RomansChapter 13

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Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God.

So whoever resists authority resists what God has ordained, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

For rulers hold no terror for those who do good, but for those who do evil. Do you want to be free of fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will have its approval,

for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

Therefore it is necessary to submit, not only because of wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

This is also why you pay taxes, for they are God's ministers, giving their full time to this very thing.

Give everyone what you owe them: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for whoever loves the other has fulfilled the law.

For the commandments—"You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet"—and any other commandment are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

And do all this because you know the time: the hour has already come for you to wake from sleep, for salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

The night is nearly over; the day is at hand. So let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Let us live decently, as in the daytime—not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in quarreling and jealousy.

Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and give no thought to gratifying the desires of the flesh.

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Summary2

Chapter 13

Main Theme: Paul exhorts Christians to submit to authorities, love their neighbor, and live in light of Christ’s return.

Content: All people must submit to governing authorities, for they are established by God and serve as His agents to promote good and punish evil. Christians should pay taxes and show respect. Love fulfills the entire law, because whoever loves their neighbor does no harm to them. Since salvation is near, believers must wake from spiritual sleep, put aside deeds of darkness, and clothe themselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Key Words/Images:

God’s servant (διάκονος): Authorities are God’s instruments for maintaining order and punishing evil.
Love fulfills the law: All commandments are summed up in love for one’s neighbor—it does no harm to anyone.
Weapons of light: Believers must lay aside the darkness of sin and put on Christ as spiritual armor.
Wake from sleep: A picture of spiritual alertness in view of the nearness of salvation.

Historical context

Historical and Cultural Context for Romans 13

Events and Customs

Romans 13:1-7 can be understood in light of a relevant historical event: In the year 49 C.E., Emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome, possibly due to disturbances related to "Chrestus" (likely a Latin distortion of "Christus," according to Suetonius). When Paul wrote his letter (around 56-57 C.E.), the Jews had been allowed to return under Emperor Nero, who during this early period of his reign pursued a relatively mild policy. The congregation in Rome was therefore in a vulnerable position and needed to demonstrate itself as peaceful citizens to avoid new expulsion or persecution.

The issue of taxation that Paul addresses (vv. 6-7) was particularly timely. The Greek word "φόρος" (foros) refers to direct tax as tribute, while "τέλος" (telos) denotes indirect taxes such as customs duties. At this time, there was growing discontent with the tax burden throughout the empire, and only a few years later (in 58 C.E.) there nearly arose an uprising in Rome over the practices of tax collectors. For Jews and Christians, who were already suspected of disloyalty, it was crucial not to be associated with such resistance.

Key Terms

The expression "τὴν μάχαιραν φορεῖ" (bears the sword, v. 4) is a technical term referring to ius gladii – the Roman authority's right to carry out capital punishment. This sword was a symbol of the governing power's legal authority and was carried by Roman magistrates and their representatives as a sign of their authority to maintain law and order.

The word "λειτουργοί" (leitourgoi, v. 6) is remarkable because in Greek context it denoted persons who performed public service – originally wealthy citizens who financed public goods. In the Septuagint, the word is used for priestly service. By calling the governing authorities "God's servants" with this term, Paul places secular authority within a theological framework where even pagan rulers serve God's purposes.

The concept of "συνείδησις" (syneidesis, conscience, v. 5) was known in Greco-Roman philosophy, including Stoic thought, and was well familiar in the Greco-Roman world. Paul expands the motivation for obedience from mere fear of punishment to also include an inner moral conviction – something that would resonate with educated Roman citizens.

Chapter-Specific Findings

Inscriptions from the first century confirm the complex tax system Paul refers to. Papyrus documents from Egypt show how tax collection worked in practice, with detailed receipts for both direct taxes (tributum) and indirect fees (portoria). These sources illuminate the concrete everyday reality behind Paul's exhortations to pay what is owed to the governing authorities.

Archaeological finds of coins from Nero's early reign (54-62 C.E.) bear inscriptions highlighting peace and justice, reflecting the positive propaganda of the period when Paul wrote. This so-called "quinquennium Neronis" (Nero's good five years) was characterized by relatively good governance under the guidance of the philosopher Seneca, making Paul's positive description of governing authorities understandable in its contemporary context.

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