1 Let euery soule be subiect vnto the higher powers: for there is no power but of God: and the powers that be, are ordeined of God. 2 Whosoeuer therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist, shall receiue to themselues condemnation. 3 For Magistrates are not to be feared for good workes, but for euill. Wilt thou then bee without feare of the power? doe well: so shalt thou haue praise of the same. 4 For he is ye minister of God for thy wealth, but if thou do euill, feare: for he beareth not the sworde for nought: for he is the minister of God to take vengeance on him that doeth euill. 5 Wherefore ye must bee subiect, not because of wrath only, but also for conscience sake. 6 For, for this cause ye pay also tribute: for they are Gods ministers, applying themselues for the same thing. 7 Giue to all men therefore their duetie: tribute, to whome yee owe tribute: custome, to whom custome: feare, to whome feare: honour, to whom ye owe honour. 8 Owe nothing to any man, but to loue one another: for he that loueth another, hath fulfilled the Lawe. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adulterie, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steale, Thou shalt not beare false witnes, Thou shalt not couet: and if there be any other commandement, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, euen in this, Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe. 10 Loue doeth not euill to his neighbour: therefore is loue the fulfilling of the Lawe. 11 And that, considering the season, that it is now time that we should arise from sleepe: for now is our saluation neerer, then when we beleeued it. 12 The night is past, and the day is at hande, let vs therefore cast away the workes of darkenesse, and let vs put on the armour of light, 13 So that wee walke honestly, as in the day: not in gluttonie, and drunkennesse, neither in chambering and wantonnes, nor in strife and enuying. 14 But put yee on the Lord JESUS CHRIST, and take no thought for the flesh, to fulfill the lustes of it.
Romans 13 Geneva Bible (1599)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Original 16th-century spelling.
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 …