Nazarene Commentary 2000©
21st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures©
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21st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures©
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THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS
CHAPTER THIRTEEN:
“Authority, Love and Wakefulness”
[“Wake Up!”]
Key word: Subjection
Theme Verse: 1
Romans 13:1-4 – Subjection to Authority
RO13:1 Let every soul be in subjection to superior authorities.
Because no authority exists which is not by God,
for [all authority] is by God’s appointment.
| 763 | Let every soul be in subjection to superior authorities: That is, “Every Christian should be obedient to their governments.”
Or, KJV: let every soul be subject unto the high powers; CON: submit; TCN: obey; ABU: the authorities over him; CON: authorities of government; KNX: lawful superiors. Paul writes similarly in Titus 3:1 as does Peter at 1 Peter 2:13. The early Christians were
known for their obedience to civil law as long as it did not go counter to God’s law. It was the later which brought the Church into conflict with Rome. [Acts 5:29] No disciple of the Nazarene gets involved with political revolutions or anti-government
programs. |
| 764 | No authority exists which is not by God: Or, KJV: there is no power but of God; CON:
all authority comes from God; TCN: no authority exists except by the will of God; GDS: without the permission of God. Note what the Nazarene told Pilate. [John 19:11] Compare the king of Babylon’s own conclusion at Daniel 4:17, 25, 32, 35, 37. Kings and governors rule by the permission of God though Satan claims their power. [Luke 4:6; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19; Revelation 13:4] Despite the oppressive rule of some monarchs, government provides a general order and peace among humanity. |
| 765 | For [all authority] is by God’s appointment: Or, KJV: the powers that be are ordained of God; GDS: the existing authorities have been established by him. [Deuteronomy 32:8; Acts 17:26] It is called by some “the Divine Right of kings.” |
RO13:2 Therefore, any person opposing the authority of The God opposes God’s ordinance;
and those who oppose [the authority] will receive judgment [from God].
| 766 | Any person opposing the authority of The God opposes God’s ordinance: Or, KJV: whomsoever therefore resisteth the
power resisteth the ordinance of God; MOF: resists authority is opposing divine order; KNX: rebel; NEB: is resisting a divine institution. To the present time there have been Christian sects involved in political resistance, government coups, or revolutions
and therefore opposing God. |
| 767 | Those who oppose [the authority] will receive judgment [from God]:
Or, KJV: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation; WEY: incur sentence; WMS: get the penalty due them; BAS: get punishment for themselves. [Ecclesiastes 8:4] Either they will find themselves punished by the government or they will come under
God’s condemnation on Judgment Day. |
RO13:3 For the government rulers are feared, not because of good deeds, but because of bad deeds.
So if you not want to fear the authority, then do good deeds
and you will have her praise.
| 768 | Government rulers are feared, not because of good deeds, but because of bad deeds: Or, KJV: rulers are not a terror to
good works but to the evil; AMP: good conduct… bad behavior; GDS: the man who does right has nothing to fear from the magistrates; NEB: a terror to crime. Compare 1 Peter 2:14. Law-abiding citizens have little to from the authorities. |
| 769 | So if you not want to fear the authority, then do good deeds: Or, WMS: do you want to have no dread of the civil authorities
then practice right. [1 Peter 3:13] The person always on the look out for the police fears because they know they are breaking the law, so they are without excuse before their judgment. |
| 770 | You will have her praise: Or, TCN: shall win their praise; WMS: commended for it; NEB: win their approval. The Greek is feminine. Some governments picture justice as a blindfolded
woman with the scales of justice in her hand. |
RO13:4 For she is God’s servant for your good.
But if you do bad deeds, then be in fear, for it is not without purpose she bears the execution-sword.
She is God’s servant as a wrathful avenger against the person practicing what is harmful. | 771 | She is God’s servant for your good: Or, KJV: he is the minister of God to thee for good; TCN: for they are God’s servants appointed for your good; PME: the officer is God’s servant for your protection. Exemplary law-abiding citizens often receive public praise for their good conduct. Christians should shine in this regard. Despite oppressive governments, social order is maintained on behalf of law-abiding citizens. |
| 772 | Execution-sword: Or, KJV: for he beareth not the sword in vain; CON: sword of justice; GDS: they do not carry swords for nothing. God himself allowed for the death penalty to those who shed human blood. [Genesis 9:6] Such executional authority was exercised by Israel as God’s nation. [Exodus 21:12, 15, 16, 17] |
| 773 | God’s servant as a wrathful avenger against the person practicing what is harmful: Or, KJV: to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil; TCN: to inflict his punishments on those who do wrong; NEB: God’s agents of punishment, for retribution on the offender. God has used non-Jewish nations to punish His own people. [Isaiah 10:5] When laws loose their teeth in lesser sanctions evil spreads among humanity. [Ecclesiastes 8:11] |
Romans 13:5-7 – Subjection Manifest
RO13:5 It is a necessity, therefore, to continue in subjection,
not only because of the wrath
but also because of the conscience.
| 774 | To continue in subjection: Or, KJV: ye must needs be subject; TCN: you are bound to obey; ABU: submit yourselves. Christians
are bound by God to remain in subjection to the civil authorities. |
| 775 | Not only because of the wrath:
Or, WEY: fear of punishment; TCN: God’s punishment; GDS: not only to escape God’s wrath; PME: simply because it is the safest. Paul gives two reasons for this submission and obedience to civil authority. The first is either God’s own judgment
or criminal penalties. |
| 776 | Also because of the conscience: Or, GDS: as a matter of principle; PME:
because it is the right thing to do. Compare 1 Peter 2:19 and 1 Peter 3:16 on “conscience.” The Greek SYN-EIDESIN [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #4893], or, with + idea (knowledge). Most people are quite aware when they break the law, otherwise
they would not try to cover up their crime. The “universal human conscience” is at work. The person speeding in an auto and who watches for the police officer in the rear-view mirror already knows they are guilty. See the notes on Romans 2:14, 15. |
RO13:6 For because of this [conscience] you also pay taxes,
because they are God’s civil servants always paying attention to these [tax matters].
| 777 | Because of this [conscience] you also pay taxes: Or, MON: this, too, is the reason why you pay taxes. Though taxation has been abused by authority, it has also been the means of maintaining public order by the police, fire-fighting, rescues, road-building, and the keeping of a military force. |
| 778 | They are God’s civil servants always paying attention to these [tax matters]: Or, KJV: attending continually upon this very thing; WEY: devoting their energies to this very work; WMS: for the civil authorities are God’s official servants faithfully devoting themselves to this very end. Failure to pay taxes involves God. |
RO13:7 So give to these their dues:
to the one due taxes, the tax;
to the one due the levy, the levy;
to the one due respect, respect;
to the one due honor, honor. | 779 |
So give to these their dues: Or, KJV: render therefore to all their dues; GDS: pay them all what is due them; NEB: discharge your obligation to all men. |
| 780 | To the one due taxes, the tax: Or, KJV: tribute to whom tribute is due; TAY: pay your taxes and import duties gladly. The Nazarene himself instructed the payment of taxes. [See notes on Matthew 22:21; Mark 12:17; Luke 20:25] This also included the payment of religious tithes or taxes as in the case of the Temple tax. [See notes on Matthew 17:24-27] |
| 781 | To the one due the levy, the levy: Or, KJV: custom; WEY: toll; TAY: import duties. There are a variety of taxes on peoples: luxury, sales, import, travel. |
| 782 | To the one due respect, respect: Or, KJV: fear. The Greek is PHOBON (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #5401) which also occurs at 1 Peter 3:2. [See notes on PHOBOS at Ephesians 5:21, 33.] (Proverbs 24:21) |
| 783 | To the one due honor, honor: Or, KJV: honour. [1 Peter 2:13, 17] In most countries a judge, for example, is addressed as “your honor” or “your worship.” Others are addressed as “Your Excellency.” Note Paul’s address: Acts 24:3; 26:25. |
Romans 13:8-10 – Love Is Law’s Fulfillment
RO13:8 Owe no one anything but to love one another,
because the one loving another has fulfilled the Law.
| 784 | Owe no one anything but to love one another: Or, KJV: owe no man anything; CON: owe no debt to any man; WEY: leave no debt unpaid; CON: save the debt of love; WEY: except the standing debt of mutual love. There a different views on this injunction. Some see it as a warning against getting into debt. Others see it as direction to pay all debts. The main point on which all can agree is that each Christian owes it to love another. [Psalm 37:21] The Nazarene discouraged loaning money to those in need, but rather giving it to them, including enemies. [Luke 6:30-35] See notes on 1 John 4:11. |
| 785 | The one loving another has fulfilled the Law: Or, GDS: has fully satisfied the Law; KNX: has done all the law demands; PME: has obeyed the whole Law. Paul makes the same application in Galatians 5:14. As does James 2:8. Regarding the Law’s “fulfillment” see notes on Matthew 5:17. |
RO13:9 For [the commands]
–
“You must not commit adultery,” “You must not murder,” “You must not steal,” “You must not covet” [Exodus 20:14, 15, 17] – and any other commandment [of the Law]
– is summed up in the word,
“You must love your neighbor as yourself.”
[Leviticus 19:18]
| 786 | For [the commands]: Paul quotes some of the Ten Commandments from Exodus 20:14-17. Regarding the Law including the commandments
see notes on Romans 7:4, 7. |
| 787 | And any other commandment [of the Law]: Paul must include the Sabbath
commandments here also. |
| 788 | Is summed up in the word: Or, KJV: is briefly comprehended in this saying;
ASV: is summed up in this word. |
| 789 | You must love your neighbor as yourself: Paul quotes Leviticus
19:18 which is also quoted at Matthew 5:43; 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:33; Luke 10:27; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8. For notes on “love” research AGAPE. |
RO13:10 Compassionate affection
never works harm to a neighbor.
Love is, then, the Law’s fulfillment. | 790 | Compassionate affection never works harm to a neighbor: Or, KJV: worketh no ill to; TCN: never wrongs a neighbor. Here AGAPE has the article “the” as it does elsewhere, meaning a particular type
of “love” – divine, self-sacrificing concern manifest by positive action for the highest good of another. [1 Corinthians 13:4, 5] A restatement of the Golden Rule in the negative. [Luke 6:31] The Nazarene’s teaching is “to do unto others” – something positive. |
| 791 | Love is, then, the Law’s fulfillment: Or, KJV: love is the fulfilling of the law; TCN: love fully satisfies the Law. |
Romans 13:11-14 – Awake from Sleep!
RO13:11 As those who are aware of the season
– that it is already that hour
– for you to awaken from sleep.
For right now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
| 792 | Those who are aware of the season: Or, KJV: and that, knowing the time; CON: this do, knowing the season wherein we stand;
MON: carry out these injunctions because you know the crisis that we are in; TCN: you know the crisis that we have reached. |
| 793 |
That it is already that hour: Or, RSV: know what hour it is; KNX: make no mistake about the age we live in. |
| 794 |
For you to awaken from sleep: Or, KJV: to awake out of sleep; TCN: to rouse yourselves from sleep. Compare 1 Corinthians 15:34; and see notes on 1 Thessalonians 5:6. (See notes on Ephesians 5:6-14; Revelation 16:15) |
| 795 | Right now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed: See Isaiah 56:1. Paul calls his period of time a “day of salvation.”
[2 Corinthians 6:2] This would be true to any age of the Church and will become absolutely true when the events of Luke 21:25-28. |
RO13:12 The night is well advanced, but the day has drawn
near.
Let us put off, then, the works of darkness
and let us put on the weapons of light.
| 796 | The night is well advanced, but the day has drawn near: Or, KJV: the night is far spent, the day is at hand; ABU: the night is far advanced; PME: the night is nearly over; WEY: day is about to dawn. Paul writes elsewhere regarding the Jewish Temple Age as coming to a conclusion. Compare 1 Corinthians 10:11 and Hebrews 9:26. He has also written that the Day of the YHWH will not come until the “apostasy” occurs and is revealed. [2 Thessalonians 2:1-3] A period of great oppression is soon to break out in the Roman Empire, centered around Judea, in which thousands of Christians would loose their lives, including Paul. Jesus had predicted such. [See notes on Matthew 24:15; Luke 21:19-24] |
| 797 | Let us put off, then, the works of darkness: Or, KJV: cast off the works of darkness; WEY: lay aside the deeds of. See notes on Ephesians 5:11. The figure of speech “put off” alludes to clothing which is removed. |
| 798 | Let us put on the weapons of light: Or, KJV: the armour of light; PME: let us arm ourselves for the fight of the day. See notes on Ephesians 6:11. [2 Corinthians 6:7; see notes on 1 Thessalonians 5:8] Paul likens the struggles within the congregations as warfare. Note 2 Corinthians 10:4-6. “Put on” means to dress or clothe oneself with Light’s weapons. |
RO13:13 As in daylight let us walk in good behavior
– not in orgies and drunkenness,
not crawling into beds in loose conduct,
not in strife and jealousy.
| 799 | As in daylight let us walk in good behavior: Or, KJV: let us walk honestly as in the day; ASV: becomingly; MOF: decorously;
GDS: honorably; NEB: with decency. [Philippians 1:27; 1 Peter 2:12] Here “walk” is paralleled with “put on.” |
| 800 |
Not in orgies and drunkenness: Or, KJV: rioting and drunkenness; ASV: reveling; GDS: carousing. Compare 1 Peter 4:3. The Roman Christians lived in an immoral and unlicensed atmosphere. It seems Paul warns the Romans from this conduct because some may
have succumbed. The word “orgies” is from the Greek KOSMOIS [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #2970, reveling, carousal] and is related to “cosmos.” It refers to arranged or pre-planned wild parties. |
| 801 | Not crawling into beds in loose conduct: Or, KJV: chambering; ABU: lewdness; BER: prostitution; NASB: sexual promiscuity; KJV:
wantonness; GDS: indecency; WEY: debauchery; NW: illicit intercourse. The Greek word for “beds” is COITAIS [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #2845] and in English becomes “coitus.” |
| 802 | Not in strife and jealousy: Or, KJV: envying; TCN: quarreling. This counsel here strikes at the center of any conflict between Jews and non-Jews within the
Christian Church in Rome. Such was also a problem in Corinth as well as other areas among Christians. [1 Corinthians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 12:20; Galatians 5:15, 26] |
RO13:14 Rather, clothe yourselves
in the Master Jesus Christ as though wearing him like a garment
and give no fleshly forethought which results in covetousness. | 803 | Clothe yourselves in the Master Jesus Christ as though wearing him like a garment: Or, CON: clothe yourselves with; WEY: put on as your armour. [See notes on Ephesians 4:24; Galatians 3:27] We must wear Christ
as a garment easily recognizable to others by “keeping the mind of Christ.” [Philippians 2:5] |
| 804 |
Give no fleshly forethought which results in covetousness: Or, KJV: make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof; TCN: spend no thought on your earthly nature, to satisfy its cravings; WEY: make no provision for the passions of your lower nature; NWT: do not be planning ahead for the desires of the flesh; NJB: stop worrying about how your disordered natural inclinations may be fulfilled. [Galatians 5:16] |
Summary of Chapter Thirteen
Paul now moves to the Christian’s relationship to the state. The reason is that God has permitted human rule and the governments serve as a source of punishment for evil. Those who do good have no need to fear civil authority.
Paul gives reasons for this subjection and then lists various civic duties, including the payment of taxes.
Paul shows how love fulfills the Law of Moses.
Paul stresses the urgency and counsels wakefulness. He exhorts to a godly walk in daylight and putting off the works of darkness, listing several.
Review Questions on Chapter Thirteen
- How should Christians view governments no matter where they live?
- Why?
- How are governments God’s servants?
- What reasons are there for subjection to civil authorities?
- How are they God’s servants?
- How do Christians manifest this subjection?
- What debt do we owe others?
- What commandments are fulfilled by love?
- How does love fulfill the law?
- What is another reason to love?
- What does Paul say about salvation?
- What does Paul counsel against?
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Nazarene Commentary 2000©
Mark Heber Miller
©2000 All Rights Reserved
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