1 Let every soul be subject to higher authorities. For there is no authority except from God and those who have been ordained by God. 2 And so, whoever resists authority, resists what has been ordained by God. And those who resist are acquiring damnation for themselves. 3 For leaders are not a source of fear to those who work good, but to those who work evil. And would you prefer not to be afraid of authority? Then do what is good, and you shall have praise from them. 4 For he is a minister of God for you unto good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid. For it is not without reason that he carries a sword. For he is a minister of God; an avenger to execute wrath upon whomever does evil. 5 For this reason, it is necessary to be subject, not solely because of wrath, but also because of conscience. 6 Therefore, you must also offer tribute. For they are the ministers of God, serving him in this. 7 Therefore, render to all whatever is owed. Taxes, to whom taxes is due; revenue, to whom revenue is due; fear, to whom fear is due; honor, to whom honor is due. 8 You should owe nothing to anyone, except so as to love one another. For whoever loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For example: You shall not commit adultery. You shall not kill. You shall not steal. You shall not speak false testimony. You shall not covet. And if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 10 The love of neighbor does no harm. Therefore, love is the plenitude of the law. 11 And we know the present time, that now is the hour for us to rise up from sleep. For already our salvation is closer than when we first believed. 12 The night has passed, and the day draws near. Therefore, let us cast aside the works of darkness, and be clothed with the armor of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the daylight, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and sexual immorality, not in contention and envy. 14 Instead, be clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in its desires.
Romans · Catholic Public Domain Version
Romans 13 Catholic Public Domain Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
Cross references (14)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13–17; Daniel 2:21; John 19:11; Proverbs 8:15–16
- 2 1 Peter 2:13; Titus 3:1; James 3:1; Romans 13:5; Luke 20:47
- 3 Ecclesiastes 10:4–6; Proverbs 14:35; Proverbs 20:2; 1 Peter 2:13–14; Deuteronomy 25:1
- 4 Romans 12:19; 2 Chronicles 19:6; Proverbs 24:23–24; Proverbs 20:2; Proverbs 16:14
- 5 1 Peter 2:19; Ecclesiastes 8:2; Acts 24:16; 1 Peter 2:13–15; Titus 3:1–2
- 6 Matthew 22:17–21; Luke 23:2; Luke 20:21–26; Matthew 17:24–27; Mark 12:14–17
- 7 Luke 20:25; 1 Peter 2:17–18; Proverbs 24:21; Matthew 17:25; 1 Timothy 5:17
- 8 Romans 13:10; Matthew 22:39–40; Galatians 5:14; Matthew 7:12; Proverbs 3:27–28
- 9 Exodus 20:12–17; Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Deuteronomy 5:16–21
- 10 Romans 13:8; Matthew 22:39–40; 1 Corinthians 13:4–7
- 11 1 Thessalonians 5:5–8; 1 Peter 4:7; Ephesians 5:14; Matthew 24:42–44; 1 Corinthians 15:34
- 12 Ezekiel 18:31–32; Ephesians 5:11; 2 Corinthians 6:7; Colossians 3:8–17; Ephesians 6:11–18
- 13 Galatians 5:21; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3–5; 1 Peter 4:3–5; Ephesians 5:15
- 14 Ephesians 4:24; Galatians 5:16–17; Galatians 3:27; 1 Peter 2:11; Galatians 5:24
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Of this subject he makes much account in other epistles also, setting subjects under their rulers as household servants are under their masters.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 11 (1889)
And Paul in like manner declares, "Love is the fulfilling of the law:" and [he declares] that when all other things have been destroyed, there shall remain "faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of all is love;" and that apart from the love of God, neither knowledge avails anything, nor the understanding of mysteries, nor faith, nor prophecy, but …
… in silence read that paragraph on which my eyes first fell,--"Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." No further would I read, nor did I need; for instantly, as the sentence ended,--by …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
But that it is even at the doors, hear Paul saying, "The night is far spent, the day is at hand;" and again, "He that cometh will come, and will not tarry." For the signs too are now complete, which announce that day.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
For this cause pay ye tribute also; for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing." Both the Lord, then, and the apostles announce as the one only God the Father, Him who gave the law, who sent the prophets, who made all things; and therefore does He say, "He sent His armies," because every man, inasmuch as …