ROM 13
13
Submissiveness to Governing Authorities
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities that are over them. For there exists no authority or governing power except by God's sovereign appointment, and those authorities which currently exist have been instituted, established, and put in place by God Himself.
2 Therefore, the person who rebels against the governing authority has resisted what God has instituted and ordained, and those who have resisted in this way will bring judgment upon themselves.
3 For the rulers and governing authorities are not a source of terror to those who conduct themselves well and do good, but only to those who do evil. Do you want, then, to live without fear of the one in authority over you? Do what is good and right, and you will receive approval and praise from that authority.
4 For the governing authority is God's servant appointed to you for your good and benefit. But if you do what is evil and wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear and wield the sword—the power of punishment—without purpose. For he is God's servant, an appointed agent and avenger who executes God's wrath upon the one who practises evil.
5 Therefore, it is obligatory to be subject to governing authorities, not only because of fear of wrath and punishment, but also because of the demands of conscience.
6 For this very reason you also pay taxes and tribute to the government, for the civil authorities are God's servants, devoting and applying themselves to this very task of governing.
7 Render to all authorities their rightful dues: Pay tax to whom tax is owed, pay revenue and customs to whom revenue is owed, give respect to whom respect is due, and give honour to whom honour is due.
Love as the Fulfilment of the Law
8 Owe nothing to anyone—remain free from debt—except the continuing debt to love one another, for the person who loves his neighbour and fellow human being has fulfilled the Law's requirements.
9 For the commandments—"You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet"—and any other commandment that exists, are all summed up in this one word and principle: "You shall love your neighbour as yourself."
10 Love does no harm, injury, or evil against one's neighbour. Therefore, love is the fulfilment of the Law's demands.
The Drawing Near of the Eschatological Day
11 And practise all these things, knowing the time in which you live—that it is already the hour for you to awaken from spiritual sleep or lethargy. For now, our final and complete salvation—our glorification and Christ's return—is nearer than when we first believed.
12 The night of this present evil age is far advanced, and the day of Christ's return has drawn near. Therefore, let us put away the works of darkness and put on the armour of light.
13 Let us conduct ourselves properly and honourably, as those who live in the daylight, not in wild parties and drunkenness, not in acts of sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarrelling, strife, and jealousy.
14 But instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ—taking on His character and living in union with Him—and make no provision, planning, or forethought for the flesh and its sinful nature, with a view to fulfilling and gratifying its evil desires and cravings.
Notes
9 Quoted from Ex. 20:13-17
9 Quoted from Lev. 19:18
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ROM 13: AFINT
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Copyright © 2026 Michael Adeyemi Adegbola. This Scripture text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
ROM 13
13
Submissiveness to Governing Authorities
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities that are over them. For there exists no authority or governing power except by God's sovereign appointment, and those authorities which currently exist have been instituted, established, and put in place by God Himself.
2 Therefore, the person who rebels against the governing authority has resisted what God has instituted and ordained, and those who have resisted in this way will bring judgment upon themselves.
3 For the rulers and governing authorities are not a source of terror to those who conduct themselves well and do good, but only to those who do evil. Do you want, then, to live without fear of the one in authority over you? Do what is good and right, and you will receive approval and praise from that authority.
4 For the governing authority is God's servant appointed to you for your good and benefit. But if you do what is evil and wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear and wield the sword—the power of punishment—without purpose. For he is God's servant, an appointed agent and avenger who executes God's wrath upon the one who practises evil.
5 Therefore, it is obligatory to be subject to governing authorities, not only because of fear of wrath and punishment, but also because of the demands of conscience.
6 For this very reason you also pay taxes and tribute to the government, for the civil authorities are God's servants, devoting and applying themselves to this very task of governing.
7 Render to all authorities their rightful dues: Pay tax to whom tax is owed, pay revenue and customs to whom revenue is owed, give respect to whom respect is due, and give honour to whom honour is due.
Love as the Fulfilment of the Law
8 Owe nothing to anyone—remain free from debt—except the continuing debt to love one another, for the person who loves his neighbour and fellow human being has fulfilled the Law's requirements.
9 For the commandments—"You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet"—and any other commandment that exists, are all summed up in this one word and principle: "You shall love your neighbour as yourself."
10 Love does no harm, injury, or evil against one's neighbour. Therefore, love is the fulfilment of the Law's demands.
The Drawing Near of the Eschatological Day
11 And practise all these things, knowing the time in which you live—that it is already the hour for you to awaken from spiritual sleep or lethargy. For now, our final and complete salvation—our glorification and Christ's return—is nearer than when we first believed.
12 The night of this present evil age is far advanced, and the day of Christ's return has drawn near. Therefore, let us put away the works of darkness and put on the armour of light.
13 Let us conduct ourselves properly and honourably, as those who live in the daylight, not in wild parties and drunkenness, not in acts of sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarrelling, strife, and jealousy.
14 But instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ—taking on His character and living in union with Him—and make no provision, planning, or forethought for the flesh and its sinful nature, with a view to fulfilling and gratifying its evil desires and cravings.
Notes
9 Quoted from Ex. 20:13-17
9 Quoted from Lev. 19:18
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Copyright © 2026 Michael Adeyemi Adegbola. This Scripture text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).