Obey Your Government

1Every person must be subject to the governing authorities, for no authority exists except by God’s permission.a The existing authorities have been established by God, 2so that whoever resists the authorities opposes what God has established, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3For the authorities are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you like to live without being afraid of the authorities? Then do what is right, and you will receive their approval. 4For they are God’s servants, working for your good.

But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for it is not without reason that they bear the sword. Indeed, they are God’s servants to administer punishmentb to anyone who does wrong. 5Therefore, it is necessary for you to be acquiescent to the authorities,c not only for the sake of God’sd punishment,e but also for the sake of your own conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes. For rulersf are God’s servants faithfully devoting themselves to their work.g 7Pay everyone whatever you owe them—taxes to whom taxes are due, tolls to whom tolls are due, fearh to whom feari is due, honor to whom honor is due.

Love One Another

8Do not owe anyone anything—except to love one another. For the one who loves another has fulfilled the Law. 9For the commandments, “You must not commit adultery; you must not murder; you must not steal; you must not covet,”j and every other commandment are summed up in this statement: “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”k 10Love never does anything that is harmful to its neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the Law.

Live in the Light of the Messiah’s Return

11This is necessary because you know the times—it’s already time for you to wake up from sleep, because our salvation is nearer now than when we became believers. 12The night is almost over, and the day is near. Let’s therefore put aside the actions of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let’s behave decently, as people who live in the light of day.l No wild parties, drunkenness, sexual immorality, promiscuity, quarreling, or jealousy! 14Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus, the Messiah,m and do not obey your flesh and its desires.