The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Romans 13
1 Let every soul be in subjection to the
higher authorities, for there is no
authority except from God, and those who exist
are ordained by God.
2 Therefore he who resists the authority with
stands the ordinance of God; and those who
with stand will receive to themselves judgment.
3 For rulers are not a terror to the good
work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have
no fear of the authority? Do that which
is good, and you will have praise from the
authority,
4 for he is a servant of God to you for
good. But if you do that which is evil, be
afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in
vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger
for wrath to him who does evil.
5 Therefore you need to be in subjection,
not only because of the wrath, but also for
conscience’ sake.
6 For this reason you also pay taxes, for
they are servants of God’s service,
continually doing this very thing.
7 Therefore give everyone what youowe:
if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs,
then customs; if respect, then respect; if
honor, then honor.
8 Owe no one anything, except to love
one another; for he who loves his neighbor
has fulfilled the law.
9 For the commandments, “You shall
not commit adultery,” “You shall not
murder,” “You shall not steal,”† “You shall not
covet,” * and whatever other commandments
there are, are all summed up in
this saying, namely, “You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.”*
10 Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love
therefore is the fulfillment of the law.
11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is
already time for you to awaken out of
sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us
than when we first believed.
12 The night is far gone, and the day is
near. Let’s therefore throw off the deeds
of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of
light.
13 Let’s walk properly, as in the day; not
in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual
promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in
strife and jealousy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
make no provision for the flesh, for its
lusts.
15 Yet if because of food your brother is
grieved, you walk no longer in love. Don’t
destroy with your food him for whom
Christ died.
16 Then don’t let your good be slandered,
17 for God’s Kingdom is not eating and
drinking, but righteousness, peace, andjoy
in the Holy Spirit.
18 For he who serves Christ in these
things is acceptable to God and approved
by men.
19 So then, let’s follow after things which
make for peace, and things by which we
may build one another up.
20 Don’t overthrow God’s work for food’s
sake. All things indeed are clean, however
it is evil for that man who creates a
stumbling block by eating.
21 It is good to not eat meat, drink wine,
nor do anything by which your brother
stumbles, is offended, or is made weak.
22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself
before God. Happy is he who doesn’t judge
himself in that which he approves.
23 But he who doubts is condemned if he
eats, because it isn’t of faith; and whatever
is not of faith is sin.
24 Now to him who is able to establish
you according to my Good News and the
preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the
revelation of the mystery which has been
kept secret through long ages,
25 but now is revealed, and by the
Scriptures of the prophets, according to the
commandment of the eternal God, is made
known for obedience of faith to all the
nations;
26 to the only wise God, through Jesus
Christ, to whom be the glory forever!
Amen.†