Romans Chapter 13 focuses on the believer’s responsibility toward governing authorities and the broader community. Paul instructs Christians to submit to civil authorities, explaining that governing powers are established by God and serve a purpose in maintaining order within society. He emphasizes that resisting proper authority is equivalent to resisting God’s design, and encourages believers to fulfill their civic duties, including paying taxes and honoring those in leadership.
The chapter also shifts toward the broader principle of love as the foundation of the law, teaching that all commandments are summarized in the call to love one’s neighbor. Paul urges believers to conduct themselves with integrity, avoiding behaviors associated with darkness such as drunkenness, jealousy, and immorality. He encourages Christians to live as people of the light, especially since the day of salvation is drawing nearer. The chapter closes with a call to put on the character of Christ, living in a way that reflects righteousness rather than yielding to sinful desires of the flesh.
Chapter 13 (BBE)
1 Let everyone put himself under the authority of the higher powers, because there is no power which is not of God, and all powers are ordered by God.
2 For which reason everyone who puts himself against the authority puts himself against the order of God: and those who are against it will get punishment for themselves.
3 For rulers are not a cause of fear to the good work but to the evil. If you would have no fear of the authority, do good and you will have praise;
4 For he is the servant of God to you for good. But if you do evil, have fear; for the sword is not in his hand for nothing: he is God’s servant, making God’s punishment come on the evil-doer.
5 So put yourselves under the authority, not for fear of wrath, but because you have the knowledge of what is right.
6 For the same reason, make payment of taxes; because the authority is God’s servant, to take care of such things at all times.
7 Give to all what is their right: taxes to him whose they are, payment to him whose right it is, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour is to be given.
8 Be in debt for nothing, but to have love for one another: for he who has love for his neighbour has kept all the law.
9 And this, Do not be untrue in married life, Do not put to death, Do not take what is another’s, Do not have desire for what is another’s, and if there is any other order, it is covered by this word, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself.
10 Love does no wrong to his neighbour, so love makes the law complete.
11 See then that the time has come for you to be awake from sleep: for now is your salvation nearer than when you first had faith.
12 The night is far gone, and the day is near: so let us put off the works of the dark, arming ourselves with light,
13 With right behaviour as in the day; not in pleasure-making and drinking, not in bad company and unclean behaviour, not in fighting and envy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not give thought to the flesh to do its desires.
Important Verses
Verse 1 This verse instructs believers to submit to governing authorities, since all authority is established by God.
Verse 4 Paul explains that rulers are meant to serve for the good of the people, acting as agents of justice.
Verse 7 This verse encourages believers to fulfill their obligations, such as paying taxes and giving respect to those in authority.
Verse 8 Paul emphasizes that love fulfills the law, urging believers to owe nothing but love to one another.
Verse 10 This verse reinforces that love does no harm to others, making it the fulfillment of the entire law.
Verse 12 Paul uses the imagery of night and day to encourage believers to abandon behaviors associated with darkness and to embrace righteousness.
Verse 14 “But be clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to satisfy its desires.” This verse calls believers to reflect the character of Christ in their daily lives.
