American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Romans 13
1
Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Reference
Parallel theme
Titus 3:1
Daniel 2:21
John 19:11
Jude 1:8
1 Samuel 2:8
Revelation 19:16
Revelation 1:5
Daniel 4:32
References God
Psalm 62:11
Ephesians 5:21
2
Whoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Reference
3
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Will you then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and you shall have praise of the same:
Reference
4
For he is the minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath on him that does evil.
Reference
Judgment
Romans 12:19
Proverbs 16:14
2 Chronicles 19:6
Parallel theme
Proverbs 20:2
References God
Romans 13:6
6
For for this cause pay you tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually on this very thing.
Reference
7
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
Reference
8
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the law.
Reference
Love
Romans 13:10
Galatians 5:14
James 2:8
Colossians 3:14
John 13:34
1 Timothy 1:5
Parallel theme
Romans 13:7
Word
Matthew 7:12
9
For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Reference
10
Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Reference
Love
Romans 13:8
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.
Reference
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 armor of light.
Reference
13
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
Reference
14
But put you on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.
Reference
Parallel theme
Ephesians 4:24
1 Peter 2:11
Job 29:14
References Christ
Galatians 3:27
Galatians 5:24
Summary of Romans 13
Romans 13 explains how Christians should live responsibly within society, beginning with respect for governing authorities and continuing with the deeper responsibility to love others, obey God's moral commands, and live with the awareness that God's future salvation is drawing closer.
Paul teaches that government has an important role in maintaining order, protecting society, and dealing with wrongdoing, so believers should normally respect lawful authority, pay taxes, fulfill their responsibilities, and show appropriate honor toward those who serve in government.
At the same time, Paul does not make government the highest authority, because his larger teaching throughout Romans places God above every human power, and the Christian's obedience to government is therefore understood within the broader responsibility to obey God.
Paul then moves from government to relationships with other people and explains that the one debt Christians should never consider completely finished is the ongoing debt of love, because genuine love prevents people from harming their neighbors and therefore fulfills the moral purpose of God's commandments.
The final part of the chapter calls believers to wake up spiritually, leave behind sinful behavior, and live like people walking from darkness into daylight, because they should not allow drunkenness, sexual immorality, jealousy, fighting, or other destructive desires to control their lives.
Romans 13 therefore presents Christian living as a combination of responsibility, respect, love, self-control, and spiritual readiness, with believers called to live in such a way that their daily behavior reflects their new identity in Christ.
Historical Context
Romans 13 was written around AD 56–58, when Paul was addressing Christians living in Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire and the center of political power over a huge part of the Mediterranean world.
At the time, Nero was emperor, having become ruler in AD 54, and the Roman government controlled a vast territory through emperors, governors, magistrates, soldiers, tax officials, and local authorities.
Paul's instruction to respect governing authorities therefore had particular importance for Christians living directly in the heart of the empire.
Taxes were an ordinary and sometimes unpopular part of Roman life, and the Roman government collected different forms of taxes and revenue to support the army, administration, infrastructure, roads, public buildings, and other government activities.
Paul's statement about paying taxes should therefore be understood in the context of Christians living as part of an existing society rather than withdrawing completely from public responsibilities.
However, the New Testament also shows that respect for government was not the same as treating government as equal to God, because when human authorities directly commanded believers to disobey God, the apostles placed obedience to God above human authority.
Paul's discussion of love connects directly to the Jewish Law, particularly commandments dealing with adultery, murder, stealing, and coveting.
His point is not that these commandments have become meaningless but that their moral purpose can be summarized by the command to love your neighbor as yourself, because a person who truly loves others will not intentionally harm them.
The final section uses the familiar biblical contrast between darkness and light, with darkness representing sinful behavior and light representing a life that reflects God.
Paul's references to drunkenness, sexual immorality, jealousy, and fighting also reflect problems that could occur in the social environment of the ancient Mediterranean world, especially around certain forms of banquets, drinking, sexual behavior, and competition for social honor.
The central message of Romans 13 is that Christians should live responsibly, respectfully, and lovingly within society while remaining faithful to God.
Believers should fulfill legitimate civic responsibilities, including paying taxes and showing respect, because Christians are called to be responsible members of society rather than people who create unnecessary disorder.
But Paul's deeper command is love, because love protects other people from harm and fulfills the moral purpose behind God's commandments.
The chapter also reminds Christians that knowing Christ should change their daily behavior, so they should leave behind destructive habits and live with the awareness that God's promised future is moving closer.
The final picture is simple and powerful: Christians should take off the old ways of darkness and put on Christ, allowing their behavior, relationships, choices, and attitudes to show that they belong to Him.
Paul teaches that government has an important role in maintaining order, protecting society, and dealing with wrongdoing, so believers should normally respect lawful authority, pay taxes, fulfill their responsibilities, and show appropriate honor toward those who serve in government.
At the same time, Paul does not make government the highest authority, because his larger teaching throughout Romans places God above every human power, and the Christian's obedience to government is therefore understood within the broader responsibility to obey God.
Paul then moves from government to relationships with other people and explains that the one debt Christians should never consider completely finished is the ongoing debt of love, because genuine love prevents people from harming their neighbors and therefore fulfills the moral purpose of God's commandments.
The final part of the chapter calls believers to wake up spiritually, leave behind sinful behavior, and live like people walking from darkness into daylight, because they should not allow drunkenness, sexual immorality, jealousy, fighting, or other destructive desires to control their lives.
Romans 13 therefore presents Christian living as a combination of responsibility, respect, love, self-control, and spiritual readiness, with believers called to live in such a way that their daily behavior reflects their new identity in Christ.
Historical Context
Romans 13 was written around AD 56–58, when Paul was addressing Christians living in Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire and the center of political power over a huge part of the Mediterranean world.
At the time, Nero was emperor, having become ruler in AD 54, and the Roman government controlled a vast territory through emperors, governors, magistrates, soldiers, tax officials, and local authorities.
Paul's instruction to respect governing authorities therefore had particular importance for Christians living directly in the heart of the empire.
Taxes were an ordinary and sometimes unpopular part of Roman life, and the Roman government collected different forms of taxes and revenue to support the army, administration, infrastructure, roads, public buildings, and other government activities.
Paul's statement about paying taxes should therefore be understood in the context of Christians living as part of an existing society rather than withdrawing completely from public responsibilities.
However, the New Testament also shows that respect for government was not the same as treating government as equal to God, because when human authorities directly commanded believers to disobey God, the apostles placed obedience to God above human authority.
Paul's discussion of love connects directly to the Jewish Law, particularly commandments dealing with adultery, murder, stealing, and coveting.
His point is not that these commandments have become meaningless but that their moral purpose can be summarized by the command to love your neighbor as yourself, because a person who truly loves others will not intentionally harm them.
The final section uses the familiar biblical contrast between darkness and light, with darkness representing sinful behavior and light representing a life that reflects God.
Paul's references to drunkenness, sexual immorality, jealousy, and fighting also reflect problems that could occur in the social environment of the ancient Mediterranean world, especially around certain forms of banquets, drinking, sexual behavior, and competition for social honor.
The central message of Romans 13 is that Christians should live responsibly, respectfully, and lovingly within society while remaining faithful to God.
Believers should fulfill legitimate civic responsibilities, including paying taxes and showing respect, because Christians are called to be responsible members of society rather than people who create unnecessary disorder.
But Paul's deeper command is love, because love protects other people from harm and fulfills the moral purpose behind God's commandments.
The chapter also reminds Christians that knowing Christ should change their daily behavior, so they should leave behind destructive habits and live with the awareness that God's promised future is moving closer.
The final picture is simple and powerful: Christians should take off the old ways of darkness and put on Christ, allowing their behavior, relationships, choices, and attitudes to show that they belong to Him.