Abstract
The New Testament does not offer a single right universal view of the relationship between state and church, but rather a whole spectrum of opinions: from a reasonable state administration, which backs the Roman citizen Paul up during his missionary activities and provides legal protection against a rebellious crowd, to a state administration that is represented by the mad emperor and his officials and therefore recognized as an apocalyptic beast. Between these two poles, there is a society that either views Christians with moderately amused indifference or perceives them as potentially dangerous foreigners.
However, New Testament writers respond adequately to these various options while maintaining their inner integrity and commitment. At the end of the article, the author seeks to characterize the contemporary situation in the same models.
