New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Romans 13
1
All of you must be willing to obey completely those who rule over you. There are no authorities except the ones God has chosen. Those who now rule have been chosen by God.
Reference
Parallel theme
Titus 3:1
Daniel 2:21
John 19:11
Jude 1:8
1 Samuel 2:8
Revelation 19:16
Revelation 1:5
Daniel 4:32
References God
Psalm 62:11
Ephesians 5:21
2
So when you oppose the authorities, you are opposing those whom God has appointed. Those who do that will be judged.
Reference
3
If you do what is right, you won't need to be afraid of your rulers. But watch out if you do what is wrong! You don't want to be afraid of those in authority, do you? Then do what is right. The one in authority will praise you.
Reference
4
He serves God and will do you good. But if you do wrong, watch out! The ruler doesn't carry a sword for no reason at all. He serves God. And God is carrying out his anger through him. The ruler punishes anyone who does wrong.
Reference
Judgment
Romans 12:19
Proverbs 16:14
2 Chronicles 19:6
Parallel theme
Proverbs 20:2
References God
Romans 13:6
5
You must obey the authorities. Then you will not be punished. You must also obey them because you know it is right.
Reference
6
That's also why you pay taxes. The authorities serve God. Ruling takes up all their time.
Reference
7
Give to everyone what you owe. Do you owe taxes? Then pay them. Do you owe anything else to the government? Then pay it. Do you owe respect? Then give it. Do you owe honor? Then show it.
Reference
8
Pay everything you owe. But you can never pay back all the love you owe each other. Those who love others have done everything the law requires.
Reference
Love
Romans 13:10
Galatians 5:14
James 2:8
Colossians 3:14
John 13:34
1 Timothy 1:5
Parallel theme
Romans 13:7
Word
Matthew 7:12
9
Here are some commandments to think about. "Do not commit adultery." "Do not commit murder." "Do not steal." "Do not want what belongs to others."--(Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deuteronomy 5:17-19,21) These and other commandments are all included in one rule. Here's what it is. "Love your neighbor as you love yourself."--(Leviticus 19:18)
Reference
10
Love does not harm its neighbor. So love does everything the law requires.
Reference
Love
Romans 13:8
11
When you do those things, keep in mind the times we are living in. The hour has come for you to wake up from your sleep. Our full salvation is closer now than it was when we first believed in Christ.
Reference
12
The dark night of evil is nearly over. The day of Christ's return is almost here. So let us get rid of the works of darkness. Let us put on the armor of light.
Reference
13
Let us act as we should, like people living in the daytime. Have nothing to do with wild parties. Don't get drunk. Don't take part in sexual sins or evil conduct. Don't fight with each other. Don't be jealous of anyone.
Reference
14
Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ as your clothing. Don't think about how to satisfy what your sinful nature wants.
Reference
Parallel theme
Ephesians 4:24
1 Peter 2:11
Job 29:14
References Christ
Galatians 3:27
Galatians 5:24
Summary of Romans 13
Romans 13 explains how Christians should live responsibly within society, beginning with respect for governing authorities and continuing with the deeper responsibility to love others, obey God's moral commands, and live with the awareness that God's future salvation is drawing closer.
Paul teaches that government has an important role in maintaining order, protecting society, and dealing with wrongdoing, so believers should normally respect lawful authority, pay taxes, fulfill their responsibilities, and show appropriate honor toward those who serve in government.
At the same time, Paul does not make government the highest authority, because his larger teaching throughout Romans places God above every human power, and the Christian's obedience to government is therefore understood within the broader responsibility to obey God.
Paul then moves from government to relationships with other people and explains that the one debt Christians should never consider completely finished is the ongoing debt of love, because genuine love prevents people from harming their neighbors and therefore fulfills the moral purpose of God's commandments.
The final part of the chapter calls believers to wake up spiritually, leave behind sinful behavior, and live like people walking from darkness into daylight, because they should not allow drunkenness, sexual immorality, jealousy, fighting, or other destructive desires to control their lives.
Romans 13 therefore presents Christian living as a combination of responsibility, respect, love, self-control, and spiritual readiness, with believers called to live in such a way that their daily behavior reflects their new identity in Christ.
Historical Context
Romans 13 was written around AD 56–58, when Paul was addressing Christians living in Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire and the center of political power over a huge part of the Mediterranean world.
At the time, Nero was emperor, having become ruler in AD 54, and the Roman government controlled a vast territory through emperors, governors, magistrates, soldiers, tax officials, and local authorities.
Paul's instruction to respect governing authorities therefore had particular importance for Christians living directly in the heart of the empire.
Taxes were an ordinary and sometimes unpopular part of Roman life, and the Roman government collected different forms of taxes and revenue to support the army, administration, infrastructure, roads, public buildings, and other government activities.
Paul's statement about paying taxes should therefore be understood in the context of Christians living as part of an existing society rather than withdrawing completely from public responsibilities.
However, the New Testament also shows that respect for government was not the same as treating government as equal to God, because when human authorities directly commanded believers to disobey God, the apostles placed obedience to God above human authority.
Paul's discussion of love connects directly to the Jewish Law, particularly commandments dealing with adultery, murder, stealing, and coveting.
His point is not that these commandments have become meaningless but that their moral purpose can be summarized by the command to love your neighbor as yourself, because a person who truly loves others will not intentionally harm them.
The final section uses the familiar biblical contrast between darkness and light, with darkness representing sinful behavior and light representing a life that reflects God.
Paul's references to drunkenness, sexual immorality, jealousy, and fighting also reflect problems that could occur in the social environment of the ancient Mediterranean world, especially around certain forms of banquets, drinking, sexual behavior, and competition for social honor.
The central message of Romans 13 is that Christians should live responsibly, respectfully, and lovingly within society while remaining faithful to God.
Believers should fulfill legitimate civic responsibilities, including paying taxes and showing respect, because Christians are called to be responsible members of society rather than people who create unnecessary disorder.
But Paul's deeper command is love, because love protects other people from harm and fulfills the moral purpose behind God's commandments.
The chapter also reminds Christians that knowing Christ should change their daily behavior, so they should leave behind destructive habits and live with the awareness that God's promised future is moving closer.
The final picture is simple and powerful: Christians should take off the old ways of darkness and put on Christ, allowing their behavior, relationships, choices, and attitudes to show that they belong to Him.
Paul teaches that government has an important role in maintaining order, protecting society, and dealing with wrongdoing, so believers should normally respect lawful authority, pay taxes, fulfill their responsibilities, and show appropriate honor toward those who serve in government.
At the same time, Paul does not make government the highest authority, because his larger teaching throughout Romans places God above every human power, and the Christian's obedience to government is therefore understood within the broader responsibility to obey God.
Paul then moves from government to relationships with other people and explains that the one debt Christians should never consider completely finished is the ongoing debt of love, because genuine love prevents people from harming their neighbors and therefore fulfills the moral purpose of God's commandments.
The final part of the chapter calls believers to wake up spiritually, leave behind sinful behavior, and live like people walking from darkness into daylight, because they should not allow drunkenness, sexual immorality, jealousy, fighting, or other destructive desires to control their lives.
Romans 13 therefore presents Christian living as a combination of responsibility, respect, love, self-control, and spiritual readiness, with believers called to live in such a way that their daily behavior reflects their new identity in Christ.
Historical Context
Romans 13 was written around AD 56–58, when Paul was addressing Christians living in Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire and the center of political power over a huge part of the Mediterranean world.
At the time, Nero was emperor, having become ruler in AD 54, and the Roman government controlled a vast territory through emperors, governors, magistrates, soldiers, tax officials, and local authorities.
Paul's instruction to respect governing authorities therefore had particular importance for Christians living directly in the heart of the empire.
Taxes were an ordinary and sometimes unpopular part of Roman life, and the Roman government collected different forms of taxes and revenue to support the army, administration, infrastructure, roads, public buildings, and other government activities.
Paul's statement about paying taxes should therefore be understood in the context of Christians living as part of an existing society rather than withdrawing completely from public responsibilities.
However, the New Testament also shows that respect for government was not the same as treating government as equal to God, because when human authorities directly commanded believers to disobey God, the apostles placed obedience to God above human authority.
Paul's discussion of love connects directly to the Jewish Law, particularly commandments dealing with adultery, murder, stealing, and coveting.
His point is not that these commandments have become meaningless but that their moral purpose can be summarized by the command to love your neighbor as yourself, because a person who truly loves others will not intentionally harm them.
The final section uses the familiar biblical contrast between darkness and light, with darkness representing sinful behavior and light representing a life that reflects God.
Paul's references to drunkenness, sexual immorality, jealousy, and fighting also reflect problems that could occur in the social environment of the ancient Mediterranean world, especially around certain forms of banquets, drinking, sexual behavior, and competition for social honor.
The central message of Romans 13 is that Christians should live responsibly, respectfully, and lovingly within society while remaining faithful to God.
Believers should fulfill legitimate civic responsibilities, including paying taxes and showing respect, because Christians are called to be responsible members of society rather than people who create unnecessary disorder.
But Paul's deeper command is love, because love protects other people from harm and fulfills the moral purpose behind God's commandments.
The chapter also reminds Christians that knowing Christ should change their daily behavior, so they should leave behind destructive habits and live with the awareness that God's promised future is moving closer.
The final picture is simple and powerful: Christians should take off the old ways of darkness and put on Christ, allowing their behavior, relationships, choices, and attitudes to show that they belong to Him.