The main command in 13:1–7 is to submit to governing authorities. In God’s ordering of the world, people are accountable to those who hold positions of authority. This submission usually takes the form of obedience.
However, God stands above all governments. For this reason, submission to governing authorities is always shaped by our ultimate obedience to God (see Acts 4:19–20).
Some Christians in Rome may have been resisting the government. They may have misunderstood the good news, thinking that no longer copying the values of this world (12:2) meant they could ignore earthly authorities (see study note on Rom 13:6).
God has set in place: Scripture consistently teaches that God is active in raising up and bringing down human leaders and governments (1 Samuel 2:6–10; 12:8; Proverbs 8:15–16; Isaiah 41:2–4; 45:1–7; Jeremiah 21:7, 10; 27:5–6; Daniel 2:21, 37–38; 4:17).
Because God has ordered human society through governing authorities, rejecting their role entirely is a rejection of God’s ordering of the world. At the same time, obedience to rulers is never absolute. When rulers demand what conflicts with obedience to God, faithfulness to God must come first (Acts 4:19–20; Romans 13:2).