Romans 13:7
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.
Pay everyone what you owe him
This phrase emphasizes the Christian duty to fulfill obligations. The Greek word for "pay" is "ἀπόδοτε" (apodote), which means to give back or restore. It implies a moral and ethical responsibility to settle debts and fulfill commitments. In the historical context of the Roman Empire, where Paul was writing, financial and social obligations were taken seriously. This instruction aligns with the broader biblical principle of integrity and honesty in dealings with others, reflecting God's justice and righteousness.

taxes to whom taxes are due
The word "taxes" comes from the Greek "φόρους" (phorous), referring to the compulsory levies imposed by governing authorities. In the Roman context, taxes were a significant part of life, funding the empire's vast infrastructure and military. Paul acknowledges the legitimacy of these obligations, urging believers to comply as a testimony of their respect for authority and order, which are ordained by God (Romans 13:1).

revenue to whom revenue is due
"Revenue" is translated from the Greek "τέλη" (telē), which can also mean tolls or duties. This phrase extends the principle of paying taxes to other forms of financial obligations, such as customs or fees. The historical context suggests a society with various forms of taxation, and Paul encourages Christians to honor these as part of their witness to the world, demonstrating that their faith does not exempt them from civic responsibilities.

respect to whom respect is due
The Greek word for "respect" is "φόβον" (phobon), which can also mean fear or reverence. This phrase calls for an attitude of honor towards those in positions of authority. In a Roman society structured around hierarchy and power, showing respect was crucial. For Christians, this respect is not just societal but rooted in the understanding that all authority is established by God (Romans 13:1-2).

honor to whom honor is due
"Honor" comes from the Greek "τιμήν" (timēn), signifying value or esteem. This phrase encourages believers to recognize and affirm the worth of individuals, particularly those in leadership or authority. In the biblical context, honor is a reflection of God's image in humanity and a recognition of His sovereign order. By honoring others, Christians demonstrate the transformative power of the Gospel in their relationships and communities.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of the Book of Romans, Paul was a key figure in the early Christian church, known for his missionary journeys and theological teachings.

2. The Roman Church
The recipients of the letter, the Roman Christians were a diverse group living in the heart of the Roman Empire, facing various social and political challenges.

3. Roman Authorities
The governing bodies and officials in Rome, to whom taxes and revenues were due, representing the broader concept of governmental authority.

4. Jewish and Gentile Believers
The mixed audience of the Roman church, including both Jewish and Gentile Christians, who had different cultural and religious backgrounds.

5. The Roman Empire
The political and social context in which the Roman church existed, characterized by a complex system of governance and taxation.
Teaching Points
Obligation to Authorities
Christians are called to fulfill their civic duties, including paying taxes and revenues, as a testimony of integrity and obedience to God's ordained structures.

Respect and Honor
Beyond financial obligations, believers are to show respect and honor to those in positions of authority, recognizing their role in maintaining order.

Witness through Obedience
By adhering to these principles, Christians demonstrate a godly witness to the world, reflecting Christ's teachings and character.

Balancing Allegiance
While respecting earthly authorities, believers must remember their ultimate allegiance is to God, ensuring that obedience to human laws does not conflict with divine commands.

Cultural Sensitivity
Understanding the diverse backgrounds of the Roman church, Paul’s instructions remind us to be sensitive to cultural and social dynamics in our own contexts.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding the historical context of the Roman Empire enhance our interpretation of Romans 13:7?

2. In what ways can fulfilling our obligations to authorities serve as a witness to non-believers?

3. How do Jesus' teachings in Matthew 22:21 complement Paul's instructions in Romans 13:7?

4. What are some practical ways we can show respect and honor to those in authority in our lives today?

5. How can we ensure that our obedience to earthly authorities does not conflict with our allegiance to God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Matthew 22:21
Jesus' teaching on rendering to Caesar what is Caesar's connects to the principle of paying taxes and respecting authorities.

1 Peter 2:17
Peter's exhortation to honor everyone and respect the emperor aligns with Paul's instruction to give respect and honor where due.

Proverbs 3:27
The wisdom of not withholding good from those to whom it is due complements the idea of fulfilling obligations.
Christian Duties Towards Civil RulersW. Tyson.Romans 13:1-7
Christian SubmissionT.F. Lockyer Romans 13:1-7
CitizenshipR.M. Edgar Romans 13:1-7
Civil Government an Ordinance of GodE. P. Rogers, D.D.Romans 13:1-7
Earthly CitizenshipNewman Hall, D.D.Romans 13:1-7
Governors and SubjectsBp. Hoadley.Romans 13:1-7
Human AuthorityJ. Lyth, D.D.Romans 13:1-7
Human MagistracyD. Thomas, D.D.Romans 13:1-7
Law is the Shadow of God's JusticeCanon Liddon.Romans 13:1-7
Let Every Soul be Subject unto the Higher PowersRomans 13:1-7
Obedience to LawHomiletic MonthlyRomans 13:1-7
Obedience to Legal AuthorityRomans 13:1-7
Reverence for LawGeorge Dawson.Romans 13:1-7
St. Paul's Respect for Roman LawArchdeacon Farrar.Romans 13:1-7
Subjection to the Higher PowersJ. Lyth, D.D.Romans 13:1-7
The Christian as CitizenC.H. Irwin Romans 13:1-7
The Christian View of the StateL. R. Dalrymple.Romans 13:1-7
The Christian's Political RelationsJ. W. Kaye, M.A.Romans 13:1-7
The Duty and Obligations of Civil ObedienceJ. Sandys, A.M.Romans 13:1-7
The Effect of Religion on a Nation's GrandeurG. Croby, LL.D.Romans 13:1-7
People
Paul, Romans
Places
Rome
Topics
Custom, Customs, Due, Dues, Fear, Honor, Honour, Owe, Pay, Payment, Promptly, Render, Respect, Revenue, Tax, Taxes, Toll, Tribute
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Romans 13:7

     5361   justice, human
     5594   tribute

Romans 13:1-7

     5255   citizenship
     5370   kingship, human
     5542   society, positive
     5959   submission
     8310   morality, and creation

Romans 13:3-7

     5257   civil authorities

Romans 13:4-7

     5219   authority, human institutions

Romans 13:5-7

     5577   taxation
     8243   ethics, social

Romans 13:6-7

     5576   tax collectors
     8436   giving, of possessions

Romans 13:6-10

     5289   debt

Library
November 23. "It is High Time to Awake Out of Sleep" (Rom. xiii. 11).
"It is high time to awake out of sleep" (Rom. xiii. 11). One of the greatest enemies to faith is indolence. It is much easier to lie and suffer than to rise and overcome; much easier to go to sleep on a snowbank and never wake again, than to rouse one's self and shake off the lethargy and overcome the stupor. Faith is an energetic art; prayer is intense labor; the effectual working prayer of the righteous man availeth much. Satan tries to put us to sleep, as he did the disciples in the garden; but
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

October 25. "Now it is High Time to Awake Out of Sleep. Let us Cast Off the Works of Darkness and Let us Put on the Armor of Light" (Rom. xiii. 11, 12).
"Now it is high time to awake out of sleep. Let us cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light" (Rom. xiii. 11, 12). Let us wake out of sleep; let us be alert; let us be alive to the great necessities that really concern us. Let us put off the garments of the night and the indulgences of the night; the loose robes of pleasure and flowing garments of repose; the festal pleasures of the hours of darkness are not for the children of the day. Let us cast off the works of darkness.
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Text: Romans 13, 8-10. 8 Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbor; love therefore is the fulfilment of the law. CHRISTIAN LOVE AND THE COMMAND TO LOVE. 1. This, like the two
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Salvation Nearer
'... Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.'--ROMANS xiii. 11. There is no doubt, I suppose, that the Apostle, in common with the whole of the early Church, entertained more or less consistently the expectation of living to witness the second coming of Jesus Christ. There are in Paul's letters passages which look both in the direction of that anticipation, and in the other one of expecting to taste death. 'We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord,' he says twice in one
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

The Soldier's Morning-Call
'Let us put on the armour of light.'--ROMANS xiii. 12. It is interesting to notice that the metaphor of the Christian armour occurs in Paul's letters throughout his whole course. It first appears, in a very rudimentary form, in the earliest of the Epistles, that to the Thessalonians. It appears here in a letter which belongs to the middle of his career, and it appears finally in the Epistle to the Ephesians, in its fully developed and drawn-out shape, at almost the end of his work. So we may fairly
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

Love and the Day
'Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 11. And that, knowing the time, that now
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

1 Peter iv. 8
And above all things have fervent Charity among your selves: for Charity shall cover the multitude of Sins. THE Design which I am now prosecuting, obligeth me to take notice of such Passages of Scripture as any professed Christians may, on any Account, be apt to interpret to a very bad Purpose: that is, to the giving themselves Encouragement to hope for God's future Mercy; for the Sake of his Son: even whilst they continue in the habitual Practice of known Sins. And the Words which I have now read
Benjamin Hoadly—Several Discourses Concerning the Terms of Acceptance with God

The Beauty and Excellency of this World Consists, not Only in the Perfection and Comeliness...
The beauty and excellency of this world consists, not only in the perfection and comeliness of each part in it, but especially in the wise and wonderful proportion and union of these several parts. It is not the lineaments and colours that make the image or complete beauty, but the proportion and harmony of these, though different severally. And truly that is the wonder, that such repugnant natures, such different parts, and dissentient qualities, do conspire together in such an exact perfect unity
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Twenty-Seven Articles Respecting the Reformation of the Christian Estate.
Now though I am too lowly to submit articles that could serve for the reformation of these fearful evils, I will yet sing out my fool's song, and will show, as well as my wit will allow, what might and should be done by the temporal authorities or by a General Council. 1. Princes, nobles and cities should promptly forbid their subjects to pay the annates and should even abolish them altogether. For the Pope has broken the compact, and turned the annates into robbery for the harm and shame of the
Martin Luther—First Principles of the Reformation

The North African Church under the Vandals.
THE wild tribes of the Vandals--which, although outwardly professing Christianity, yet, instructed and guided by ignorant and fanatical priests, seem to have had no idea of its essence--overran North Africa, under their cruel and despotic king, Geiserich. A fanatical hatred to the confessors of another form of doctrine (the Vandals being the adherents of Arianism) was united with an insatiable avarice, for which it served as an apology. The depravity of the nominal Christians in the rich cities of
Augustus Neander—Light in the Dark Places

Letter Lxi (A. D. 1138) to Louis the Younger, King of the French.
To Louis the Younger, King of the French. He endeavours to defend the election of Geoffrey, Prior of Clairvaux, to the See of Langres; to which the King had appeared adverse. 1. If the whole world were to conjure me to join it in some enterprise against your royal Majesty, I should still through fear of God not dare lightly to offend a King ordained by Him. Nor am I ignorant who it is that has said, Whosoever resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God (Rom. xiii. 2). Nor yet do I forget how
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

A Sketch of the Life of St. Augustin.
It is a venturesome and delicate undertaking to write one's own life, even though that life be a masterpiece of nature and the grace of God, and therefore most worthy to be described. Of all autobiographies none has so happily avoided the reef of vanity and self-praise, and none has won so much esteem and love through its honesty and humility as that of St. Augustin. The "Confessions," which he wrote in the forty-fourth year of his life, still burning in the ardor of his first love, are full of the
St. Augustine—The Confessions and Letters of St

Concerning the Power of the Civil Magistrate in Matters Purely Religious, and Pertaining to the Conscience.
Concerning the Power of the Civil Magistrate in Matters purely Religious, and pertaining to the Conscience. Since God hath assumed to himself the power and Dominion of the Conscience, who alone can rightly instruct and govern it, therefore it is not lawful [1226] for any whosoever, by virtue of any authority or principality they bear in the government of this world, to force the consciences of others; and therefore all killing, banishing, fining, imprisoning, and other such things which are inflicted
Robert Barclay—Theses Theologicae and An Apology for the True Christian Divinity

That Sometimes Lighter vices are to be Left Alone, that More Grievous Ones May be Removed.
But since, when the sickness of two vices attacks a man, one presses upon him more lightly, and the other perchance more heavily, it is undoubtedly right to haste to the succour of that through which there is the more rapid tendency to death. And, if the one cannot be restrained from causing the death which is imminent unless the other which is contrary to it increase, the preacher must be content by skilful management in his exhortation to suffer one to increase, to the end that he may keep the
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

One Metaphor and Two Meanings
'I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work.'--JOHN ix. 4. 'The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.'--ROMANS xiii. 12. The contrast between these two sayings will strike you at once. Using the same metaphors, they apply them in exactly opposite directions. In the one, life is the day, and the state beyond death the night; in the other, life is the night,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

"If we Say that we have no Sin, we Deceive Ourselves, and the Truth is not in Us. "
1 John i. 8.--"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." "The night is far spent, the day is at hand," Rom. xiii. 12. This life is but as night, even to the godly. There is some light in it,--some star light, but it is mixed with much darkness of ignorance and sin, and so it will be, till the sun arise, and the morning of their translation to heaven come. But though it be called night in one sense, in regard of that perfect glorious perpetual day in heaven,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"Therefore, Brethren, we are Debtors, not to the Flesh, to Live after the Flesh,"
Rom. viii. 12.--"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh," &c. All things in Christianity have a near and strait conjunction. It is so entire and absolute a piece, that if one link be loosed all the chain falls to the ground, and if one be well fastened upon the heart it brings all alongst with it. Some speak of all truths, even in nature, that they are knit so together that any truth may be concluded out of every truth, at least by a long circuit of deduction
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Concerning Christian Liberty
CHRISTIAN faith has appeared to many an easy thing; nay, not a few even reckon it among the social virtues, as it were; and this they do, because they have not made proof of it experimentally, and have never tasted of what efficacy it is. For it is not possible for any man to write well about it, or to understand well what is rightly written, who has not at some time tasted of its spirit, under the pressure of tribulation. While he who has tasted of it, even to a very small extent, can never write,
Martin Luther—First Principles of the Reformation

St. Augustine (Ad 354-430)
PART I The church in the north of Africa has hardly been mentioned since the time of St. Cyprian (Chapter VIII). But we must now look towards it again, since in the days of St. Chrysostom it produced a man who was perhaps the greatest of all the old Christian fathers--St. Augustine. Augustine was born at Thagaste, a city of Numidia, in the year 354. His mother, Monica, was a pious Christian, but his father, Patricius, was a heathen, and a man of no very good character. Monica was resolved to bring
J. C. Roberston—Sketches of Church History, from AD 33 to the Reformation

How Christ is to be Made Use Of, in Reference to the Killing and Crucifying of the Old Man.
Having thus shortly pointed out some things in general, serving to the clearing and opening up the way of our use-making of Christ for sanctification, we come now more particularly to the clearing up of this business. In sanctification we must consider, first, The renewing and changing of our nature and frame; and, next, The washing and purging away of our daily contracted spots. The first of these is commonly divided into two parts, viz. 1st, The mortification, killing, and crucifying of the
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

How to Use the Present Life, and the Comforts of It.
The divisions of this chapter are,--I. The necessity and usefulness of this doctrine. Extremes to be avoided, if we would rightly use the present life and its comforts, sec. 1, 2. II. One of these extremes, viz, the intemperance of the flesh, to be carefully avoided. Four methods of doing so described in order, sec. 3-6. 1. BY such rudiments we are at the same time well instructed by Scripture in the proper use of earthly blessings, a subject which, in forming a scheme of life, is by no mean to be
Archpriest John Iliytch Sergieff—On the Christian Life

The Holy Spirit Forming Christ Within Us.
It is a wonderful and deeply significant prayer that Paul offers in Eph. iii. 16-19 for the believers in Ephesus and for all believers who read the Epistle. Paul writes, "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inward man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and
R. A. Torrey—The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit

Concerning Christian Liberty
Christian faith has appeared to many an easy thing; nay, not a few even reckon it among the social virtues, as it were; and this they do because they have not made proof of it experimentally, and have never tasted of what efficacy it is. For it is not possible for any man to write well about it, or to understand well what is rightly written, who has not at some time tasted of its spirit, under the pressure of tribulation; while he who has tasted of it, even to a very small extent, can never write,
Martin Luther—Concerning Christian Liberty

Letter Lvii to the Duke and Duchess of Lorraine
To the Duke and Duchess of Lorraine [87] He thanks them for having hitherto remitted customs [or tolls, but asks that they will see that their princely liberality is not interfered with by the efforts of their servants. To the Duke and Duchess of Lorraine, Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, sends greeting, and prays that they may so lovingly and purely rejoice in each other's affection that the love of Christ alone maybe supreme in them both. Ever since the needs of our Order obliged me to send for necessaries
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Links
Romans 13:7 NIV
Romans 13:7 NLT
Romans 13:7 ESV
Romans 13:7 NASB
Romans 13:7 KJV

Romans 13:7 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Romans 13:6
Top of Page
Top of Page