Romans 13:1-9

Submission to Civil Government

13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God’s appointment, ¹  and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God. 13:2 So the person who resists such authority ²  resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment 13:3 (for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad). Do you desire not to fear authority? Do good and you will receive its commendation, 13:4 for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be in fear, for it does not bear the sword in vain. It is God’s servant to administer retribution on the wrongdoer. 13:5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath of the authorities ³  but also because of your conscience. ⁴  13:6 For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities ⁵  are God’s servants devoted to governing. ⁶  13:7 Pay everyone what is owed: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

Exhortation to Love Neighbors

13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 13:9 For the commandments, ⁷  “Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet,” ⁸  (and if there is any other commandment) are summed up in this, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ⁹ 

[13:1]  ¹ tn Grk “by God.”

[13:2]  ² tn Grk “the authority,” referring to the authority just described.

[13:5]  ³ tn Grk “its wrath”; the referent (the governing authorities) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[13:5]  ⁴ tn Grk “because of (the) conscience,” but the English possessive “your” helps to show whose conscience the context implies.

[13:6]  ⁵ tn Grk “they”; the referent (the governing authorities) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[13:6]  ⁶ tn Grk “devoted to this very thing.”

[13:9]  ⁷ tn Grk “For the…” (with the word “commandments” supplied for clarity). The Greek article (“the”) is used here as a substantiver to introduce the commands that are quoted from the second half of the Decalogue (ExSyn 238).

[13:9]  ⁸ sn A quotation from Exod 20:13-15, 17; Deut 5:17-19, 21.

[13:9]  ⁹ sn A quotation from Lev 19:18.