Romans 13

Paul instructs believers to be subject to governing authorities, as all power is ordained by God, and rulers are ministers for justice. He then emphasizes that love is the fulfillment of the law, encompassing all commandments towards one's neighbor. Finally, he urges believers to live righteously, casting off works of darkness and putting on the Lord Jesus Christ, recognizing the urgency of their salvation.

The chapter begins by commanding every soul to be subject to higher powers, asserting that all authority is ordained of God, and resistance to these powers is resistance to God's ordinance. Rulers are described as ministers of God, intended to praise good works and execute wrath upon evil, necessitating submission not only for fear of punishment but also for conscience' sake. Believers are instructed to render to all their dues, including tribute, custom, fear, and honour. The epistle then transitions to the theme of love, stating that one should owe no man anything but to love one another, for love fulfills the entire law. Specific commandments like "Thou shalt not kill" are shown to be comprehended in the command to "love thy neighbour as thyself," as love works no ill. Finally, Paul urges believers to recognize the urgency of the time, to cast off the works of darkness such as rioting and strife, and instead to put on the armour of light and the Lord Jesus Christ, making no provision for the flesh's lusts.

Romans 13 opens with a direct injunction for every individual to be subject to the governing authorities, establishing the theological premise that there is no power except that which is ordained of God. Consequently, resisting these powers is equated with resisting God's own ordinance, leading to damnation for those who resist. The apostle clarifies that rulers are not a terror to those who do good, but rather to those who do evil, serving as ministers of God for the good of the righteous and as avengers to execute wrath upon evildoers. This divine mandate for civil authority necessitates submission, not merely out of fear of punishment, but also for the sake of conscience. Therefore, believers are exhorted to pay tribute, custom, fear, and honour to whom they are due, recognizing these authorities as God's ministers continually attending to their duties. The discourse then shifts to the paramount importance of love, declaring that believers should owe no man anything but the perpetual debt of loving one another. This is because love is presented as the ultimate fulfillment of the law. Paul illustrates this by listing several commandments from the Decalogue—such as not committing adultery, killing, stealing, bearing false witness, or coveting—and states that any other commandment is briefly comprehended in the singular precept: "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." The inherent nature of love is that it works no ill to one's neighbor, thus unequivocally establishing love as the complete fulfillment of the law. Finally, the chapter concludes with an urgent call to spiritual awakening and righteous living, based on the understanding that salvation is now nearer than when believers first accepted the faith. Paul likens the present time to the night being far spent and the day being at hand, urging believers to cast off the "works of darkness," which include behaviors such as rioting, drunkenness, chambering, wantonness, strife, and envying. Instead, they are to "put on the armour of light" and "walk honestly, as in the day." The ultimate exhortation is to "put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ," thereby making no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts, but rather to live in accordance with divine principles.