“Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”
Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. — Apodidōmi (give back, repay) dues (opheilemata) establishes reciprocity: financial obligations (telos, tax; agora, customs) and relational ones (phobos, fear/respect; timē, honor). The word fear (phobos) here likely means respect rather than terror. Honor (timē) acknowledges authority's divinely-ordained position.
Church Fathers on Romans 13:7
“Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Owe (or ye owe) no man anything, but to love one another.” He still keeps upon the same line, bidding them pay them not money only, but honor and fear. And how is it when he said above, “Will you not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good;” that he here says “render fear?” He does it meaning exceeding honor, and not the fear which comes from a…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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