Romans 13:1-14

Submission to the Authorities

1 Let every person p be subject to the governing authorities. For q there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you r will receive his approval, 4 for s he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, t an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also u for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 v Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Fulfilling the Law Through Love

8 w Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for x the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, y "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: z "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore a love is the fulfilling of the law.

11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you b to wake from sleep. c For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 d The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us e cast off f the works of darkness and g put on the armor of light. 13 h Let us walk properly as in the daytime, i not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, j not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But k put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, l to gratify its desires.

  1. Cross References
    Titus 3:1
    Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work.
    1 Peter 2:13
    Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme.
  2. Cross References
    John 19:11
    Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.
    Daniel 2:21
    He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.
  3. Cross References
    1 Peter 2:14
    Or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
  4. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 19:6
    And said to the judges, "Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the Lord. He is with you in giving judgment.
  5. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 4:6
    That no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.
  6. Cross References
    1 Peter 2:19
    For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
    Ecclesiastes 8:2
    I say: Keep the king's command, because of God's oath to him.
  7. Cross References
    Matthew 17:25
    He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?
    Matthew 22:21
    They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.
    Mark 12:17
    Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they marveled at him.
  8. Cross References
    Leviticus 19:13
    You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning.
    Proverbs 3:27 - 28
    Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
  9. Cross References
    Romans 13:10
    Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
    Matthew 22:40
    On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.
    Colossians 3:14
    And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
    John 13:34
    A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
  10. Cross References
    Matthew 19:18
    He said to him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness.
    Exodus 20:13 - 17
    You shall not murder.
    Deuteronomy 5:17 - 21
    'You shall not murder.
  11. Cross References
    Leviticus 19:18
    You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
  12. Cross References
    Exodus 20:13 - 17
    You shall not murder.
    Deuteronomy 5:17 - 21
    You shall not murder.
  13. Cross References
    Leviticus 19:18
    You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
  14. Cross References
    John 14:15
    If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
    Romans 13:8
    Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
  15. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 15:34
    Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
    Ephesians 5:14
    For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.
    1 Thessalonians 5:6
    So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
  16. Cross References
    Isaiah 56:1
    Thus says the Lord : "Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed.
    Luke 21:28
    Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
  17. Cross References
    John 9:4
    We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.
  18. Cross References
    Colossians 3:8
    But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
  19. Cross References
    Ephesians 5:11
    Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
    John 3:20
    For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
  20. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 6:7
    By truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left.
    Ephesians 6:11
    Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
    Ephesians 6:13
    Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
    1 Thessalonians 5:8
    But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
  21. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 4:12
    So that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
  22. Cross References
    Luke 21:34
    But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.
    Galatians 5:21
    Envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
    1 Peter 4:3
    For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.
  23. Cross References
    James 3:14
    But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
    James 3:16
    For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
  24. Cross References
    Galatians 3:27
    For as many of you as were baptized into Christ...
    Job 29:14
    I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my j...
    Psalms 132:9
    Let your priests be clothed with righteousness,...
    Luke 24:49
    And behold, I am sending the promise of my Fath...
    Ephesians 4:24
    And to put on the new self, created after the l...
    Colossians 3:10
    And have put on the new self, which is being re...
  25. Cross References
    Galatians 5:16
    But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
    1 Peter 2:11
    Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.