romans-13:8

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 13:1-14

The Christian’s Duty to the State and to his NeighbourSt. Paul now passes to the duties of Christians to the State. In Romans 12:19 he had condemned revenge; but he asserts here that the State may rightly punish, as God’s agent in temporal affairs. He enforces obedience to government, i.e. to social order, not to any special form of government. He gives no directions as to what is to be done when there is a conflict of civil authority (Romans 13:1-7). Our behaviour to men in general is to be... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Romans 13:8

(8) Owe no man anything.—The word for “owe” in this verse corresponds to that for “dues” in the last. The transition of the thought is something of this kind. When you have paid all your other debts, taxes, and customs, and reverence, and whatever else you may owe, there will still be one debt unpaid—the universal debt of love. Love must still remain the root and spring of all your actions. No other law is needed besides.Another.—Literally, the other—that is to say, his neighbour, the person... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Romans 13:1-14

Romans 13:0 Mr. Seebohm, in The Oxford Reformers, tells us that when Dean Colet was expounding this chapter, he used to 'take down his Suetonius in order to ascertain the state of society at Rome and the special circumstances which made it needful for St. Paul so strongly to urge Roman Christians to be obedient to the higher powers and to pay tribute also'. Romans 13:1 Meseemeth (if I may speake boldly) that it argueth a great self-love and presumption for a man to esteeme his opinions so far,... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Romans 13:1-10

Chapter 27CHRISTIAN DUTY; IN CIVIL LIFE AND OTHERWISE:Romans 13:1-10A NEW topic now emerges, distinct, yet in close and natural connection. We have been listening to precepts for personal and social life, all rooted in that inmost characteristic of Christian morals, self-surrender, self-submission to God. Loyalty to others in the Lord has been the theme. In the circles of home, of friendship, of the Church; in the open field of intercourse with men in general, whose personal enmity or religious... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Romans 13:1-14

CHAPTER 13 1. Obedience to Authorities. (Romans 13:1-7 .) 2. Love the Fulfilling of the Law. (Romans 13:8-10 .) 3. The Day is at Hand. (Romans 13:11-14 .) Romans 13:1-7 The children of God are strangers and pilgrims in the world. Our citizenship is in heaven. But what is the Christian to do as living under different forms of government? The Christian is to be in subjection to these, for the powers that exist are ordained by Him. Resisting these powers would mean resistance to God who has... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Romans 13:8

13:8 {9} Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: {10} for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the {g} law.(9) He shows how very few judgments need to be executed, that is, if we so order our life as no man may justly require anything from us, besides only that which we owe one to another, by the perpetual law of charity.(10) He commends charity as a concise statement of the whole law.(g) Has not only done one commandment, but performed generally that which the law commands. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 13:1-14

Subjection to Proper Authority This chapter is as clear as can be in its teaching: nothing but a spirit of rebellion could find difficulty with it - except possibly in the matter of how far this subjection to government is to extend. Plainly, if matters are simply governmental, even though their requirements are in our estimation unjust and discriminatory, detrimental to our personal comfort or welfare, the honorable Christian attitude is submission. Anything else is resistance of God's... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Romans 13:1-14

PRACTICAL APPLICATION In chapter 6 Paul revealed the secret of experimental sanctification as the yielding of one’s self unto God, in which case sin would not have dominion over one In chapter 8 he showed the divine process of sanctification as the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer. Having finished the doctrinal part of his epistle, he returns to what he then said (chap. 6), and exhorts us to yield because of the “mercies of God” of which he had been speaking throughout (Romans 12:1-2... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Romans 13:1-14

Ideal Society Romans 13:0 This is rough reading for the nineteenth century. It was not written in this century, or under the circumstances which constitute the aspect and responsibility of this age. It may be none the less applicable. It is the glory of the Bible that it contains principles which know nothing about time or space as constituting limit. On the other hand, we must read the Bible in the light of current necessity, established history, enlightened reason, and sensitive and active... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Romans 13:1-10

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. (2) Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. (3) For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: (4) For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do... read more