The answer
a. St. Augustine believes that the people are obligated to obey the authorities of the
state as God commands.780
b. Christians ought to be among the best citizens of the state.781
c. They are obligated to pay taxes.782
d. Christians should submit to temporal justice.
St. Ambrose confirms the legitimacy of the judicial system in the empire. Therefore, Christians should be faithful in observing civil laws and respecting the social order, so long as these are not in conflict with the divine commandment.
Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty
Notes
780 St. Augustine of Hippo, The Works of St Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century: Part III— Sermons; Volume III: Sermons 51–94, trans., Edmund Hill, ed., John E. Rotelle (New City Press, 1991) 62.13: p. 163.
781 St. Ambrose of Milan, Commentary of St. Ambrose on the Gospel according to Saint Luke, trans., Ide M. Ni Riain (Dublin: Halcyon Press. 2001) 4.73: p. 115.
782 St. Augustine, Letters 96 (NPNF I/1:404–405).