Letter to the Romans 13

¹ You must all obey the governing authorities. Since all government comes from God, the civil authorities were appointed by God,

² and so anyone who resists authority is rebelling against God’s decision, and such an act is bound to be punished.

³ Good behaviour is not afraid of magistrates; only criminals have anything to fear. If you want to live without being afraid of authority, you must live honestly and authority may even honour you.

⁴ The state is there to serve God for your benefit. If you break the law, however, you may well have fear: the bearing of the sword has its significance. The authorities are there to serve God: they carry out God’s revenge by punishing wrongdoers.

⁵ You must obey, therefore, not only because you are afraid of being punished, but also for conscience’ sake.

⁶ This is also the reason why you must pay taxes, since all government officials are God’s officers. They serve God by collecting taxes.

⁷ Pay every government official what he has a right to ask – whether it be direct tax or indirect, fear or honour.

⁸ Avoid getting into debt, except the debt of mutual love. If you love your fellow men you have carried out your obligations.

⁹ All the commandments: You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,[*a] and so on, are summed up in this single command: You must love your neighbour as yourself[*b]

¹⁰ Love is the one thing that cannot hurt your neighbour; that is why it is the answer to every one of the commandments.

¹¹ Besides, you know ‘the time’ has come: you must wake up now: our salvation is even nearer than it was when we were converted.

¹² The night is almost over, it will be daylight soon – let us give up all the things we prefer to do under cover of the dark; let us arm ourselves and appear in the light.

¹³ Let us live decently as people do in the daytime: no drunken orgies, no promiscuity or licentiousness, and no wrangling or jealousy.

¹⁴ Let your armour be the Lord Jesus Christ; forget about satisfying your bodies with all their cravings.