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Romans 13 :: Amplified Bible (AMP)

Be Subject to Government

Rom 13:1

Rom 13:1

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God [granted by His permission and sanction], and those which exist have been put in place by God.

Rom 13:2

Rom 13:2Therefore whoever [fn]resists [governmental] authority resists the ordinance of God. And those who have resisted it will bring judgment (civil penalty) on themselves.

Rom 13:3

Rom 13:3For [civil] authorities are not a source of fear for [people of] good behavior, but for [those who do] evil. Do you want to be unafraid of authority? Do what is good and you will receive approval and commendation.

Rom 13:4

Rom 13:4For he is God’s servant to you for good. But if you do wrong, [you should] be afraid; for he does not carry the [executioner’s] sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an avenger who brings punishment on the wrongdoer.

Rom 13:5

Rom 13:5Therefore one must be subject [to civil authorities], not only to escape the punishment [that comes with wrongdoing], but also as a matter of principle [knowing what is right before God].

Rom 13:6

Rom 13:6For this same reason you pay taxes, for civil authorities are God’s servants, devoting themselves to governance.

Rom 13:7

Rom 13:7Pay to all what is due: tax to whom tax is due, customs to whom customs, respect to whom respect, honor to whom honor.
(cf. Mar 12:31; Jas 2:8 )

Rom 13:8

Rom 13:8

[fn]Owe nothing to anyone except to [fn]love and seek the best for one another; for he who [unselfishly] loves his neighbor has fulfilled the [essence of the] law [relating to one’s fellowman].

Rom 13:9

Rom 13:9The commandments, “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 statement: “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”

Rom 13:10

Rom 13:10Love does no wrong to a neighbor [it never hurts anyone]. Therefore [unselfish] love is the fulfillment of the Law.

Rom 13:11

Rom 13:11

Do this, knowing that this is a critical time. It is already the hour for you to awaken from your sleep [of spiritual complacency]; for our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed [in Christ].

Rom 13:12

Rom 13:12The night [this present evil age] is almost gone and the day [of Christ’s return] is almost here. So let us fling away the works of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light.

Rom 13:13

Rom 13:13Let us conduct ourselves properly and honorably as in the [light of] day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and irresponsibility, not in quarreling and jealousy.

Rom 13:14

Rom 13:14But clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for [nor even think about gratifying] the flesh in regard to its improper desires.
See the AMP Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).
AMP Footnotes
An exception to this is recorded in Acts 5:27-29. See especially v 29.
Debt is generally to be avoided, but Paul probably is addressing debt to individuals with whom one has a personal relationship.
The key to understanding this and other statements about love is to know that this love (the Greek word agape) is not so much a matter of emotion as it is of doing things for the benefit of another person, that is, having an unselfish concern for another and a willingness to seek the best for other believers.
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Romans Chapter 13 — Additional Translations:

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