Romans 13
13
A Christian’s Duties to the State
1Let everyone submit to the governing authorities,#Ti 3:1; 1Pt 2:13 since there is no authority except from God,#Dn 2:21; 4:17; Jn 19:1 and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. 2So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers are not a terror#1Pt 2:14 to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. 4For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger#1Th 4:6 that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. 5Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience.#1Pt 2:13,19 6And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks.#13:6 Lit to this very thing 7Pay your obligations#Mt 22:21 to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes,#Lk 20:22; 23:2 tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect,#Mt 17:25 and honor to those you owe honor.
Love, Our Primary Duty
8Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.#Mt 7:12; 22:39; Jn 13:34; Rm 12:10; Gl 5:14; Jms 2:8 9The commandments, Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal;#13:9 Other mss add do not bear false witness do not covet;#13:9Ex 20:13–17; Dt 5:17–21#Ex 20:13–17; Dt 5:17–21 and any other commandment, are summed up by this commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself.#13:9Lv 19:18#Lv 19:18; Mt 19:19 10Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law.
Put On Christ
11Besides this, since you know the time, it is already the hour#1Co 7:29; 10:11; Jms 5:8; 1Pt 4:7; 2Pt 3:9,11; 1Jn 2:18; Rv 1:3; 22:10 for you#13:11 Other mss read for us to wake up from sleep,#Mk 13:37; 1Co 15:34; Eph 5:14; 1Th 5:6 because now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.#Ac 19:2; 1Co 3:5; 15:2 12The night is nearly over, and the day is near;#Heb 10:25; 1Jn 2:8; Rv 1:3; 22:10 so let us discard the deeds of darkness#Eph 5:11 and put on the armor of light.#2Co 6:7; 10:4; Eph 6:11,13; 1Th 5:8 13Let us walk with decency,#1Th 4:12 as in the daytime: not in carousing and drunkenness;#Lk 21:34; Gl 5:21; Eph 5:18; 1Pt 4:3 not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. 14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,#Jb 29:14; Gl 3:27; Eph 4:24; Col 3:10,12 and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.#Gl 5:16; 1Pt 2:11
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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Romans 13
13
1Let every soul be subject to the authorities that are above him. For there is no authority except from God; and those that exist are set up by God. 2So that he that sets himself in opposition to the authority resists the ordinance of God; and they who thus resist shall bring sentence of guilt on themselves. 3For rulers are not a terror to a good work, but to an evil one. Dost thou desire then not to be afraid of the authority? practise what is good, and thou shalt have praise from it; 4for it is God's minister to thee for good. But if thou practisest evil, fear; for it bears not the sword in vain; for it is God's minister, an avenger for wrath to him that does evil. 5Wherefore it is necessary to be subject, not only on account of wrath, but also on account of conscience. 6For on this account ye pay tribute also; for they are God's officers, attending continually on this very thing.
7Render to all their dues: to whom tribute is due, tribute; to whom custom, custom; to whom fear, fear; to whom honour, honour. 8Owe no one anything, unless to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the law. 9For, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not lust; and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10Love works no ill to its neighbour; love therefore is the whole law.
11This also, knowing the time, that it is already time that we should be aroused out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12The night is far spent, and the day is near; let us cast away therefore the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13As in the day, let us walk becomingly; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and lasciviousness, not in strife and emulation. 14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not take forethought for the flesh to fulfil its lusts.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.