Romans 13:1-10 ▼

1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God {Theou}. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.

2 Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God {Theou} has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval (praise).

4 For he is God’s {Theou} servant {diakonos} for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.

5 Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience.

6 This is also why you⁺ pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s {Theou} servants, who devote themselves to their work.

7 Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

8 Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love {agapan}. For he who loves {agapōn} his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

9 The commandments “Do not commit adultery, “Do not murder, “Do not steal, “Do not covet ,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love {Agapēseis} your neighbor as yourself .”

10 Love {agapē} does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.