A Christian’s Duties to the State

13 Let everyone submit to the governing authorities,(A) since there is no authority except from God,(B) and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror(C) to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger(D) that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience.(E) And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks.[a] Pay your obligations(F) to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes,(G) tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect,(H) and honor to those you owe honor.

Love, Our Primary Duty

Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.(I) The commandments, Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal;[b] do not covet;[c](J) and any other commandment, are summed up by this commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself.[d](K) 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law.

Put On Christ

11 Besides this, since you know the time, it is already the hour(L) for you[e] to wake up from sleep,(M) because now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.(N) 12 The night is nearly over, and the day is near;(O) so let us discard the deeds of darkness(P) and put on the armor of light.(Q) 13 Let us walk with decency,(R) as in the daytime: not in carousing and drunkenness;(S) not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,(T) and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.(U)

Footnotes

  1. 13:6 Lit to this very thing
  2. 13:9 Other mss add do not bear false witness
  3. 13:9 Ex 20:13–17; Dt 5:17–21
  4. 13:9 Lv 19:18
  5. 13:11 Other mss read for us

順服掌權者

13 在上有權柄的,人人要順服,因為沒有權柄不是來自 神的。掌權的都是 神所立的。 所以,抗拒掌權的就是抗拒 神所立的;抗拒的人必自招審判。 作官的原不是要使行善的懼怕,而是要使作惡的懼怕。你願意不懼怕掌權的嗎?只要行善,你就可得他的稱讚; 因為他是 神的用人,是與你有益的。你若作惡,就該懼怕,因為他不是徒然佩劍;他是 神的用人,為 神的憤怒,報應作惡的。 所以,你們必須順服,不但是因 神的憤怒,也是因着良心。 你們納糧也為這個緣故,因他們是 神的僕役,專管這事。 凡人所當得的,就給他。當得糧的,給他納糧;當得稅的,給他上稅;當懼怕的,懼怕他;當恭敬的,恭敬他。

愛成全律法

你們除了彼此相愛,對任何人都不可虧欠甚麼,因為那愛人的就成全了律法。 那不可姦淫,不可殺人,不可偷盜,不可貪婪,或別的誡命,都包括在「愛鄰[a]如己」這一句話之內了。 10 愛是不對鄰人作惡,所以愛就成全了律法。

白晝將近

11 還有,你們要知道,現在正是該從睡夢中醒來的時候了;因為我們得救,現在比初信的時候更近了。 12 黑夜已深,白晝將近。所以我們該除去暗昧的行為,帶上光明的兵器。 13 行事為人要端正,好像在白晝行走。不可荒宴醉酒;不可好色淫蕩;不可紛爭嫉妒。 14 總要披戴主耶穌基督,不要只顧滿足肉體,去放縱私慾。

Footnotes

  1. 13.9 「鄰」也可譯作「人」。

Submission to Governing Authorities

13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities,(A) for there is no authority except that which God has established.(B) The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted,(C) and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.(D) For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.(E) Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.(F)

This is also why you pay taxes,(G) for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes;(H) if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Love Fulfills the Law

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.(I) The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”[a](J) and whatever other command there may be, are summed up(K) in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b](L) 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.(M)

The Day Is Near

11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come(N) for you to wake up from your slumber,(O) because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.(P) So let us put aside the deeds of darkness(Q) and put on the armor(R) of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness,(S) not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.(T) 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,(U) and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.[c](V)

Footnotes

  1. Romans 13:9 Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deut. 5:17-19,21
  2. Romans 13:9 Lev. 19:18
  3. Romans 13:14 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.