If you ever had any doubts about Paul’s understanding of Jesus’ teaching, this certainly should put those to rest.
8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet,” (and if there is any other commandment) are summed up in this, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Romans 13:8-10
Jesus loved us. We love him. We love others. Simple.
“For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.”
I struggle with this when authorities are corrupt. Seeing police here in my host country almost always induces anxiety of varying degrees because I know they have power to make my life difficult. I’m (usually) not doing anything wrong, but I still avoid them and try to pass as quickly as possible. But even jaywalking can result in a stiff fine if they feel like giving one. I see my minority and refugee friends harassed by various authorities and it enrages me.
You, of course, have a special perspective on this. I think that this same perspective, however, is not unknown even in the US. If not by a white majority, certainly by many who are in the minority. This is a real struggle for them as well.
I, too, wonder about this teaching. What is true about it is that the Christians were also subject to unfair treatment, perhaps even the Roman church receiving Paul’s letter. Having been a part of peaceful resistance to certain laws in our country, I never formed a coherent understanding of this teaching. Not so far, at least.