Tertullian, on Rom 13:1

“Let every soul be subject to higher powers: for there is no power but from God: and those that are, are ordained of God.”

“Therefore, as to what relates to the honours due to kings or emperors, we have a prescript sufficient, that it behoves us to be in all obedience, according to the apostle's precept, "subject to magistrates, and princes, and powers; " but within the limits of discipline, so long as we keep ourselves separate from idolatry.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.