The Powers That Be

People often speak of "the powers that be" to describe a structure of authority. The phrase originates with Tyndale's translation of Romans 13:1. While it's commonly recognized that Romans 13 addresses the relationship of believers to the civil magistrate, we must also understand that "the powers that be" consist of many differing authorities possessing many differing powers, and all from God. Our culture has an upside down view of authority, beginning with Self. Biblical revelation begins at a very different place. Cornelius Van Til in his Ethics syllabus notes there are really only two sources of authority: autonomy, or theonomy; self-law or God's law. Who's in charge?