Romans 13:1

Romans 13:1-7. Christian practice: civil duties: authority and obedience

1. Let every soul be subject, &c. A new subject is here treated Civil Obedience. It is not isolated, however, from the previous context, in which (from Romans 12:19) subjectionto individuals in private life was considered. And it passes in turn into a different but kindred context again, in Romans 13:8 below. We offer a few general remarks on the subject.

1. In this passage it is stated, as a primary truth of human society, that civil authority is, as such, a Divine institution. Whatever may be the details of error or of wrong in its exercise, it is nevertheless, even at its worst, so vastly better than anarchy, that it forms a main instrument and ordinance of the will of God.