Romans 13

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.

Therefore he who resists the authority withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment.

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,

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.

Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.

For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, continually doing this very thing.

Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

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 neighbor as yourself.”

Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

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.

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 armor of light.

Let’s walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview. This chapter instructs believers on their civic and moral responsibilities in light of God’s sovereign order and the nearness of Christ’s return. It grounds submission to governing authorities in divine appointment, frames love as the fulfillment of the law, and calls for holy living in view of eschatological urgency.

Flow.

The chapter begins by commanding submission to civil authorities, grounding political order in divine ordination (vv. 1–2).
It explains that rulers serve God by punishing evil and praising good, making resistance morally dangerous (vv. 3–5).
Paul shifts to practical duties—paying taxes and showing honor—because authorities are God’s ministers (vv. 6–7).
The focus moves to interpersonal ethics: all obligations are superseded by the perpetual debt of love, which fulfills the law (vv. 8–10).
Finally, eschatological awareness—salvation drawing near—motivates moral vigilance: put off sin and clothe yourselves with Christ (vv. 11–14).

Connections. Following chapter 12’s call to transformed living within the body of Christ, this chapter extends the application to the believer’s relationship with civil society and the wider world. It reinforces the ethical implications of renewed minds by anchoring civic duty in theology. This preparation for a life of order and love sets the stage for chapter 14, which addresses disputes within the church about disputed matters, where Paul again appeals to love, conscience, and the kingdom of God.

What it teaches. Civil authorities are established by God to maintain justice and order, and resisting them is tantamount to resisting God’s ordinance (WCF 23.1; Rom. 13:1–2). Believers owe obedience, taxes, and honor not only to avoid punishment but out of moral obligation before God (Rom. 13:5–7). The moral law is summed up in the command to love one’s neighbor, which fulfills the law’s demands (Rom. 13:8–10; HC LD 45). As the day of salvation approaches, believers must live with moral clarity, rejecting sin and embracing Christlike holiness (Rom. 13:11–14; CD I.12, WCF 17.2).

Apply. Live daily as those already belonging to the age to come, conducting yourself in the world as one clothed with Christ.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.