Romans — Chapter 13
Loading ESV text...
1Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
8Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
1Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the [powers] that be are ordained of God.
2Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment.
3For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same:
4for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil.
5Wherefore [ye] must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience` sake.
6For this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God`s service, attending continually upon this very thing.
7Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
8Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law.
9For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
10Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: love therefore is the fulfilment of the law.
11And this, knowing the season, that already it is time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when we [first] believed.
12The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy.
14But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].
1Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God’s appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God.
2So the person who resists such authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment
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
4because it is God’s servant for your well-being. But be afraid if you do wrong because government does not bear the sword for nothing. It is God’s servant to administer punishment on the person who does wrong.
5Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath of the authorities but also because of your conscience.
6For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants devoted to governing.
7Pay 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.
8Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
9For the commandments, “Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet,” (and if there is any other commandment) are summed up in this, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
10Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11And do this because we know the time, that it is already the hour for us to awake from sleep, for our salvation is now nearer than when we became believers.
12The night has advanced toward dawn; the day is near. So then we must lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the weapons of light.
13Let us live decently as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in discord and jealousy.
14Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to arouse its desires.
1Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.
2Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment.
3For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same,
4for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.
5Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.
6For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, attending continually on this very thing.
7Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
8Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
9For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
10Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.
11Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed.
12The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the deeds of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of light.
13Let us walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy.
14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.
Summary
Christians are to submit to governing authorities as God's servants, fulfill the Law through love of neighbor, and live urgently — "knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep" — putting on the armor of light.
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines submission to government, the limits of that submission, the debt of love, and the urgency of living for Christ.
- Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "Put On the Lord Jesus Christ" on v.14 (MTP Vol. 10, No. 639) "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ — as a garment. Clothe yourself in Him. Let His character be your character. Let His priorities be your priorities. Let His compassion, His courage, His holiness be what people see when they look at you. And make no provision for the flesh — don't plan for sin, don't prepare for failure, don't leave room for the old life." Sermon: "Love Fulfilling the Law" on v.10 (MTP Vol. 22, No. 1372) "Love worketh no ill — that is the negative. Love fulfills the law — that is the positive. If you truly love your neighbor, you will not murder, steal, lie, or covet. Love makes the commandments unnecessary because it exceeds them all."
Videos
The Bible Project — Romans Overview
Animated overview of the book's literary structure, themes, and theological message. Excellent visual introduction. (Approx. 8 minutes)
Reflection
- 1. "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers" (v.1). How do you relate to government — with respect or with contempt? Even when you disagree with leaders, do you honor the institution God established?
- 2. "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another" (v.8). Love is a debt you can never fully pay — it's always owed. Who do you owe love to today that you haven't paid? What would it look like to pay that debt?
- 3. "It is high time to awake out of sleep" (v.11). Spiritual drowsiness is dangerous — especially as Christ's return draws nearer. Are you spiritually awake and alert, or have you drifted into complacency?
- 4. "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh" (v.14). Two commands: put ON Christ (positive) and don't feed the flesh (negative). What are you putting on? What are you feeding? Are you making it easy for sin by leaving room for it?
- 5. Paul says government is "ordained of God" (v.1) — even the Roman Empire that would eventually execute him. How do you submit to government you disagree with while maintaining obedience to God? Where is the line?
- 6. "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour" (v.10). Love is defined by what it does NOT do — it does no harm. Evaluate your relationships: are you causing harm to anyone — through words, actions, neglect, or indifference?
- 7. "The night is far spent, the day is at hand" (v.12). We live between Christ's first and second coming — the night is ending, the day is approaching. How does living in this "already/not yet" tension affect your daily priorities?
- 8. "Make not provision for the flesh" (v.14). Don't plan for sin. Don't put yourself in situations where temptation is easy. What "provisions" for the flesh do you need to eliminate — access, habits, environments, relationships?
- 9. Augustine was converted by reading v.14. One verse changed his life. Is there a verse God is using to speak to you right now? What would it look like to obey it immediately and completely?