Romans 13:8

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 13:8

‘Owe no man anything, except to love one another, for he who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law.’ Having spoken of the Christian’s debt to the state Paul now turns to the question of the Christian’s debt to all men. ‘Owe no man anything’ is not saying that we should not enter into debt on a considered basis, but rather that we should pay our dues. We are not to be dilatory in fulfilling our obligations. But he then points out that there is one debt which we are to owe and which is... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 13:8-10

The Christian’s Responsibility To Love (13:8-10). Paul now turns his attention from the Christian’s duty to the authorities, to the Christian’s duty towards the outer world. Jesus Himself stated that the two greatest commandments in the Law (Matthew 22:35-40) were to love God with heart, soul, mind and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5) and to love our neighbours as ourselves (Leviticus 19:18), and in the context of Leviticus the latter included loving those who came to live among us (Leviticus... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 13:8-10

Romans 13:8-2 Samuel : . The All-comprising Law. Romans 13:8 . Taxes are debts, and the Christian must “ owe nothing to anybody”— except the infinite “ debt of love!” “ Whoso loves his neighbour, has fulfilled law” ( mg.) , meeting the supreme and comprehensive obligation; see Matthew 22:39 f. Romans 13:9 f. proves this in detail: “ every command is summed up in” the well-known law of Jesus. “ Love is law’ s fulfilment” : the stress lies on fulfilment; nothing is so dutiful as love. read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Romans 13:8

Having treated of special duties belonging to superiors, he now comes to that which is more general, and belongs to all. Owe no man any thing; neither your superiors, nor your equals and inferiors; render and pay to every person what is due to him, let his rank and quality be what it will. But to love one another: q.d. Only there is one debt that yon can never fully discharge; that you must be ever paying, yet ever owing; and that is love. For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law: this... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Romans 13:7-10

CRITICAL NOTESRomans 13:8.—Augustine says that “love is a debt which is multiplied by paying.” Milton says, “By owing owes not, but still pays, at once indebted and discharged.” The debt of love can never be fully discharged.Romans 13:9.—Love to God and love to man said by the Jews to be the great sum or heads of the law.MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.—Romans 13:7-10Christian citizenship and Christian brotherhood.—Compare the text with the life and precepts of Jesus. They are entire harmony.... read more

C.I. Scofield

Scofield's Reference Notes - Romans 13:8

Owe See Leviticus 19:13; Proverbs 22:7. read more

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - Romans 13:1-14

Shall we turn in our Bibles to Romans 13 .As Christians, what should be our attitude towards government? Paul declares,Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: and the powers that be are ordained of God ( Romans 13:1 ).The Bible does not allow for civil disobedience. For we are commanded by the scriptures to be in obedience to those governing bodies that are over us. Paul wrote this at the time in which Nero was ruling in Rome. And we oftentimes, say,... read more

Joseph Sutcliffe

Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments - Romans 13:1-14

Romans 13:1 . Let every soul be subject to the higher powers, of magistrates, governors, proconsuls, kings, and emperors. The christian finds them in power; they allow us to lock our doors at night, and their courts are open for redress of wrongs. These are the shields of heaven to which, under God, we owe our safety from anarchy. We are therefore bound to pray for kings; for in the splendour of the throne we have glory and defence, and by consequence, should cheerfully pay all just demands... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - Romans 13:8

Romans 13:8Owe no man anything. Owe no man anythingThis precept may signify either to leave not our debts unpaid, or never get into debt. It may be looked to as a repetition of “Render unto all their dues” (debitum, debt). Be in no man’s books. If he be an individual with whom you are dealing, pay when you buy. Or if it be the government, pay the tax when it becomes due. The injunction in this latter or more rigorous meaning of it is far from being generally adhered to. Perhaps it may not at... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Romans 13:8

8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. Ver. 8. Owe no man, &c. ] The Persians reckoned these two for very great sins: 1. To be in debt. 2. To tell a lie; the latter being often the fruit of the former. (Xenophon, Gell. xii. 1.) By the 12 tables of Rome, he that owed much, and could not pay, was to be cut in pieces, and every creditor was to have a piece of him according to the debt. (Acts and Mon.) When Archbishop Cranmer... read more

Group of Brands