Submission to Governing Authorities
1 Let 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. 2 Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment. 3 For 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, 4 for 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. 5 Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, attending continually on this very thing. 7 Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. 8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” [a] “You shall not covet,” [b] and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” [c] 10 Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law. 11 Do 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. 12 The 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. 13 Let 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. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.
Footnotes:
- [a] Romans 13:9 TR adds “You shall not give false testimony,”
- [b] Romans 13:9 Exodus 20:13-15 [b-1], Exodus 20:17 [b-2]; Deuteronomy 5:17-19 [b-3] Deuteronomy 5:21 [b-4]
- [c] Romans 13:9 Leviticus 19:18 [c-1]
Old Testament Footnotes:
[b-1] Exodus 20:13-15
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
[b-2] Exodus 20:17 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
[b-3] Deuteronomy 5:17-19
17 “You shall not murder.
18 “You shall not commit adultery.
19 “You shall not steal.
[b-4] Deuteronomy 5:21 21 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. Neither shall you desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”
[c-1] Leviticus 19:18 18 “‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Yahweh.
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