Chapter Thirteen
Rom. 13:1. Let every soul be subject to the higher authorities;
Having offered his listeners sufficient moral instruction and having taught them to be benevolent even toward enemies, he presents the current exhortation as well, teaching every soul, whether one be a priest, a monk, or an apostle, to submit to the authorities; for this submission does not undermine piety. And the apostle presents this exhortation with the purpose of showing that the Gospel teaches not sedition or disobedience to authority, but a noble way of thinking and obedience.
Rom. 13:1. For there is no power that is not from God; and the existing powers are established by God.
What are you saying? Is every ruler appointed by God? – That is not what I am saying, – he replies. My discourse now is not about each individual ruler, but about rulership itself. That there are authorities, that some rule and others are subject, and that there is no confusion between the higher and the lower – this I call a work of the wisdom of God. For he did not say: there is no ruler, but "there is no authority except from God." Therefore, I say, he reasons about the matter itself, about authority. Similarly, when the wise man says, "a prudent wife is from the Lord" (Prov. 19:14), he does not mean that God unites everyone who enters into marriage, but that marriage was established by God. So then, all authorities, whichever you may consider – whether of a father over a son, or of a husband over a wife, or all the rest, even those that exist among animals, for example among bees, cranes, and fish – all were established by God.
Rom. 13:2. Therefore he who resists the authority resists the ordinance of God. And those who resist will bring judgment upon themselves.
Lest the believers should say: you demean us by subjecting to rulers those who are to receive the Heavenly Kingdom, he shows that he who obeys the authorities obeys God, or, what is far more fearful, he who disobeys the authorities resists God Who established the authorities, and he who resists will be punished both by God and by men. The latter he suggested by saying: "those who resist will bring judgment upon themselves."
Rom. 13:3. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do good, and you will have praise from it.
What are you afraid of and why do you tremble? Does the ruler rebuke you if you do good? Is he fearsome to you if you are zealous for virtue? On the contrary, if you do good, the ruler is appointed to praise you. He is so far from instilling fear in you that he even praises you.
Rom. 13:4. For the ruler is God's servant, to you for good.
He, it says, assists the will of God. For example: God counsels you to be chaste, and the ruler prescribes the same through laws. God exhorts you not to be covetous and a thief, and the ruler is appointed as judge over the same. Consequently, he is our helper in good works, if we submit ourselves to him.
Rom. 13:4. If you do evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain.
So then, it is not the ruler who produces fear in us, but our own vices, on account of which the ruler's sword also exists, that is, the authority to punish. The ruler, he says, does not gird himself with the sword in vain, but in order to punish the wicked.
Rom. 13:4. He is God's servant, an avenger for punishment upon the one who does evil.
When a ruler praises virtue, he fulfills the will of God; and when he puts the sword to use, he is a servant of God, defending virtue and driving away vice. Many do good not so much out of the fear of God as out of fear of rulers. Therefore, when a ruler defends virtue and punishes vice, he is a servant of God.
Rom. 13:5. Submit, therefore, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake.
It is necessary for you, he says, to obey not only so that you do not experience the wrath both of God and of the ruler, as one who is insubordinate, and do not undergo unbearable punishment, but also so that you do not prove to be unconscionable and ungrateful to your benefactor. The authorities provide great benefits to states. Through them our well-being is maintained, and if they did not exist, everything would have long since been overthrown because the strongest would have swallowed up the weakest. Therefore, let your own conscience, he says, persuade you to honor those who provide you with so many good things.
Rom. 13:6. For this reason you also pay taxes,
You yourself testify that the ruler benefits you, because you give him compensation, obviously, as one who provides for you. We would not have been paying taxes from the beginning if we did not know that we receive benefit from the authorities, those who hold office tirelessly keeping watch on our behalf, while we are free from such cares.
Rom. 13:6. For they are God's ministers, constantly occupied with this very thing.
Therefore it is also pleasing to God that we pay taxes to His ministers. God desires that in civil society there be peace, that people live virtuously, and that vice be defeated; and it is precisely in this that rulers serve the will of God, zealously caring for the common tranquility, applying tireless diligence so that we may lead our lives in peace and quiet. If someone misuses authority, this says nothing against the benefit of authority itself.
Rom. 13:7. Give therefore to all their due: to whom tribute is due, tribute; to whom custom, custom; to whom fear, fear; to whom honor, honor.
Gratitude toward rulers is, he says, your inescapable debt. Render therefore what is due to everyone to whom various authorities have been entrusted: to whom tribute is due, that is, the poll tax, render tribute; and to whom custom is due, that is, payment for land, render custom. But do not give money alone. Render also fear, that is, respect, reverence, and distinguished honor. Therefore he adds: "to whom honor, honor." Fear is of two kinds. One fear is that which criminals feel — fear proceeding from a bad conscience: this fear the apostle already rejected earlier. The other fear is that which those who love have toward the beloved, that is, the highest degree of respect, as it is said: "there is no want to them that fear Him" (Ps. 34:9) and: "the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever" (Ps. 19:9). Here reverence is meant.
Rom. 13:8. Do not owe anyone anything, except mutual love.
Pay your other debts, he says. But love—never wish to pay it off; rather, always keep it as a permanent debt. If you always show your neighbor the disposition of one who loves, do not imagine that therefore tomorrow you may neglect him; on the contrary, always consider that the debt of loving your neighbor rests upon you.