Romans 13

1 Everyone [every soul] must submit [obey, put under authority] himself to the governing [higher] authorities, for there is no [absolutely none] authority [power or freedom to act] except that which is from [under] God [the one true deity]. The authorities [powers] that exist [have being] have been appointed [assigned or ordained] by [under] God. word study 2 Consequently [therefore, as a result], whoever resists [opposes, stands against] authority [power, freedom to act] is opposing [resisting, fighting against] what God [the one true deity] has set [established, ordained] in place, and those who do so [who resist, who oppose] will bring [receive, incur] judgment [condemnation, punishment] on themselves [to themselves, upon their own heads]. word study 3 For rulers [those in authority, leaders] are not a terror [source of fear, intimidation] to good [morally upright, righteous] conduct [behavior, actions], but to bad [evil, wicked]. Do you want to be unafraid [without fear, confident] of the one in authority [power, leadership]? Then do what is right [just, morally good], and you will have his approval [praise, commendation]. word study 4 For he is God’s servant [minister, attendant] for your good [benefit, well-being]. But if you do [commit, practice] wrong [evil, harm], be afraid [fear, reverence], for he does not carry [bear, wield] the sword [instrument of justice] in vain [without purpose, to no effect]. He is God’s servant [agent, minister], an agent [avenger, executor] of retribution [punishment, vengeance] to the wrongdoer [one who does evil, offender]. word study 5 Therefore [because of this reason, in consequence] it is necessary [a need or requirement] to submit [to obey, put under authority] to authority [those in power, officials], not only [merely, alone] to avoid punishment [wrath], but also [in addition] as a matter of conscience [moral awareness, guiding our actions] [for conscience’ sake, because of the conscience]. word study 6 This is also why [for this cause] you pay taxes [tribute, a compulsory payment]. For the authorities [ministers, public servants] are God’s servants, who devote [continually attending to, persevering in] themselves to their work [this very thing, their appointed task]. word study 7 Pay [render, give back] everyone what you owe [are indebted to] him: taxes [tribute, revenue] to whom taxes [custom, dues] are due, revenue [taxes, customs] to whom revenue [fees, payments] is due, respect [fear, honor] to whom respect [honor, esteem] is due, honor [esteem, dignity] to whom honor [glory, praise] is due. word study 8 Be indebted [owe nothing] to no one, except to one another [each other, mutually] in love [agape, unconditional affection]. For he who loves [shows esteem and goodwill towards] his neighbor [fellow man, those around him] has fulfilled [completed, satisfied] the law [God’s commandments, divine principles]. word study 9 The commandments [summarized as divine instructions] “Do not commit adultery [be unfaithful in marriage, engage in extramarital relations],” “Do not murder [take someone’s life, kill intentionally],” “Do not steal [take something without permission, plunder],” “Do not covet [desire something that belongs to someone else, lust after],” and any other commandments [divine laws, moral guidelines], are summed up [gathered together, comprehended] in this one decree [instruction, command]: “Love [show esteem and goodwill towards, have affection for] your neighbor [fellow human, person near you] as yourself [with the same care and concern you have for your own well-being].” word study 10 Love [unconditional, divine affection] does no wrong [harm, evil] to its neighbor [fellow believer, those near]. Therefore [as a consequence, then] love [agape, selfless devotion] is the fulfillment [completion, perfection] of the law [God’s commandments, divine principles]. word study 11 And do this, understanding [knowing, perceiving] the occasion [season, time]. The hour [specific time, opportune moment] has come for you to wake up [arise, be aroused] from your slumber [sleep, spiritual lethargy], for our salvation [rescue, deliverance] is nearer [closer, more imminent] now than when we first believed [trusted, had faith]. word study 12 The night is nearly over [far spent]; the day [at hand, drawing near] has drawn near [come close, approached]. So let us lay aside [cast off, put away] the deeds [works, acts] of darkness [spiritual gloom, evil] and put on [clothe ourselves with, wear] the armor [weapons, protection] of light [God’s truth, spiritual illumination]. word study 13 Let us behave decently [with right behaviour, honestly], as in the daytime [in the light, openly], not in carousing [wild parties, reveling] and drunkenness [intoxication, excess], not in sexual immorality [unchastity, wantonness] and debauchery [licentiousness, excess], not in dissension [quarreling, strife] and jealousy [envy, zeal]. word study 14 Instead [on the contrary, but], clothe [put on, dress in] yourselves with the Lord [master] Jesus [God is salvation] Christ [the anointed one], and make [do, provide] no [not] provision [planning ahead] for the desires [strong longings] of the flesh [the physical body, human nature]. word study