Legalidades: o que a Bíblia diz sobre leis e impostos
O cristão e o cumprimento das leis civis
A Bíblia orienta o cristão a cumprir as leis do país, pagar tributos e respeitar as autoridades, pois a ordem pública foi instituída por Deus para promover a justiça e conter o mal. Essa submissão só encontra limite quando uma lei humana entra em conflito direto com a palavra de Deus — situação em que a lealdade ao Senhor vem em primeiro lugar.
Ao escrever aos cristãos que viviam sob o Império Romano, Paulo explicou que a obediência às autoridades civis não deve nascer apenas do medo de punição, mas do dever de manter a consciência limpa perante Deus:
Πᾶσα ψυχὴ ἐξουσίαις ὑπερεχούσαις ὑποτασσέσθω, οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ἐξουσία εἰ μὴ ὑπὸ35 ℵA,B [87%] OC,RP,HF,CP,NU ¦ απο [13%] TR Θεοῦ, αἱ δὲ οὖσαι ἐξουσίαι35 [97%] OC,RP,HF,TR,CP ¦ --- ℵA,B [3%] NU ὑπὸ τοῦ35 [80%] OC,RP,HF,TR,CP ¦ --- ℵA,B [20%] NU [OC is in small print] Θεοῦ τεταγμέναι εἰσίν. Ὥστε ὁ ἀντιτασσόμενος τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ τῇ τοῦ Θεοῦ διαταγῇ ἀνθέστηκεν, οἱ δὲ ἀνθεστηκότες ἑαυτοῖς κρῖμα λήψονται. ¦ λημψονται 𝕻46ℵA,B [2%] NU Οἱ γὰρ ἄρχοντες οὐκ εἰσὶν φόβος τῶν ἀγαθῶν ἔργων ἀλλὰ τῶν κακῶν.35 (95.6%) OC,RP,HF,TR,CP ¦ τω αγαθω εργω 4 τω κακω 𝕻46ℵA,B (3.5%) NU ¦ 123 (0.8%) Θέλεις δὲ μὴ φοβεῖσθαι τὴν ἐξουσίαν, τὸ ἀγαθὸν ποίει καὶ ἕξεις ἔπαινον ἐξ αὐτῆς· Θεοῦ γὰρ διάκονός ἐστίν σοι εἰς τὸ ἀγαθόν. Ἐὰν δὲ τὸ κακὸν ποιῇς, ¦ ποιεις [30%] φοβοῦ, οὐ γὰρ εἰκῇ τὴν μάχαιραν φορεῖ· Θεοῦ γὰρ διάκονός ἐστιν, ἔκδικος εἰς ὀργὴν35 (𝕻46)A,B [63%] RP,HF,TR,CP,NU ¦ ∼ 231 ℵ [37%] OC τῷ τὸ κακὸν πράσσοντι. Διὸ ἀνάγκη ὑποτάσσεσθαι, ¦ υποτασσεσθε [6%] ¦ υποτασεσθε 𝕻46,CP ¦ υποτασεσθαι [3%] οὐ μόνον διὰ τὴν ὀργήν, ἀλλὰ καὶ διὰ τὴν συνείδησιν. Διὰ τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ φόρους τελεῖτε, λειτουργοὶ γὰρ Θεοῦ εἰσιν, εἰς αὐτὸ τοῦτο προσκαρτεροῦντες. Ἀπόδοτε οὖν35 [98%] OC,RP,HF,TR,CP ¦ --- 𝕻46ℵA,B [2%] NU πᾶσιν τὰς ὀφειλάς· τῷ τὸν φόρον τὸν φόρον, τῷ τὸ τέλος τὸ τέλος, τῷ τὸν φόβον τὸν φόβον, τῷ τὴν τιμὴν τὴν τιμήν.(Romans 13:1-7)
Esse princípio se traduz na prática em não deixar pendências financeiras nem judiciais com o próximo, mantendo a integridade no convívio social:
Μηδενὶ μηδὲν ὀφείλετε εἰ μὴ τὸ ἀγαπᾶν ἀλλήλους,35 [96%] OC,RP,HF,TR,CP ¦ ∼ 21 𝕻46ℵA,B [4%] NU ὁ γὰρ ἀγαπῶν τὸν ἕτερον νόμον πεπλήρωκεν.(Romans 13:8)
Pedro reforça a mesma orientação, ensinando que o respeito às leis humanas serve de testemunho para calar acusações injustas contra os que creem:
τὴν ἀναστροφὴν ὑμῶν ἔχοντες καλὴν ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν,35 [86%] RP,HF,OC,CP ¦ ∼ 34512 (ℵ)A,C [9%] TR,NU ¦ ∼ 34521 𝕻72 [1.4%] ¦ ∼ 21345 [1%] ¦ ∼ 3452 B ¦ three further variants ἵνα, ἐν ᾧ καταλαλοῦσιν35 𝕻72ℵA,B,C [52%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP,NU ¦ καταλαλωσιν [48%] ὑμῶν ὡς κακοποιῶν, ἐκ τῶν καλῶν ἔργων ἐποπτεύσαντες35 A [83%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP ¦ υποπτευσαντες [5%] ¦ εποπτευοντες 𝕻72ℵB,C [12%] NU (The critics have already observed the good deeds—they know their criticism is false.) δοξάσωσιν τὸν Θεὸν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἐπισκοπῆς.
Ὑποτάγητε οὖν35 [95%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP ¦ --- 𝕻72ℵA,B,C [5%] NU πάσῃ ἀνθρωπίνῃ κτίσει διὰ τὸν Κύριον, εἴτε βασιλεῖ ὡς ὑπερέχοντι, εἴτε ἡγεμόσιν ὡς δι᾿ αὐτοῦ πεμπομένοις, εἰς ἐκδίκησιν μὲν35 C [52%] OC,TR,CP ¦ --- 𝕻72ℵA,B [48%] RP,HF,NU (OC is in small print.) κακοποιῶν ἔπαινον δὲ ἀγαθοποιῶν.(1 Peter 2:12-14)
Impostos, processos e deveres na prática
Quando questionado sobre o pagamento de tributos a Roma, Jesus estabeleceu a distinção entre os deveres com o Estado e os deveres com o Criador:
Εἰπὲ οὖν ἡμῖν τί σοι δοκεῖ· ἔξεστιν δοῦναι κῆνσον Καίσαρι, ἢ οὔ;» Γνοὺς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὴν πονηρίαν αὐτῶν εἶπεν· «Τί με πειράζετε, ὑποκριταί; Ἐπιδείξατέ μοι τὸ νόμισμα τοῦ κήνσου.» Οἱ δὲ προσήνεγκαν ¦ προνηνεγκαν CP αὐτῷ δηνάριον. Καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς, «Τίνος ἡ εἰκὼν αὕτη καὶ ἡ ἐπιγραφή;» Λέγουσιν αὐτῷ, «Καίσαρος.» Τότε λέγει αὐτοῖς, «Ἀπόδοτε οὖν τὰ Καίσαρος Καίσαρι, καὶ τὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ τῷ Θεῷ.»(Matthew 22:17-21)
Em Cafarnaum, mesmo não tendo a obrigação pessoal de pagar o imposto do templo, Jesus optou por quitar a taxa para não criar escândalo desnecessário:
Ἐλθόντων δὲ αὐτῶν εἰς Καπερναούμ,35 C [99%] RP,HF,OC,CP,TR ¦ καφαρναουμ ℵB,D,W [1%] NU προσῆλθον οἱ τὰ δίδραχμα λαμβάνοντες τῷ Πέτρῳ καὶ εἶπον, ¦ ειπαν B(D)NU «Ὁ διδάσκαλος ὑμῶν οὐ τελεῖ τὰ35 B,C [99%] RP,HF,OC,CP,TR[NU] ¦ --- ℵD ¦ το W [0.5%] δίδραχμα;» Λέγει, «Ναί.» Καὶ ὅτε εἰσῆλθον35 [25%] ¦ 1 εισηλθεν (W) [72%] RP,HF,OC,CP,TR ¦ 1 ηλθον C [1%] ¦ ελθοντα B [1%] NU ¦ εισελθοντα ℵ ¦ εισελθοντων [1%] ¦ εισελθοντι D ¦ one other variant [the reference is to the group, including Jesus.] εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν, προέφθασεν αὐτὸν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, λέγων· «Τί σοι δοκεῖ, Σίμων; Οἱ βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς ἀπὸ τίνων λαμβάνουσιν τέλη ἢ κῆνσον, ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν αὐτῶν ἢ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀλλοτρίων;» Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Πέτρος,35 (C)W [99%] RP,HF,OC,CP,TR ¦ ειποντες δε B [1%] NU ¦ ο δε εφη απο των αλλοτριων ειποντες δε ℵ ¦ 12 D «Ἀπὸ τῶν ἀλλοτρίων.» Ἔφη αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· «Ἄρα γε ἐλεύθεροί εἰσιν οἱ υἱοί. Ἵνα δὲ μὴ σκανδαλίσωμεν αὐτούς, πορευθεὶς εἰς τὴν35 D [90%] RP,HF,OC,CP,TR ¦ --- ℵB,W [10%] NU θάλασσαν βάλε ἄγκιστρον, καὶ τὸν ἀναβάντα35 ℵB,D [40%] OC,TR,NU ¦ αναβαινοντα W [60%] RP,HF,CP πρῶτον ἰχθὺν ἆρον. Καὶ ἀνοίξας τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ εὑρήσεις στατῆρα· ἐκεῖνον λαβὼν δὸς αὐτοῖς ἀντὶ ἐμοῦ καὶ σοῦ.»(Matthew 17:24-27)
No Sermão do Monte, Cristo ensina a resolver desavenças e litígios com prontidão, buscando o acordo antes que o problema escale para os tribunais:
Ἴσθι εὐνοῶν τῷ ἀντιδίκῳ σου ταχύ, ἕως ὅτου εἶ ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ,35 [97%] RP,HF,OC,CP,TR ¦ ∼ 45123 ℵB,D,W [3%] NU μήποτέ σε παραδῷ ὁ ἀντίδικος τῷ κριτῇ, καὶ ὁ κριτής σε παραδῷ35 (D)W [97%] RP,HF,OC,CP,TR ¦ --- 𝕻64vℵB [3%] NU τῷ ὑπηρέτῃ, καὶ εἰς φυλακὴν βληθήσῃ. Ἀμὴν λέγω σοι, οὐ μὴ ἐξέλθῃς ἐκεῖθεν ἕως ἂν ¦ ου W [3%] OC ¦ --- [2%] ἀποδῷς τὸν ἔσχατον κοδράντην.(Matthew 5:25,26)
O próprio cumprimento das normas do Império fez parte da história bíblica: o decreto de recenseamento civil emitido por César Augusto levou José e Maria até Belém, onde se cumpriu a profecia do nascimento de Jesus:
Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἐξῆλθεν δόγμα παρὰ Καίσαρος Αὐγούστου ἀπογράφεσθαι πᾶσαν τὴν οἰκουμένην. Αὕτη ἡ35 ℵA,C,W [99.4%] CP,HF,RP,TR,OC ¦ --- B,D [0.6%] NU ἀπογραφὴ πρώτη ἐγένετο ἡγεμονεύοντος τῆς Συρίας Κυρηνίου. Καὶ ἐπορεύοντο πάντες ἀπογράφεσθαι, ἕκαστος εἰς τὴν ἰδίαν35 A,C [99.3%] CP,HF,RP,TR,OC ¦ εαυτου B,D,W [0.7%] NU ¦ εαυτων ℵ πόλιν.
Ἀνέβη δὲ καὶ Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας, ἐκ πόλεως Ναζαρέτ,35 B,W [73%] CP,HF,RP,TR,OC ¦ ναζαρεθ ℵD [26.5%] NU ¦ ναζαραθ A,C [0.5%] εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν, εἰς πόλιν Δαυὶδ ἥτις καλεῖται Βηθλέεμ, διὰ τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν ἐξ οἴκου καὶ πατριᾶς Δαυίδ, ἀπογράψασθαι σὺν Μαριάμ, τῇ μεμνηστευμένῃ35 [99%] CP,HF,RP,TR,OC ¦ εμνηστευμενη ℵA,B,C,D [0.6%] NU ¦ εμεμνηστευμενη C ¦ two other variants [0.4%] αὐτῷ γυναικί,35 A [98.4%] CP,HF,RP,TR,OC ¦ --- ℵB,CvD,W [1.6%] NU οὔσῃ ἐγκύῳ.(Luke 2:1-5)
E quando a fé cristã enfrentasse perseguição nos tribunais humanos, Jesus garantiu que o Espírito Santo daria a resposta certa diante de reis e governadores:
Καὶ ἐπὶ ἡγεμόνας δὲ καὶ βασιλεῖς ἀχθήσεσθε ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ, εἰς μαρτύριον αὐτοῖς καὶ τοῖς ἔθνεσιν. Ὅταν δὲ παραδιδῶσιν35 C [94%] RP,HF,CP,TR ¦ παραδωσιν ℵB [2%] NU ¦ παραδωσουσιν D,N,W [3%] OC ¦ παραδωσωσιν [1%] ὑμᾶς, μὴ μεριμνήσητε πῶς ἢ τί λαλήσετε,35 [30%] OC,CP ¦ λαλησητε ℵB,C,D,N,W [70%] RP,HF,TR,NU ¦ two other variants δοθήσεται γὰρ ὑμῖν ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ τί λαλήσετε·35 N [90%] RP,HF,OC,CP,TR ¦ λαλησητε ℵB,C,W [9%] NU ¦ --- D ¦ two other variants(Matthew 10:18,19)
O limite da autoridade humana diante de Deus
O respeito às leis e aos tribunais não significa que o poder dos governantes seja absoluto. Diante de Pôncio Pilatos, Jesus deixou claro que a autoridade humana só existe porque Deus a permite:
Λέγει οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ Πιλᾶτος· «Ἐμοὶ οὐ λαλεῖς; Οὐκ οἶδας ὅτι ἐξουσίαν ἔχω σταυρῶσαί σε καὶ ἐξουσίαν ἔχω ἀπολῦσαί35 W [99.5%] CP,HF,RP,OC,TR ¦ ∼ 623451 ℵA,B(N) [0.5%] NU σε;» Ἀπεκρίθη35 A,N [98%] CP,HF,RP,OC,TR ¦ 1 αυτω ℵB,W [2%] [NU] Ἰησοῦς·35 B [90%] CP,HF,RP,OC,NU ¦ ο 1 ℵA,N,W [10%] TR «Οὐκ εἶχες ἐξουσίαν οὐδεμίαν κατ᾿ ἐμοῦ35 A,N [96%] CP,HF,RP,OC,TR ¦ ∼ 231 𝕻66vℵB,W [4%] NU εἰ μὴ ἦν σοι δεδομένον35 A,N [99.5%] CP,HF,RP,OC,TR ¦ ∼ 21 𝕻66ℵB,W [0.5%] NU Ἄνωθεν. Διὰ τοῦτο ὁ παραδιδούς35 A,N,W [99.5%] CP,HF,RP,OC,TR ¦ παραδους ℵB [0.5%] NU μέ σοι μείζονα ἁμαρτίαν ἔχει.»(John 19:10,11)
O profeta Isaías lembra que governos, nações e seus decretos são pequenos perante a grandeza e a soberania do Criador:
Nenhum obstáculo civil ou jurídico tem a palavra final contra a vontade divina quando Ele decide abrir o caminho:
θύρα γάρ μοι ἀνέῳγεν μεγάλη καὶ ἐνεργής, καὶ ἀντικείμενοι πολλοί.(1 Corinthians 16:9)
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