Romans 13

Be Subject to Government

1 Every 1person is to be in 2subjection to the governing authorities. For 3there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
3 For 4rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;
4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an 5avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also 6for conscience' sake.
6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.
7 7Render to all what is due them: 8tax to whom tax is due; 9custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for 10he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
9 For this, "11YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "12YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore 13love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is 14already the hour for you to 15awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.
12 16The night is almost gone, and 17the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside 18the deeds of darkness and put on 19the armor of light.
13 Let us 20behave properly as in the day, 21not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
14 But 22put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh 23in regard to its lusts.

Images for Romans 13

Cross References 23

  • 1. Acts 2:41
  • 2. Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13
  • 3. Daniel 2:21; Daniel 4:17; John 19:11
  • 4. 1 Peter 2:14
  • 5. 1 Thessalonians 4:6
  • 6. Ecclesiastes 8; 1 Peter 2:13, 19
  • 7. Matthew 22:21; Mark 12:17; Luke 20:25
  • 8. Luke 20:22; Luke 23:2
  • 9. Matthew 17:25
  • 10. Matthew 7:12; Matthew 22:39; John 13:34; Romans 13:10; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8
  • 11. Exodus 20:13f; Deuteronomy 5:17f
  • 12. Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 19:19
  • 13. Matthew 7:12; Matthew 22:39; John 13:34; Romans 13:8; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8
  • 14. 1 Corinthians 7:29; 1 Corinthians 10:11; James 5:8; 1 Peter 4:7; 2 Peter 3:9, 11; 1 John 2:18; Revelation 1:3; Revelation 22:10
  • 15. Mark 13:37; 1 Corinthians 15:34; Ephesians 5:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:6
  • 16. 1 Corinthians 7:29; 1 Corinthians 10:11; James 5:8; 1 Peter 4:7; 2 Peter 3:9, 11; 1 John 2:18; Revelation 1:3; Revelation 22:10
  • 17. Hebrews 10:25; 1 John 2:8; Revelation 1:3; Revelation 22:10
  • 18. Ephesians 5:11
  • 19. 2 Corinthians 6:7; 2 Corinthians 10:4; Ephesians 6:11, 13; 1 Thessalonians 5:8
  • 20. 1 Thessalonians 4:12
  • 21. Luke 21:34; Galatians 5:21; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Peter 4:3
  • 22. Job 29:14; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10, 12
  • 23. Galatians 5:16; 1 Peter 2:11

Footnotes 8

Romans 13 Commentaries

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