Romans 13:3-5
1599 Geneva Bible
3 [a]For Magistrates are not to be feared for good works, but for evil. [b]Wilt thou then be without fear of the power? do well: so shalt thou have praise of the same.
4 For he is the minister of God for thy wealth: [c]but if thou do evil, fear: for he beareth not the sword for nought: for he is the minister of God to [d]take vengeance on him that doeth evil.
5 [e]Wherefore ye must be subject, not because of wrath only, but [f]also for conscience sake.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Romans 13:3 The third argument taken from the end wherefore they were made, which is most profitable: for that God by this means preserveth the good and bridleth the wicked: by which words the Magistrates themselves are put in mind of that duty which they owe to their subjects.
- Romans 13:3 An excellent way to bear this yoke, not only without grief, but also with great profit.
- Romans 13:4 God hath armed the Magistrate even with a revenging sword.
- Romans 13:4 By whom God revengeth the wicked.
- Romans 13:5 The conclusion: We must obey the magistrate, not only for fear of punishment, but much more because that (although the Magistrate have no power over the conscience of man, yet seeing he is God’s minister) he cannot be resisteth by any good conscience.
- Romans 13:5 So far as lawfully we may: for if unlawful things be commanded us, we must answer as Peter teacheth us, It is better to obey God than men.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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