Romans 13
Submit to the authorities
et everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.a 2Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.b 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.
4For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.
7Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.c
Love fulfills the law
8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.d 9The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”e 10Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.f
The night is far gone
11And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.g 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.h 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.i
14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.j
Bible Dictionary· Romans 13(8)
Bible Characters· Romans 13(1)
References· Romans 13
- a
- v.1 — Titus 3:1, 1 Peter 2:13-17, Daniel 2:21, John 19:11, Proverbs 8:15-16, Jeremiah 27:5-8, Daniel 5:18-23, Jude 1:8, Psalms 62:11, Ephesians 5:21
- b
- v.2 — 1 Peter 2:13, Titus 3:1, James 3:1, Romans 13:5, Luke 20:47, Mark 12:40, Matthew 23:13, Jeremiah 23:8-17, Jeremiah 44:14-17, Isaiah 58:2
- c
- v.7 — Proverbs 24:21, Luke 20:25, 1 Peter 2:17-18, Matthew 17:25, Matthew 22:21, 1 Timothy 5:17, Ephesians 6:5, 1 Peter 3:7, Ephesians 6:2-3, Leviticus 19:32
- d
- v.8 — Romans 13:10, Matthew 22:39-40, Galatians 5:14, Matthew 7:12, Proverbs 3:27-28, Romans 13:7, John 13:34, James 2:8, Colossians 3:14, Deuteronomy 24:14-15
- e
- v.9 — Exodus 20:12-17, Matthew 22:39, Luke 10:27, Mark 12:31, Deuteronomy 5:16-21, Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 19:18-19, Romans 7:7-8, Galatians 5:13, Leviticus 19:34
- f
- v.10 — Romans 13:8, Matthew 22:39-40, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
- g
- v.11 — 1 Thessalonians 5:5-8, 1 Peter 4:7, Ephesians 5:14, Mark 13:35-37, 1 Corinthians 15:34, Matthew 24:42-44, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, 2 Peter 3:13-15, Revelation 22:20, Luke 21:28
- h
- v.12 — Ezekiel 18:31-32, Ephesians 5:11, 2 Corinthians 6:7, Colossians 3:8-17, Ephesians 6:11-18, James 1:21, Romans 13:14, Ephesians 4:22, Isaiah 30:22, 1 Thessalonians 5:5-8
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