Romans 13:1
Πᾶσα ψυχὴ ἐξουσίαις ὑπερεχούσαις ὑποτασσέσθω. οὐ γὰρ ἔστιν ἐξουσία, εἰ μὴ ὑπὸ Θεοῦ· αἱ δὲ οὖσαι, ὑπὸ Θεοῦ τεταγμέναι εἰσίν.
Every soul, to the higher authorities, let him be subject. For the authority is not unless by God, and those being are by God assigned.
Paraphrase: Let every person respect and obey the governing authorities. Don’t forget that every governor, king, emperor, magistrate, or anyone else who has the power to rule, has this power from God Himself. People don’t take this power for themselves even if it seems that way. It is God who raises up a ruler and puts down another. (Psalm 75:7) Yes, God assigns to each ruler his place and station on this earth, and we are to respect God’s design in this.
Comments:
ὑπο here is used to show agency; see here.
Note the periphrastic τεταγμέναι εἰσίν.
Romans 13:2
ὥστε ὁ ἀντιτασσόμενος τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ, τῇ τοῦ Θεοῦ διαταγῇ ἀνθέστηκεν· οἱ δὲ ἀνθεστηκότες ἑαυτοῖς κρίμα λήμψονται.
So that the one resisting the authority, sets himself against the arrangement of God, and those having resisted will receive judgment to themselves.
Paraphrase: What does this mean for us? This means that anyone who disrespects and disobeys the civil government is actually disrespecting and disobeying God Himself. The reason is because it was God who arranged our society to work in this way and it was God who gave these men their authority and power in the first place. When we resist the magistrate, we are actually setting ourselves up in opposition to the God who put these men in their positions of power. Such disrespect for God and His ordinances will surely bring down His wrath and condemnation.
Comments:
Romans 13:3
οἱ γὰρ ἄρχοντες οὐκ εἰσὶν φόβος τῷ ἀγαθῷ ἔργῳ, ἀλλὰ τῷ κακῷ. θέλεις δὲ μὴ φοβεῖσθαι τὴν ἐξουσίαν; τὸ ἀγαθὸν ποίει, καὶ ἕξεις ἔπαινον ἐξ αὐτῆς.
For the rulers are not a fear to a good work but to an evil. Now are you desiring not to fear the authority? Do good and you will have the praise of it.
Paraphrase: Perhaps the civil magistrates frighten you; they can seem to be very intimidating. Remember, the rulers of the land do not exist to trouble those who are leading peaceful and quiet lives. (1 Timothy 2:2) On the contrary, the civil rulers have the responsibility of finding and punishing thieves, murderers, those who are start trouble, and all other evildoers. Those, who do good, will have no issue with the law; on the contrary, the governors and magistrates will hold them in high esteem.
Comments:
Romans 13:4
Θεοῦ γὰρ διάκονός ἐστιν σοὶ εἰς τὸ ἀγαθόν. ἐὰν δὲ τὸ κακὸν ποιῇς, φοβοῦ, οὐ γὰρ εἰκῇ τὴν μάχαιραν φορεῖ· Θεοῦ γὰρ διάκονός ἐστιν, ἔκδικος εἰς ὀργὴν τῷ τὸ κακὸν πράσσοντι.
For he is a servant of God to you for good; but when you might do evil, be afraid, for not to no purpose does he wear a sword, for he is a servant of God, agents for wrath to the one practicing evil.
Paraphrase: The magistrates are actually God’s servants even when they themselves don’t acknowledge it. God has set them up to do His will, and it is God’s will that they protect those who are living good and productive lives. If you decide to cheat someone or to get violent or, in any way, to disrespect the rights of another, then you should tremble. The magistrate does not wear a sword for nothing. On the contrary, he is doing God’s will when he pulls out that sword and strikes down those who cause trouble and violate the rights of others. Through these magistrates, the wrath of God comes down on all who do evil.
Comments:
Romans 13:5
Διὸ ἀνάγκη ὑποτάσσεσθαι, οὐ μόνον διὰ τὴν ὀργὴν, ἀλλὰ καὶ διὰ τὴν συνείδησιν.
Therefore, necessary to be subject not only on account of wrath but even on account of conscience.
Paraphrase: Brothers and sisters, if we are leading good and peaceful lives, then there is nothing to fear. If not, then we have every reason to fear. So now, let’s be careful to foster a real sense of respect and submission to the government and to all who represent it. We do this, not just because we know that God brings wrath and punishment down on those who fail to do so, but also because we know that it is the right thing to do. This is how God would have us to live, and we need no other reason than this.
Comments:
Romans 13:6
διὰ τοῦτο γὰρ, καὶ φόρους τελεῖτε· λειτουργοὶ γὰρ Θεοῦ εἰσιν, εἰς αὐτὸ τοῦτο προσκαρτεροῦντες.
Romans 13:7
ἀπόδοτε πᾶσιν τὰς ὀφειλάς, τῷ τὸν φόρον, τὸν φόρον· τῷ τὸ τέλος, τὸ τέλος· τῷ τὸν φόβον, τὸν φόβον· τῷ τὴν τιμὴν, τὴν τιμήν.
Romans 13:8
Μηδενὶ μηδὲν ὀφείλετε, εἰ μὴ τὸ ἀλλήλους ἀγαπᾶν· ὁ γὰρ ἀγαπῶν τὸν ἕτερον, νόμον πεπλήρωκεν.
Romans 13:9
τὸ γάρ, Οὐ μοιχεύσεις, Οὐ φονεύσεις, Οὐ κλέψεις, Οὐκ ἐπιθυμήσεις, καὶ εἴ τις ἑτέρα ἐντολή, ἐν τῷ λόγῳ τούτῳ ἀνακεφαλαιοῦται, ἐν τῷ· Ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν.
Romans 13:10
ἡ ἀγάπη τῷ πλησίον κακὸν οὐκ ἐργάζεται· πλήρωμα οὖν νόμου ἡ ἀγάπη.
Romans 13:11
Καὶ τοῦτο, εἰδότες τὸν καιρόν, ὅτι ὥρα ἤδη ὑμᾶς ἐξ ὕπνου ἐγερθῆναι· νῦν γὰρ ἐγγύτερον ἡμῶν ἡ σωτηρία ἢ ὅτε ἐπιστεύσαμεν.
Romans 13:12
ἡ νὺξ προέκοψεν, ἡ δὲ ἡμέρα ἤγγικεν. ἀποθώμεθα οὖν τὰ ἔργα τοῦ σκότους· ἐνδυσώμεθα δὲ τὰ ὅπλα τοῦ φωτός.
Romans 13:13
ὡς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ, εὐσχημόνως περιπατήσωμεν, μὴ κώμοις καὶ μέθαις, μὴ κοίταις καὶ ἀσελγείαις, μὴ ἔριδι καὶ ζήλῳ.
Romans 13:14
ἀλλὰ ἐνδύσασθε τὸν Κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, καὶ τῆς σαρκὸς πρόνοιαν μὴ ποιεῖσθε εἰς ἐπιθυμίας.
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