1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the [powers ]that be are ordained of God. 2 Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same: 4 for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore [ye ]must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6 For for this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God’s service, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. 8 Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbour hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: love therefore is the fulfillment of the law. 11 And this, knowing the season, that now it is high time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when we [first ]believed. 12 The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfill ]the lusts [thereof].
Romans · Revised Version with Apocrypha
Romans 13 Revised Version with Apocrypha
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
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 …