Page "Divine right of kings" Paragraph 12

# The New Testament, in which the first pope, St. Peter, commands that all Christians shall honour the Roman Emperor (), even though, at that time, he was still a pagan emperor.

Likewise, Jesus Christ proclaims in the Gospel of Matthew that one should " Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's "; that is at first, literally, the payment of taxes as binding those who use the imperial currency, but more widely interpreted as the offer of obedience and submission to the proclaimed worldly king () in matters not contrary to conscience.