Rom 13 | BSB | STEP | Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except [that which is from] God. [The authorities] that exist have been appointed by God.

‏ Romans 13

Submission to Authorities

1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except [that which is from] God. [The authorities] that exist have been appointed by God. 2 Consequently, the [one who] resists authority is opposing what God 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 bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? [Then] do what [is] right, and you will have his approval. 4 For he is God’s servant 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 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] .

Love Fulfills the Law

8 Be indebted to no one, except to one another [in] love, for he who loves [his] neighbor has fulfilled [the] Law. 9 The [commandments] “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” ^{▼▼Exodus 20:13-17; Deuteronomy 5:17-21} and any other commandments, are summed up in this [one] decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ^{▼▼Leviticus 19:18} 10 Love does no wrong to [its] neighbor. Therefore love [is] [the] fulfillment of [the] Law.

Put On Christ

11 And [do] this, understanding the occasion. [The] hour has come for you to wake up from [your] slumber, for our salvation [is] nearer now than when we {first} believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in [the] daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for [the] desires of the flesh.