it has been revealed to the First Ones [chief ones] and Authorities in the heavens, through the assembly (of the called out), the great wisdom of God. According to the institution of the aeons (times), which he established in Anointed Yeshu, our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in him, therefore I ask that you not be discouraged by the persecutions I endure for you, for this is your glory. For this reason I kneel before the Father of our Lord Anointed Yeshu, from whom every patriarchy (fatherhood) in heaven and on earth is named;”

Let us note: today we encounter the attitude of fighting against so-called „patriarchy.” It is claimed that it is, by definition, the oppression of women. This is untrue – the idea of fatherhood comes from God the Father, hence His name; it is good and protective. Attempting to replace it with any other construction is often, in practice, a rebellion against what comes from God. Today, evil is often called good, and good evil – and many are deceived.

Ephesians 6:1-13, Here a broader outline of hierarchy appears – no longer just the spiritual realm. „Children! be obedient to your parents in the Lord; for this is righteous. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise. so that it may go well with you and you will have long life on earth.” This is an element of order: in the domestic dimension, children are lower in the hierarchy of responsibility. They receive the promise of a long life for showing respect. „And (you) fathers, do not irritate your children, but bring them up [care for them] in the discipline [training] and admonitions of the Lord. Servants! be obedient to your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; Not serving by way of eye-service, as those who want to please people, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the soul. Serving with goodwill as to the Lord and not to people; Knowing that everyone who does good will receive a reward from the Lord for it, whether slave or free.” Social status itself does not make a person worse or better before God – what counts is faithfulness. We even have the example of Onesimus (in Philemon), a runaway slave, whom the converted Paul sends back to his master—a Christian—asking for him to be received not just as a servant, but as a brother – order is respected and at the same time transformed by love. „And you, masters! likewise behave toward them, letting go of threats, knowing that you yourselves have a Master in the heavens, and there is no partiality with him.” Notice: it is the masters who are forbidden to threaten; they are to remember their own responsibility before the Lord. The element of forgiveness and gentleness is fundamental – whoever does not forgive and harbors resentment exposes themselves to the influence of evil, instead of abiding in the Holy Spirit. „Finally, my brothers! Be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his might; Put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the cunning of the slanderer. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the first ones [pioneers, leaders], against authorities, against the usurpers of this world’s darkness {of this aeon}, against spiritual evil in the heavens. Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done everything, to stand [endure]. Stand then, girding your loins with truth and putting on the breastplate of righteousness.”And having bound your feet in readiness of the good news of peace. In everything, raising the shield of faith, with which you will extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one, and accept the helmet of salvation and the sword of breath [spirit], that is the utterance of God. In every prayer and supplication, pray in the spirit at all times and keep watch for this with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”

This is the real war. Yes, in the world – for example in Ukraine – wars with weapons in hand are taking place, but simultaneously there is a spiritual conflict in which we are involved. We fight spiritually – we do not resort to violence – and we also participate in struggles of information. Satan does not want people to follow Christ’s teachings and call on His name; that is why he especially attacks those who preach zealously. Sometimes, he stirs the hearts of people close to the preachers, to discourage them or undermine their credibility. This is normal in the reality of battle – and that is why the armor of God is needed.

To sum up: many terms have appeared – principalities, archons, authorities, dominions, powers. Some try, on this basis, to build a detailed „map” of the hierarchy of heaven, differentiating functions: principalities as the management level, powers as executive, etc. However, it is worth remembering that the meaning of these passages is primarily pastoral and Christ-centered: to indicate the fullness of Christ’s dominion over every name and power, to encourage vigilance and obedience, and to equip us spiritually for perseverance. That is their main purpose.

It is not really necessary for us to know these powers, rulers, or archons by name; even if we list their names, we cannot “attach” any specific entity to them. At most, we can honestly admit that we know of their existence, that they are real spiritual powers and that they act against us, just as they acted against the prophet Daniel. It can therefore be put like this: there is God, and under Him „principalities, authorities, dominions and powers” – powers as executive authorities. And now we come to the key issue: how are we to find ourselves in this hierarchy, which God has established and allowed? What is our proper attitude toward these orders? We are fighting, that is true – but to what extent? What are we allowed to do, and what are we not allowed to do? These are really important questions. We know that we should defend ourselves and fight with the “sword of the Spirit,” meaning the Word of God – in our case the Bible. We must preserve it, so that we can proclaim it and use it. In all of this, we fight solely on the spiritual field.

What attitude should we have toward the principalities? This is very important, and many so-called Christians do not understand this.

2 Peter 2:10-12 “but especially those who, in the desire of corruption, follow the flesh and despise authority. Bold, self-willed, they are not afraid to blaspheme [speak injuriously about] glories.” In some translations, we have here “to blaspheme rulership” or “the glorious ones.” This is debatable in translation, because “glories” appears in the plural and feminine gender, which suggests titles of offices rather than “glorious beings” themselves. Some translators (e.g. Jehovah’s Witnesses) refer this to God’s people or to Christ and God as “the glorious ones.” However, the context suggests something else: “glories” here refer to entities/offices, which, although they ultimately deserve judgment, cannot be the subject of blasphemous judgment from human lips. Notice: “Although Messengers [Angels] being greater in strength and power, do not bring a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord.” If even angels do not pass such a judgment, how much more do people not have that right. “To blaspheme” here also means to speak slanderously and injuriously – to pass judgments we are not allowed to formulate. Further, we read that these people, “like unreasonable animals, born by nature to be caught and killed, speak blasphemously on subjects they do not understand, and in their destruction they will perish.” It follows that those who blaspheme – likely archons, heavenly powers – bring destruction upon themselves. We are not allowed to do this. This is a matter that almost no one notices. People often speak contemptuously about Satan or other spiritual beings without having the right to do so. Indeed, Christ told the apostles that they would judge angels—but that concerns the future, when they will be granted the authority for it. For now, even angels do not do this, although they surpass us in power. This helps us understand the Letter of Jude.

Jude 1:8-9 „Likewise, these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of Glories. When Michael the archangel was disputing with the slanderer over the body of Moses, he did not dare pronounce a condemning judgment, but said: May the Lord rebuke you.”

Even Michael did not consider himself authorized to condemn Satan, so how much more should people refrain from reviling him. The following verses say that such people condemn what they do not know; and what they know merely by nature, instinctively, like irrational animals, leads them to ruin. Woe to them – they walk in the way of Cain and so on. We see, therefore, that it is forbidden to blaspheme against spiritual powers that have been established or permitted by God in heaven. We know that Christ has obtained the right to remove them, but until He actually removes them, we must not revile them. Why? Because this is a hierarchical order that belongs to God. We will understand this better from examples.

Let us take the story of David and Saul. Saul lost favor in God’s eyes, yet he was still anointed as king. God decided that David would take his place. Saul, aware of the threat, wanted to kill David. Twice David had the opportunity to slay Saul—and did not do it. Why? Because he knew he must not raise his hand against „the Lord’s anointed.” Even if God had already announced the change, He would carry it out Himself. 2 Samuel 1:14-16 describes David’s conversation with a young man who boasted of finishing off Saul, expecting a reward. David ordered his execution, saying: „How did you not fear to lift your hand against the Lord’s anointed?” David understood that only the One who establishes has the right to remove. People cannot take God’s place in carrying out judgment. Similarly with the Ark of the Covenant: only priests were allowed to touch it. When Uzzah reached out his hand to „help” and support it, he brought death upon himself. Why? Because he was not authorized to do so. These examples teach us one thing: we must not undermine God’s order, even if in our eyes the „matter is obvious.” God Himself will bring about the change in His own time.

It was the same with Moses. Miriam opposed him because of his wife—she was punished with leprosy, and Moses interceded for her. Korah and his followers also questioned Moses. They had—humanly speaking—”strong arguments,” yet they rebelled against the one whom God Himself had chosen. The people did not elect Moses by voting, so they had no right to remove him. We see the same principle in the ministry of the apostles: there were rebellions, some seized control over congregations and rejected apostolic guidance; indeed, sometimes they even excluded people sent by the apostles. Still, it is God who sends and He holds accountable. Christ said clearly in Matthew 10:40-42 „Whoever receives you receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. Whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because they are a disciple—Truly—I assure you, they will by no means lose their reward.” That means: whoever accepts the sent ones, accepts the Sender Himself. And conversely—disregarding the sent ones strikes at the Sender.

To sum up: there is a hierarchy established or permitted by God. Our weapon is the Word of God and obedience, not blasphemous judgments. We must not insult or judge „glories”—spiritual offices and powers—since not even angels do this. We must not try to „replace” God in judging His anointed or spiritual authorities. We are to fight spiritually, hold to Scripture, proclaim the Gospel, maintain order, and wait for God Himself to remove, in His own time, what is destined for removal. In this way, we avoid the sin of rebellion and blasphemy, and gain the blessing that comes from accepting those whom He sends.

So we are also judged, among other things, by how we treat the messengers of Christ. Whoever opposed the apostles was in essence opposing Christ Himself. The conversion of the apostle Paul shows this clearly: After all, he heard the words of the Lord – Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? Although he persecuted the disciples, he struck against Christ. Why do you oppose Me? Why do you persecute Me? The Lord admonished him and converted him. It is the same with every true servant of God: whoever attacks them, in reality, attacks Christ. It’s worth understanding this, especially when someone starts stirring up discord in the congregation. Any splits and sowing of discord were considered the gravest offenses in early congregations, sometimes resulting in immediate expulsion. Let’s see confirmation in Luke 10:16 “Whoever listens to you, listens to Me; and whoever rejects you, rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me, rejects the One who sent Me.” And also John 13:20 “Amen, amen, I assure you, whoever receives the one I send, receives Me. And whoever receives Me, receives also the One who sent Me.” The conclusion is simple: you must not oppose a true servant of God, because in doing so you oppose Christ.

All right, but let’s return to secular authority. What should our attitude toward it be? It is also an authority, and the question is, does it fit into God’s hierarchy? Romans 13:1-9 gives a clear answer: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the existing ones are established by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God. Those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.” So it’s about not only authority in the congregation but also secular authority – even if it is unjust at times, or even persecutes believers. This is a serious challenge, because in people rebellion often grows instead of humility. We read further, “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from them. For they are God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for they do not carry the sword for nothing. They are God’s servant to execute just punishment on the one who does wrong. Therefore, you must be subject not only because of punishment, but also for conscience’s sake. For this reason too you pay taxes. For those who administer these things serve in their office by the will of God. Give to everyone what is owed: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs are due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due. Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another, for whoever loves another fulfills the law. The commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not covet, and all the others are summed up in this command: Love your neighbor as yourself!”

So the principle is this: we are to be subject to secular authorities, because God has allowed them to pursue evildoers – thieves, murderers, rapists. In the past, revenge rested with the victim’s family, who might have been too weak to seek justice; today this task has been transferred to the state. Of course, times change, in many places there is no longer the death penalty, and sometimes what is good is punished, and what is evil is rewarded. Nevertheless, we are still obliged to the principle of obedience to authority – even to authorities that do not know God. But let’s remember the limit: Acts 5:29 teaches that “we must obey God rather than men.” When an authority’s command comes into conflict with the will of God, conscience does not allow us to obey it. For example, when Christ in the face of persecution commanded to flee, and the authorities forbade it, one had to obey God, because life was at stake. In everyday life, however – as long as there is no conflict with God’s Law – we are to be loyal citizens.

There is also comfort: the Book of Daniel 2:21 says that “God changes times and seasons, removes kings and sets up kings, gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those of understanding.” If someone is in power, at the very least God tolerates it and can change it at any time. The example of the Great Harlot, that is, Babylon the Great, shows that although she does not fulfill God’s will, at the appointed time she will be judged – not by the hand of believers, but by the tools that God will use: the beast and the ten kings. Our attitude should be one of trusting waiting, not of willfully hastening God’s judgments. So let us not worry excessively about who is currently in power; we may fear some decrees, no one wants to lose a lifetime’s achievements, but let us not build lasting fortresses here. The whole world lies in the power of the evil one—this is also stated in the Gospel of John—so let us not tie our hearts to it. We are on a journey, in almost wartime conditions: we will not be comfortable here. We are to survive, keep our faith and, by God’s grace, attain life in the coming age. That will be true life, and this present one is temporary.

We are discussing various levels of authority: from the very top—sovereignty, angels, archons, sons of God—all the way down to the child. God has established order and it must be respected. We need to discern what this hierarchy is, whom we are subject to, and what boundaries we need to guard in order to gain the favor of God and our Lord Yeshu. So, we move lower: from state authority to household order. Letter to the Ephesians 5:22-24 “Women, be subject to your men, as to the Lord. For the man is the head of the woman, just as the Anointed One is the Head of the community—He is the Savior of the body; As the community of the called is subject to the Anointed One, so women to their own men in everything.” And again, we remember the principle from Acts 5:29, if a husband’s demand were contrary to God’s will or violated conscience, the wife has the duty to obey God. In all other matters, an attitude of respect and obedience is an element of the order established by the Lord. Whoever neglects this hierarchy is, in fact, opposing the teaching of Christ. This is confirmed by 1 Peter 3:1 “In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some of them do not obey the word, they may be won over without a word by the conduct of their wives,” See, even… There is no excuse.

If your husband is not a believer and often seems not to show respect to God. The question is: does that nullify the significance of your testimony? Scripture clearly shows that it does not. Even in a marriage where one party does not obey the teaching, the other’s conduct—full of fear of God, gentleness, and holiness—can become an instrument in the hand of God. This is taught by 1 Peter 3:1-6 “In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some of them do not obey the word, they may be won over without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your reverent and holy behavior. Their adornment should not be what is external: the arrangement of hair and gold rings or putting on garments, but the inner person of the heart with the imperishable tranquility and gentleness of spirit, which is so precious in the sight of God.” This is not demeaning to women, but rather points to the power of quiet faithfulness, which transforms hearts more effectively than argument.

Scripture brings up the example of holy women of old, who placed their hope in God and adorned themselves with obedience. Sarah showed respect to Abraham, calling him lord—not in a spirit of slavery, but of trust in God and the order He established. The Apostle simultaneously reminds husbands to show honor and love to their wives, for they are co-heirs with them of the grace of life. The key does not lie in domination, but in God’s order and mutual respect. A wife’s obedience has its limits—just as our obedience to secular authority does: it applies as long as it does not conflict with God’s will (Acts 5:29). When a wife abides in faith and keeps the teaching of Christ, she demonstrates obedience to the Lord also through an ordered relationship with her husband. The first liturgical readings often remind us: whoever keeps the teaching of Christ belongs to Him. This is not a condition of worthiness, but the way of discipleship.

Within the family and community, there is an order: God – Christ – husband – wife – children (1 Corinthians 11:3, Ephesians 5). This hierarchy does not mean unequal dignity, but different tasks and responsibilities. Today, we often see rebellion against all authority—both in children and adults. In the case of wives, this is particularly visible, which Scripture calls the spirit of rebellion, as in the story of Queen Jezebel, who opposed God’s order. Today, a similar opposition is sometimes called the spirit of extreme feminism, which questions the meaning of a man’s authority in the family. It is not about labels, but about discernment: an attitude that fundamentally rejects the biblical order cannot be regarded as a Christian virtue. The dignity of women and men is equal; their roles—different. The wife is a companion and support, the husband—the head who loves, leads, and gives his life (Ephesians 5:25). Such an attitude deserves respect, because it expresses obedience to God.

Children are to obey their parents, and wives to show respect to their husbands; husbands, in turn, are to show obedience to Christ. This is an order from the bottom up—a structure of responsibility, not of valuation. Christ is the Head of man, but He exercises His authority through the Holy Spirit and ministry in the Church. The Spirit appoints overseers of the community, and they—in the interest of order and service—entrust some tasks to serving brothers. We can already see this in the story of Moses, to whom God gave seventy elders so that he would not have to bear everything alone (Numbers 11). The apostles appointed seven deacons to take care of the daily needs of the community, so that the word of God could spread more widely (Acts 6). This is God’s hierarchy—a structure in which every gift and office serves to build up the body of Christ.

When someone is sent, it is not wise to fight with the messenger. „How then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing? And how can they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). Of course, people make mistakes, and discernment can be difficult; all the more, prayer, humility, and readiness to correct errors are needed. However, where God clearly calls someone to a task, opposing that mission becomes opposition to God Himself. Therefore, it is better to support the servant than to undermine them—though always with wisdom, checking the fruits and faithfulness to the Gospel.

In the pastoral letters, we also find guidelines for teaching and order in the community. 1 Timothy 2:11-14 „A woman should learn in quietness and full submission; I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. But she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness with propriety.” The tradition of the Church has read these words as guidelines for order and competence in the congregation, not as a depreciation of women’s dignity or reason. The point is that everyone should serve according to the vocation entrusted to them, and that everything should be done decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40). „Saved through motherhood” does not mean „saved by the very fact of bearing children,” but by faithfully fulfilling one’s vocation in faith, love, and holiness—regardless of whether it includes biological motherhood, or, more broadly: care, shaping lives and disciples.

To better understand the sources of these recommendations, we turn to Genesis 3:16-19. After the Fall, God announces the consequences of sin: hardship, pain, disruption of relational harmony. To the woman: „You will desire your husband, and he will rule over you.” To the man: „Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree from which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you.” This text describes the state of order after sin and at the same time points to the need for redemption: relationships wounded by the desire for domination and the flight from responsibility need healing in Christ. God does not call man to tyranny or woman to mute suffering; He calls for the renewal of the covenant: the man is to love and protect, the woman—to show trust and cooperate. Where the man abdicates responsibility and the woman takes everything upon herself, chaos arises. But where the man wisely leads and the woman wisely co-creates the home, peace is born.

In practice, this means that the man—as head—is to make mature decisions, take responsibility for the direction of the family, and ensure its spiritual and material well-being. Not in order to control, but to serve and lead. The woman—as the heart of the home—brings sensitivity, intuition, care for relationships, wisdom in daily life. These are different emphases that complement each other. When this order works, love grows: the wife desires her husband because she sees support in him; the husband loves his wife because he sees her inner beauty and wisdom. Such „submission” is understood as a voluntary ordering out of love for God, not as compulsion. The boundary always remains God’s law—no one can require a wife to do something that would be a sin.

The story of the fall also teaches men: Adam sinned not only by eating the forbidden fruit, but by placing the opinion of a close person above the clear Word of God. The mistake lay in abandoning obedience to the Lord. This is not an accusation against women, but a warning to men to first ask God about key matters, and only then make decisions—with love, but also with determination. Manliness is not about being tough toward one’s wife, but about faithfulness to God and sensitivity to truth. A wife finds it easier to trust such an attitude; through such an attitude, a husband truly „leads.”

That is why it’s worth building marriage on biblical principles from the very start: clearly defining roles, nurturing prayer, caring for unity, talking honestly about finances, responsibility, and plans. A man does not become the „head” through slogans, but through sacrificial love, diligence, and consistency. A woman does not lose dignity by trusting—on the contrary, she flourishes when she knows she is loved and safe. Nowhere in Scripture is there the idea that „the woman is the neck that turns the head”—this is a worldly joke, not the Gospel. The Gospel says: „Husbands! Love your wives, as the Anointed One loved the assembly”, „As the community of the called is subject to the Anointed One, so women to their own men in everything.” (Ephesians 5:22-25). Two complementary paths in one covenant.

If someone feels resistance toward this understanding of order, it’s worth asking: is this resistance against abuses—which is right and necessary—or against the very idea of servant leadership and mutual obedience in love? Abuses must be called out and opposed. God’s order, on the other hand, is worth embracing in order to enjoy its fruits: peace, growth, security, and unity. Whoever wishes to please God does not attack His word or those He has sent; instead, they discern, support, and pray, remembering that even a cup of fresh water given to a disciple will not go unrewarded.

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Glory to Yeshu!!!