Romans 13
14 verses
The Christian is called to submit to the governing authorities, for no authority exists except by God's ordination, and those that exist have been instituted by God—the ruler is God's servant for good, the bearer of the sword who carries out God's wrath upon the evildoer. Paul establishes the legitimacy of civil authority yet grounds it in divine delegation, implying both obedience and accountability to a higher norm. Taxes must be paid, tribute rendered, honor and respect given to whom they are due; yet the debt of love transcends all human obligations—owe nothing except to love one another, for the one who loves the other has fulfilled the law. The commandments (do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet) are summed up in the single word: love your neighbor as yourself (Lev 19:18), the fulfillment of the law in its totality. The urgency of the eschatological hour infuses the chapter: salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is almost gone, the day is near, and therefore the Christian must put off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light, put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh—a realized eschatology where the already of Christ's coming and the not-yet of the final consummation create the tension within which ethics must be lived.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
1
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
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2
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
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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:
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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.
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5
Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
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God is faithful in every circumstance.. This is one of those passages that reads differently in every season of life. Th...
6
For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
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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.
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8
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
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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.
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10
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
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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.
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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.
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13
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
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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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