Citizens

Concept

Citizenship in the biblical world carried both rights and obligations. In Israel, belonging to the covenant community conferred membership in the holy nation and involved obligations of obedience to God's law, financial contribution to the sanctuary, and participation in the festivals. The OT law required honoring those in civil authority (Ex. 22:28) and praying for the welfare of the city where the exiles were settled (Jer. 29:7).

In the NT, Paul appeals to his Roman citizenship strategically (in Philippi, before the tribune in Jerusalem) to secure his rights and advance the gospel (Acts 16:37; 22:25–28). Yet his deeper citizenship is heavenly: "Our citizenship (politeuma) is in heaven" (Phil. 3:20), from which Christ the Savior will come. Peter describes believers as "strangers and exiles" in this world (1 Pet. 2:11), while Ephesians 2:19 declares that Gentile believers are "no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God."