Romans 13 begins with what seems to be the most politician-friendly statement in the Christian Bible. The first six verses, believed to be written by the apostle Paul in the first century AD, are quoted here from a solid translation of three surviving ancient Greek texts. These, on the surface, state that magistrates, rulers, potentates, ministers, dictators, and possibly even tax collectors of Paul’s day, were chosen by God to do His work on earth. In these six terse verses, Paul warned his reader to be obedient to them for “conscience’ sake.” I find in verse 7 a coded reality message to his followers, the key to understanding the first six verses as a satire on earthly politicians that remains valid today.