Romans Chapter 13
Showing all 14 verses for Romans Chapter 13.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. "
"Everyone should submit to the governing authorities over them, because all authority ultimately comes from God, and the authorities that exist have been put in place by him."
I'm not asking you to worship the state, or to think every ruler gets everything right - I'm asking you not to live as if all order is your enemy. Structure and law, used rightly, protect people; work within that rather than against it by default.
"Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. "
"So anyone who opposes the authorities is opposing what God has set up, and those who do so will bring judgement on themselves."
Rebellion for its own sake isn't courage, it's usually just chaos. Ask whether you're resisting because something is genuinely wrong, or just because you don't like being told what to do - the difference matters.
"For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: "
"Rulers aren't something to fear if you're doing right - only if you're doing wrong. Want to live without fear of authority? Then do what's good, and you'll be commended for it."
Live with such integrity that you have nothing to hide - not because you're afraid of getting caught, but because a genuinely good life doesn't need to fear scrutiny.
"For he is the 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 the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. "
"The ruler is meant to work for your good, as someone serving God's purposes. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because their authority to punish - "the sword" - isn't given for nothing; they act as God's agent to bring justice on wrongdoers."
Just authority exists to protect people, not to terrorise them - and if you're living rightly, that protection is a gift, not a threat. Don't resent structures whose purpose is actually to keep people safe from harm.
"Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. "
"So you should submit not merely out of fear of punishment, but because your own conscience tells you it's right."
Do the right thing because it's right, not just because you're afraid of what happens if you don't. A conscience that agrees with what's good is worth far more than compliance out of fear.
"For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. "
"This is also why you pay taxes - because those in authority are serving God's purposes, giving their full attention to this work of governing."
Even something as mundane as paying tax is part of contributing to a functioning, orderly society. Don't treat it as theft from you - treat it as your share in keeping the structure that protects everyone standing.
"Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. "
"Give everyone what you owe them - tax to those owed tax, tolls to those owed tolls, respect to those owed respect, honour to those owed honour."
Pay what you owe - not just money, but respect and honour where they're genuinely due. Living with unpaid debts, of any kind, quietly weighs on a person; settle them and walk lighter.
"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. "
"Don't leave any debt unpaid to anyone - except the ongoing debt to love one another, because loving others fulfils everything the law requires."
Love isn't one obligation among many - it's the debt that covers all the others. Keep "paying" it out to people, and you'll find you've actually kept everything that mattered in the law without needing a checklist.
"For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. "
"The commandments against adultery, murder, theft, lying, and jealousy - and any other commandment - all boil down to this one line: love your neighbour as yourself."
You don't need a growing rulebook to know how to treat people - if you actually love someone, most of the "don'ts" take care of themselves. Start from love, and the specifics follow naturally.
"Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. "
"Love doesn't do harm to a neighbour - so love completely fulfils what the law was asking for."
Ask yourself before any action: will this harm someone? If love genuinely guides you, that question does most of the moral work for you. This is simpler than any rulebook, and it goes deeper too.
"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. "
"Do all this bearing in mind what time it is - it's time to wake up, because the goal we're waiting for is closer now than when we first believed."
Don't sleepwalk through your life assuming there's endless time to sort yourself out later. Wake up to what actually matters now - the moment to live well isn't someday, it's today.
"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. "
"The night is almost over, the day is nearly here - so let's drop the things that belong to darkness and put on the equipment that belongs to light."
You get to choose what you put on each morning - not just your clothes, but your character. Drop what belongs to your worst hours, and deliberately equip yourself for the day you actually want to live in.
"Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. "
"Let's live decently, as if it's broad daylight - not in wild parties and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality, not in conflict and jealousy."
Ask yourself if you'd be comfortable doing this in full daylight, in front of the people who matter to you. Living that way isn't about restriction - it's about not needing shadows to hide in.
"But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. "
"Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and don't plan ahead in ways that feed your worst desires."
Don't wait until temptation is right in front of you to decide who you want to be - decide in advance, by not setting the stage for your worst impulses. The strongest defence is never getting near the edge in the first place.