Romans
Chapter 13
Obedience to the Authorities
Let everyone submit to the authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and the offices have been established by God.
Whoever therefore resists authority is resisting God’s decree, and those who resist deserve condemnation.
In fact, who fears authority? Not those who do good, but those who do evil. Do you want to be free from fear of someone in authority? Do good, and you will receive praise.
They are the stewards of God, for your well-being. But if you do not behave, fear them, for they do not carry arms in vain; they serve God when they judge and punish wrongdoers.
It is necessary to obey, not out of fear, but as a matter of conscience.
Similarly, you must pay taxes because the collectors are God’s representatives.
Pay everyone what is owed to them: give contributions to those you owe contributions; pay taxes to those who are due taxes; show respect to those who are deserving of respect; and give honor to those who are worthy of honor.
Don’t owe anyone anything except love. The one who loves their neighbor fulfills the law.
The commandments—such as do not commit adultery, do not kill, and do not covet—are all summarized in this: You will love your neighbor as yourself.
Love cannot harm a neighbor; therefore, love fulfills the entire law.
The Coming of Christ
You know what hour it is. This is the time to wake up, for our salvation is now nearer than when we first believed.
The night is almost over, and the day is at hand. Let us discard, therefore, everything that belongs to darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
As we live in the whole light of day, let us act with decency, no banquets with drunkenness, no promiscuity or licentiousness, no fighting or jealousy.
Put on, rather, the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not be led by the will of the flesh or follow its desires.
Commentaries
Obedience to the Authorities.
In the year the letter was written (57 or 58), Emperor Nero (54-68) was already in power, but the violent persecution of Christians—during which, in all likelihood, the apostles Peter and Paul were martyred—had not yet begun. The author assumes that the authorities are legitimate and honest, so a Christian must primarily be a good citizen. The warning isn’t as harmless as it appears. The Apostle subtly advises them not to mix politics and religion recklessly. A Christian can live as such under any authority, whether Christian or non-Christian, as long as it is legitimate and just. Conversely, a Christian authority cannot discriminate against its non-Christian citizens.
Paul sees in the concrete duties of citizenship—paying taxes, contributing, honoring, respecting all—a way of loving one’s brothers and sisters. He does not want Christians to owe anyone anything, except one thing, mutual love (10), which we will never finish paying. Those who love their neighbor will always be excellent citizens.
The Coming of Christ.
Paul concludes his urging on Christian conduct by instilling it with the urgency of someone living in the final days of history. Christian conduct is a dynamic force that moves toward the future and ultimate victory that will come with the “parousia” or “day of the Lord.” Well, Paul says, “the night is far gone, the day is at hand” (12); therefore, it is time to wake up, shed nocturnal corruptions, put on the armor for the day and the light, and prepare for battle. Here, the image breaks down, pointing to the inexpressible: the Christian’s combat attire and armor will be the same as that which defeated death: “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (14).