If this is to apply to governments, that they are to be considered God's instruments, and their armed forces are considered revengers who execute wrath... if this is Paul's message, that despite Jesus' teaching about turning the other cheek or loving your enemies and doing good to those who hate you, we are to applaud the authorities when they implement their laws - or even when they operate outside their own laws, then why should we not also respect the Taliban and their executions of women in football stadiums as God's servants?

Excwellent points, and of course, we can be selective as to who we see as the Authority.  Paskistan seems to be the appropriate authority here, yet PW sees a foreign power as the authority because it fits.  Pakistan may not have been right in their actions, but have they been proved to have broken any laws?  I suspect not.  Flying your military over their borders and killing people without trial, that seems more likely  to be breaking laws.

It seems we can throw Jesus out if the message of Paul suits out purposes ( even when it doesn't really).