Romans 13 KJV
Submission to Authorities
Romans Chapter 13: Submission to Authorities
Despite composition under Nero, whose eventual persecution of Christians starkly contradicts its commands, Romans 13 has been invoked both to justify absolute obedience (as in Stuart divine-right theory) and to limit it (as when Paul himself later appeals to Caesar).
1et every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For 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:
4 For 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.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are Godโs ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For 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.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11 And 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.
12 The 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.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
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Did You Know?
Despite composition under Nero, whose eventual persecution of Christians starkly contradicts its commands, Romans 13 has been invoked both to justify absolute obedience (as in Stuart divine-right theory) and to limit it (as when Paul himself later appeals to Caesar).
The KJV phrase 'higher powers' renders Greek exousiai, a term elsewhere denoting angelic or demonic principalities (Ephesians 3:10; Colossians 2:15), suggesting Paul may imply earthly rulers participate in a larger cosmic hierarchy rather than merely political structures.
Verses 8-10 collapse the entire Decalogue into the single debt of love, yet the argument hinges on Leviticus 19:18 while silently omitting the first table of the law, thereby reorienting Torah fulfillment around horizontal community relations alone.
The baptismal-sounding call to 'put on the Lord Jesus Christ' (v. 14) immediately follows the command to 'put on' armor of light (v. 12), fusing ethical paraenesis with the early Christian motif of clothing oneself with Christ at initiation.
The terse tax directive in verses 6-7 employs the identical Greek phrasing for 'tribute' found in the Synoptic 'render unto Caesar' pericope, creating an intertextual bridge between Jesus' and Paul's teaching on fiscal obligation to imperial authorities.