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:In the civil sphere of human activity the Reformers also objected to the distance that [[Monarchy|autocratic]] rulers maintained between themselves and their subjects by the bureaucratic structure of levels of administrators and ministers, governors and officials, officers and clerks, who were often perceived as interfering and obstructing the petitions of the people and as refusing to reasonably submit them to the ruler.

:In the civil sphere of human activity the Reformers also objected to the distance that [[Monarchy|autocratic]] rulers maintained between themselves and their subjects by the bureaucratic structure of levels of administrators and ministers, governors and officials, officers and clerks, who were often perceived as interfering and obstructing the petitions of the people and as refusing to reasonably submit them to the ruler.

:However, many regarded the Protestant interpretation of scripture in support of the dignity of individual human autonomy under Christ before God's Throne as an expression of [[Anarchism|philosophical anarchy]], and as subversively dangerous to the stability of Christian society; and also as being at its core strongly opposed to the virtue of [[humility]] (Romans 13:1-7). See [[Individualism]]. The Reformers were regarded as confusing "''arrogance''" and "''insulting effrontery''" with godly "''confidence''"; and as confusing defiantly arrogant behavior on behalf of the Gospel as confident assurance in the face of ungodly opposition ([http://biblehub.com/commentaries/acts/3-13.htm Acts 4:13]). The Catholic [http://reign.wikia.com/wiki/Charles_V,_Holy_Roman_Emperor Holy Roman Emperor Charles V] saw the Reformation movement as subversive to his reign, disruptive of moral, social and civil order, and an attack on Christianity through rejection of the established authority of the Catholic Church, and on this basis persecuted Protestants as fomenters of [[Revolution|insurrection]] and as anarchists.  

:However, many regarded the Protestant interpretation of scripture in support of the dignity of individual human autonomy under Christ before God's Throne as an expression of [[Anarchism|philosophical anarchy]], and as subversively dangerous to the stability of Christian society; and also as being at its core strongly opposed to the virtue of [[humility]] (Romans 13:1-7). See [[Individualism]]. The Reformers were regarded as confusing "''arrogance''" and "''insulting effrontery''" with godly "''[[confidence]]''"; and as confusing defiantly arrogant behavior on behalf of the Gospel as confident assurance in the face of ungodly opposition ([http://biblehub.com/commentaries/acts/3-13.htm Acts 4:13]). The Catholic [http://reign.wikia.com/wiki/Charles_V,_Holy_Roman_Emperor Holy Roman Emperor Charles V] saw the Reformation movement as subversive to his reign, disruptive of moral, social and civil order, and an attack on Christianity through rejection of the established authority of the Catholic Church, and on this basis persecuted Protestants as fomenters of [[Revolution|insurrection]] and as anarchists.  

:Anarchy as a political philosophy is based on the individualist position that '''''no''''' human authority over individuals is '''''ever''''' legitimate and must be either passively disregarded (ignored, the KJV "''despised''") or actively resisted and overthrown: thus no visible ruling authority or government on earth has been authorized or established by God. The Reformers saw proof of this in the suppression of the Reformation by Sovereigns, Popes and Patriarchs, who saw the leaders of the Reformation as rebelliously resisting what God has appointed (Romans 13:1-4). The Reformation saw the established authorities of Church and State in their day as entrenched and stubborn ungodly evils to be rejected and finally eliminated before the Kingdom of God could be established on earth. They represented the corruption and abuse of authority by particular self-serving leaders in the Church in violation of the [[doctrine]] of the Church as evident proof that the whole of the doctrine of the Church itself was corrupted by the Devil. By the same reasoning the treachery and person of Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, is totally representative of the spiritual and moral content of Christ's teaching, because he was an Apostle! see [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/john/12-6.htm John 12:6]. The Reformers condemned those who said the emperor, the pope and the Church should be obeyed in accordance with what Paul had written in Romans 13:1-4. However, the Prophet [[Jeremiah]] was condemned by Judean false prophets and influential politicians as a traitor for declaring God's command to submit to the ungodly pagan rule of [[Nebuchadnezzar]] of [[Babylonian Empire|Babylon]] ([http://biblehub.com/commentaries/jeremiah/11-21.htm Jeremiah 11:21][http://biblehub.com/commentaries/jeremiah/29-27.htm Jeremiah 29:27] and [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/jeremiah/38-4.htm Jeremiah 38:4]).  

:Anarchy as a political philosophy is based on the individualist position that '''''no''''' human authority over individuals is '''''ever''''' legitimate and must be either passively disregarded (ignored, the KJV "''despised''") or actively resisted and overthrown: thus no visible ruling authority or government on earth has been authorized or established by God. The Reformers saw proof of this in the suppression of the Reformation by Sovereigns, Popes and Patriarchs, who saw the leaders of the Reformation as rebelliously resisting what God has appointed (Romans 13:1-4). The Reformation saw the established authorities of Church and State in their day as entrenched and stubborn ungodly evils to be rejected and finally eliminated before the Kingdom of God could be established on earth. They represented the corruption and abuse of authority by particular self-serving leaders in the Church in violation of the [[doctrine]] of the Church as evident proof that the whole of the doctrine of the Church itself was corrupted by the Devil. By the same reasoning the treachery and person of Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, is totally representative of the spiritual and moral content of Christ's teaching, because he was an Apostle! see [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/john/12-6.htm John 12:6]. The Reformers condemned those who said the emperor, the pope and the Church should be obeyed in accordance with what Paul had written in Romans 13:1-4. However, the Prophet [[Jeremiah]] was condemned by Judean false prophets and influential politicians as a traitor for declaring God's command to submit to the ungodly pagan rule of [[Nebuchadnezzar]] of [[Babylonian Empire|Babylon]] ([http://biblehub.com/commentaries/jeremiah/11-21.htm Jeremiah 11:21][http://biblehub.com/commentaries/jeremiah/29-27.htm Jeremiah 29:27] and [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/jeremiah/38-4.htm Jeremiah 38:4]).  

Compare 2 Peter 1:15 "And I will strive after my departure you may be able to recall these things." (the word for "that" is not in the Greek text, "strive ''that''" or "''that'' you may be able"—see [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/2_peter/1-15.htm interlinear text of 2 Peter 1:15] and [http://biblehub.com/multi/2_peter/1-15.htm multiple versions of 2 Peter 1:15])

Compare 2 Peter 1:15 "And I will strive after my departure you may be able to recall these things." (the word for "that" is not in the Greek text, "strive ''that''" or "''that'' you may be able"—see [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/2_peter/1-15.htm interlinear text of 2 Peter 1:15] and [http://biblehub.com/multi/2_peter/1-15.htm multiple versions of 2 Peter 1:15])

2 Maccabees 15:12-16 testifies to the doctrine that "dead" saints pray for the people: (c. 152 B.C.) "And Onias spoke, saying, 'This is a man who loves the brethren and prays much for the people and the holy city, [[Jeremiah (prophet)|Jeremiah]] the prophet of God.' " 2 Maccabees 15:14. The prophet Jeremiah was already more than 400 years dead at the time, for he died sometime at the end of the 7th Century B.C. into the 6th Century B.C., generally conceded to be about 586 B.C..

2 Maccabees 15:12-16 testifies to the doctrine that "dead" saints pray for the people: (c. 152 B.C.) "And Onias spoke, saying, 'This is a man who loves the brethren and prays much for the people and the holy city, [[Jeremiah (prophet)|Jeremiah]] the prophet of God.' " 2 Maccabees 15:14. The prophet Jeremiah was already more than 400 years dead at the time, for he died sometime at the end of the 7th Century B.C. into the 6th Century B.C., generally conceded to be about 586 B.C..

Also 2 Maccabees 12:42-45 testifies to the practice of intercessory prayer for those dead who had been believers but had sinned, that they might be delivered from their sin.

Also 2 Maccabees 12:42-45 testifies to the practice of intercessory prayer for those dead who had been believers but had sinned, that they might be delivered from their sin.