The big picture
Paul continues describing conduct shaped by God's mercy. Paul serves Jesus Christ, the risen Lord, and writes to believers in Rome, the imperial capital. He now speaks about governing authorities, payments owed, and respect. Then he names love as the obligation that remains after other debts are settled. The closing image is dawn after a long night. Believers are to live in the light of the salvation drawing nearer, with desires and actions shaped by Jesus.
In this chapter
- Authority and What Is Owed Romans 13:1-7
Paul calls for people to obey their rulers.
- Love Fulfils the Law’s Intent Romans 13:8-10
Debts should be paid, Paul says, while the debt of love continues.
- Dawn Calls for a Different Life Romans 13:11-14
The time calls for wakefulness because salvation is nearer than when the believers first trusted.
Central truth
Paul calls believers to honour public duties, love their neighbours, and leave conduct that belongs to darkness as salvation draws near.
Scripture beside the summary
Romans · King James Version · 14Romans 13:1-7
Authority and What Is Owed
Paul calls for people to obey their rulers. Their power stands under God's rule. Resisting it brings judgement. He describes rulers as servants charged to support good and punish evil, bearing the sword as a real power of punishment. Obedience should arise from conscience, not only fear of penalty. Taxes support this public task. Believers are to pay taxes and duties and give fitting respect and honour. Christians differ on where obedience ends when rulers command evil. Here Paul names the task God gives rulers. He also names what people owe within that order.
In everyday life
A market trader pays the posted inspection fee and follows the fire officer's directions about her stall. She recognises that safe access protects neighbours as well as her own stock. Her cooperation is more than fear of a fine. Paul's account places civic authority under God and includes punishment, which a market inspection only partly resembles.
Notice
Romans 13:4 The ruler is called God's servant for good. Authority is described in relation to a purpose under God, not as an independent source of ultimate right.
Romans 13:1-7
King James Version1Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3For 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:
4For 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.
5Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
Romans 13:8-10
Love Fulfils the Law’s Intent
Debts should be paid, Paul says, while the debt of love continues. Love for another fulfils the law. He gathers commands against adultery, killing, theft, false testimony, and coveting under the command to love a neighbour as oneself. Love does no harm to the neighbour, so it carries out what these commands require. Paul is not replacing concrete duties with a vague feeling. The named wrongs show what love refuses to do. An account can be paid in full, but care for another person does not reach a point where nothing further is owed.
In everyday life
A flatmate repays the last borrowed pound, then notices her companion struggling with a heavy box. The settled debt does not make her free to ignore the person beside her. She sets down her bag and helps. An exact account cannot contain every claim of care. Paul calls neighbour-love the fulfilment of God's law.
Notice
Romans 13:10 Paul explains love by its refusal to harm a neighbour. The summary remains tied to acts, so it cannot excuse conduct the listed commands forbid.
Romans 13:8-10
King James Version8Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9For 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.
10Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Romans 13:11-14
Dawn Calls for a Different Life
The time calls for wakefulness because salvation is nearer than when the believers first trusted. Paul pictures night nearly over and day approaching. They should put away dark deeds and wear the armour of light. Their acts should fit the day. Drunken feasts, sexual sin, quarrels, and envy belong to the night. To put on Jesus Christ is to let belonging to him shape their life. They must stop making plans that feed fallen desires. The day is near, so hope calls for action now. Their clothes and steps must fit the light.
In everyday life
A night-shift cleaner sees daylight enter the station and clears the work area for arriving passengers. She puts away what belongs to the closed hours and prepares the space for its coming use. The approaching day changes present action before the first train arrives. Paul's dawn is approaching salvation and a life clothed in Christ.
Notice
Romans 13:14 The warning reaches preparation for sin, not only the final act. Paul calls attention to the arrangements that give destructive desires room to grow.
Romans 13:11-14
King James Version11And 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.
12The 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.
13Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Romans 13:1 begins with “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.”
Where the chapter turns
Romans 13:3 forms a natural hinge: “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 final note
Romans 13:14 leaves the reader with “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words love, evil, good, power, tribute, afraid help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- tribute
- Tax paid to a ruling authority or government.
- custom
- A toll or duty charged on goods or trade.
- chambering
- Sexual indulgence or immoral conduct associated with the bedchamber.
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
