1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God. 2 Therefore he who resists the authority withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgement. 3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the authority, 4 for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil. 5 Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, continually doing this very thing. 7 Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour. 8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” 10 Love doesn’t harm a neighbour. Love therefore is the fulfilment of the law. 11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the deeds of darkness, and let’s put on the armour of light. 13 Let’s walk properly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.
Romans · World English Bible British Edition (with Deuterocanon)
Romans 13 World English Bible British Edition (with Deuterocanon)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- "World English Bible" is a trademark of eBible.org; the text is shown unaltered.
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 …