“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”
Let no debt remain outstanding, except for the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. — Opheilē (debt, obligation) should be discharged except agapē (love), which is perpetual (teleioō, complete, fulfill). This transition moves from civic obligation to the core commandment. Love of neighbor (heteroi, others) fulfills the entire nomoi (law), pointing toward Matthew 22:37-40's synthesis.
Church Fathers on Romans 13:8
“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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