To God alone we render worship. However, in other things we gladly serve you, acknowledging you as kings and rulers of men. Justin Martyr (c. 160, E), 1.168
You will say to me, then, “Why do you not worship the king?” The answer is that he is not made to be worshipped, but to be reverenced with lawful honor. For he is not a god, but a man appointed by God to judge justly, not to be worshipped. Theophilus (c. 180, E), 2.92
Let him be satisfied with bearing the name of “emperor.” That, too, is a great name of God’s giving. But to call him “god” is to rob him of his title. If he is not a man, he cannot be an emperor. . . . Augustus, the founder of the empire, would not even accept the title “lord.” . . . Far less should the emperor have the name of “god.” . . . Give all reverence to God, if you wish Him to be propitious to the emperor. Give up all worship of, and belief in, any other being as divine. Cease from giving the sacred name to him who has need of God himself. Tertullian (c. 197, W), 3.43
We are charged with being irreligious towards [the Caesars] since we neither pray to their images nor swear by their genius. Tertullian (c. 197, W), 3.125
Peter had said that the king indeed must be honored. But he means that the king is honored only when he keeps to his own sphere—that is, when he is far from claiming divine honors. Tertullian (c. 213, W), 3.647-648
We read, “Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but of God.” . . . However, we will never swear by “the fortune of the king,” nor by anything else that is considered equivalent to God. Origen (c. 248, E), 4.664