Romans 13:8-10
Chapter 13
8
Don’t owe anyone anything except love. The one who loves their neighbor fulfills the law.
9
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.
10
Love cannot harm a neighbor; therefore, love fulfills the entire law.
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.