Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Summarized Bible Commentary

Romans 13:1-14

Contents: Believer's attitude toward civil government. Law of love toward neighbors.

Characters: God, Jesus, Paul.

Conclusion: Obedience to civil magistrates is one of the laws of Christ whose religion makes people good subjects. Love to our fellow-men is a debt that must always be in the paying, yet always owing, for love is inclusive of all duties and is the image of Christ upon the soul.

Key Word: Subjection, Romans 13:1, and love, Romans 13:8.

Strong Verses: Romans 13:1; Romans 13:7; Romans 13:8; Romans 13:10; Romans 13:14.

Striking Facts: Romans 13:14. Victory over the flesh may be always ours through personal dealings with Christ. To «put on Christ» is not imitation of Christ, but appropriation of Him. «Christ liveth in me» is the victory and if He has the right of way in us, we will make no provisions for satisfying the flesh.

Continues after advertising

See also Romans 13:1-14 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    ROMANS 13:1 pa/sa yuch. evxousi,aij u`perecou,saij u`potasse,sqw {A} Adopting a less formal style, perhaps in order to avoid the Hebraic idiom involved in pa/sa yuch,, several Western witnesses (î46...

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    CHAPTER XIII. _Subjection to civil governors inculcated, from the consideration_ _that civil government is according to the ordinance of God; and_ _that those who resist the lawfully constituted au...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    LET EVERY SOUL - Every person. In the seven first verses of this chapter, the apostle discusses the subject of the duty which Christians owe to civil government; a subject which is extremely important...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 13 _ 1. Obedience to Authorities. (Romans 13:1 .)_ 2. Love the Fulfilling of the Law. (Romans 13:8 .) 3. The Day is at Hand. (Romans 13:11 .)...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    ORDER AND LOYALTY. On the turbulence of Roman Jews, see Introd. § 3. Romans 13:1 f. Let every soul be subordinate to superior authorities, a general maxim, with two reasons given: that authority is of...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE CHRISTIAN AND THE STATE (Romans 13:1-7)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    Let everyone render due obedience to those who occupy positions of outstanding authority, for there is no authority which is not allotted its place by God, for the authorities which exist have been se...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    SOUL. App-110. BE SUBJECT. See Romans 8:7. UNTO. to. HIGHER. supreme. Greek. _huperecho._ Here, Philippians 1:2; Philippians 1:3;...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    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 previo...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    F. 12–15:13. THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL SEEN IN ITS EFFECT UPON BOTH THE COMMON AND THE INDIVIDUAL LIFE OF CHRISTIANS. In this section S. Paul deals with the consequences of the principles he has worked...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΠΑ͂ΣΑ ΨΥΧῊ. Cf. Romans 2:9 (Revelation 16:3, of fish); Acts 2:43; Acts 3:23. L. & S. give |[258] from Greek class. poetry. Epictet. fr. 33 ψυχαὶ = slaves....

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    1–7. Relation to civil authorities. There is no introduction or formula of connexion. This is still part of the new σωφροσύνη. It is to be observed that the reasons for civil obedience are fully and c...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    Romans 13:1-10. The true relation to the civil power and the outside world....

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    0 развитии темы в этой части послания _см._ Robert Η. Stein, "The Argument of Romans 15:1-7" NovT 31 (1989): 325-43; Moo, ER.). ΠΆΣΑ ΨΥΧΉ (G3956; G5590) всякая душа; здесь: каждый человек, в особенно...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 1911 DUTY TO CIVIL GOVERNORS Romans 13:1. Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore res...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    _ROMANS 13:1_. This epistle was written about the fourth year of the emperor Nero, about six years after Claudius had expelled the Jews from Rome. It is not improbable, that, as Suetonius relates in t...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _TEXT_ Romans 13:1-7. Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God. Romans 13:2 Therefore he that resisteth the po...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. In such a state of things as existed at Rome when the apostle wrote, the...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    __ The Conduct of the Saints 14 The conduct of the saints in any given economy is based on God's dispensation. If He dispenses law, He requires conduct in accord with law. Mercy calls for a higher s...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    13:1 subject (h-5) Or 'let every soul subject itself.' it is reflexive; see Note e, Hebrews 1:3 . 'Sets himself in opposition,' ver. 2, is in direct contrast....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    OF GOD] i.e. having its source in God....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    PARAPHRASE. '(1) Obey civil rulers, for they are divinely ordained, (2) and therefore God will punish disobedience. (3, 4) They do God's work, rewarding the good and punishing the evil. (5) Therefore...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    PAUL’S LETTER TO THE *ROMANS ROMANS _HILDA BRIGHT AND KEITH SIMONS_ CHAPTER 13 A CHRISTIAN’S DUTY TO THE STATE 13:1-7 V1 Everyone ought to obey their rulers. No government has authority unless G...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    EVERY SOUL. — A Hebraism for “every person,” though at the same time here, as in Romans 2:9, there is a slight stress upon the fact that man is a conscious and intelligent being, capable of moral rela...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    XIII. (1-7) SUBJECT UNTO THE HIGHER POWERS. — Looking impartially at the passage which follows, it would seem at first sight — and perhaps not only at first sight — that the Apostle distinctly preach...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 27 CHRISTIAN DUTY; IN CIVIL LIFE AND OTHERWISE: Romans 13:1 A NEW topic now emerges, distinct, yet in close and natural connection. We have been listening to precepts for personal and social...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    πᾶσα ψυχὴ is a Hebraism; _cf._ Acts 2:43; Acts 3:23, and chap. Romans 2:9. For ἐξουσίαις _cf._ Luke 12:11 : it is exactly like “authorities” in English abstract for co

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    RENDERING “TO ALL THEIR DUES” Romans 13:1 Human government, like the existence of the family relationship, is a divine institution. It is part of the order of the world and rooted in the original con...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The apostle now showed what attitude the believer will take toward the world. The first thing dealt with is submission to authority. These powers are of God. The believer's submission to the will of G...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Let (1) every (a) soul be subject unto the higher (2) powers. (3) For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are (b) ordained of God. (1) Now he distinctly shows what subjects owe to their...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Let every soul, or every one, be subject, &c.[1] The Jews were apt to think themselves not subject to temporal princes, as to taxes, &c. and lest Christians should misconstrue their Christian liberty,...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    TWENTY-SIXTH PASSAGE (13:1-10). THE LIFE OF THE BELIEVER AS A MEMBER OF THE STATE. Meyer and many others find no connection whatever between the subject treated in this chapter and that of the foregoi...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    “ _Let every soul submit itself unto the higher powers; for there is no power but of God_, _and the powers that be are ordained of God._ ” Why does the apostle say: _every soul_, instead of every man,...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. (2) Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God:...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS Here are various Directions concerning Christian Graces, And the Chapter concludes with an affecting call of the Apostle from the shortness of Life, to be always clothed with Christ....

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The circumstances under which the epistle to the Romans was written gave occasion to the most thorough and comprehensive unfolding, not of the church, but of Christianity. No apostle had ever yet visi...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _THE CHRISTIAN CITIZEN_ ‘Let every soul be subject unto the higher power. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.’ Romans 13:1 St. Paul is enforcing obedience to a...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    1._Let every soul, _(399) _etc. _Inasmuch as he so carefully handles this subject in connection with what forms the Christian life, it appears that he was constrained to do so by some great necessity...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Among themselves Christians are exhorted not to seek the high things of this world, but to walk as brethren with those of low degree: a precept too much forgotten in the assembly of God to her loss. I...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    LET EVERY SOUL BE SUBJECT UNTO THE HIGHER POWERS,.... The apostle having finished his exhortations to this church, in relation to the several duties incumbent upon both officers and private Christians...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Ver. 1. _Let every soul be subject_] In things lawful only; for else we mus...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    From exhorting the believers at Rome to a life of entire devotedness to God, and the various duties of brotherly kindness, the apostle now proceeds to inculcate upon them that subjection and obedience...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    THE HIGHER POWERS; the civil government. ARE ORDAINED OF GOD; civil government is an ordinance of God, and magistrates are to be obeyed as his ministers, clothed with authority from him....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    LET EVERY SOUL BE SUBJECT UNTO THE HIGHER POWERS. FOR THERE IS NO POWER BUT OF GOD; THE POWERS THAT BE ARE ORDAINED OF GOD....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    OF OBEDIENCE TO THE GOVERNMENT, LOVE TOWARD ONE'S NEIGHBOR, AND THE WALK IN THE LIGHT. Government powers of God:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    SUBJECTION TO PROPER AUTHORITY This chapter is as clear as can be in its teaching: nothing but a spirit of rebellion could find difficulty with it - except possibly in the matter of how far this subje...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    Every soul = all people, every person Subject = submit to, obey their directions, orders All power is from God - Hitler, Saddam Hussein, etc. are from God. We may not understand their purpose; "Why...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    ORDAINED: Or, ordered...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    LET EVERY SOUL BE IN SUBJECTION TO THE HIGHER POWERS: FOR THERE IS NO POWER BUT OF GOD; AND THE POWERS THAT BE ARE ORDAINED OF GOD. 'Let every soul' -'The thirteenth chapter of the Epistle to the Ro...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-7 The grace of the gospel teaches us submission and quiet, where pride and the carnal mind only see causes for murmuring and discontent. Whatever the persons in authority over us themselves may be,...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    ROMANS CHAPTER 13 ROMANS 13:1 Subjection to magistrates enforced. ROMANS 13:7 We must render to all their dues, ROMANS 13:8 only love is a debt we must always owe, and virtually containeth the whole l...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    [Paul, having shown how the faith-life offers itself as a daily sacrifice of love in spiritual and social spheres, now gives an outline of the sacrifice of self which it is to make in civil and busine...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Martyrdom of Polycarp " But Polycarp said, "To thee I have thought it right to offer an account [of my faith]; for we are taught to give all due honour (which entails no injury upon ourselves) to the...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Romans 13:1 every G3956 soul G5590 subject G5293 (G5732) governing G5242 (G5723) authorities G1849 For G1063 is...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE CHRISTIAN'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE STATE (13:1-7). Having called on Christians ‘not to be conformed to this world' (Romans 12:2), and having indicated that vengeance for wrongdoing lay in God's hand...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers, for there is no power but of God, and the powers that be are ordained of God.' ‘Every soul' simply means ‘everyone.' Thus everyone is to be subje...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    3. _The Christian's Duty to Rulers_. This exhortation has seemed to many out of place, since in Romans 13:8 the precepts resume their general character, and the connection with what precedes is not ob...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Romans 13:1. LET EVERY SOUL; every human being, but with reference to the life of the ‘soul,' rather than of the ‘spirit,' the former being the common life of the subject of a state. SUBMIT HIMSELF....

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    EVERY SOUL (πασα ψυχη). As in Romans 2:9; Acts 2:43. A Hebraism for πας ανθρωπος (every man).TO THE HIGHER POWERS (εξουσιαις υπερεχουσαις). Abstract for concrete. See Mark 2:10 for εξουσια. Hυπερε...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Romans 13:1 The Principles and Method of Christian Civilisation. I. It may not be certain that this Epistle was written at one of the worst moments of Roman tyranny. It may possibly belong to that sh...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Romans 13:1. _Let every soul be subject to the higher powers,_ of magistrates, governors, proconsuls, kings, and emperors. The christian finds them in power; they allow us to lock our doors at night,...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    EVERYONE MUST OBEY THE STATE AUTHORITIES. Paul is telling Christians to obey the Roman government that would soon be persecuting them. This is a paradox. The Christian is to obey whatever government r...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers._ For there is no power but of God. LET EVERY SOUL BE SUBJECT UNTO THE HIGHER POWERS I. Every soul, or man (Exodus 12:4; Genesis 46:27). 1. Secula...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 13:1 Christians are to BE SUBJECT TO (which generally means to obey, see 1 Peter 3:5) the government because it has been put in place by God. Severa

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ Romans 13:1.—Let every one submit to the authorities that are over him. A precept made remarkable by the time in which it was written. πᾶσα ψυχή, every soul; every office-bearer as we...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ROMANS 13:1 From admonitions to keep peace, if possible, with all men, whether or not within the Christian circle, and to act honourably and benevolently towards all, the apostle now passe...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn in our Bibles to Romans 13. As Christians, what should be our attitude towards government? Paul declares, Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Chronicles 28:4; 1 Chronicles 28:5; 1 Peter 2:13; 1 Samuel 2:8;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Every soul. Every man. See on ch. Romans 11:3. Higher powers [ε ξ ο υ σ ι α ι ς υ π ε ρ ε χ ο υ σ α ι ς]. Lit., authorities which have themselves over. See on Mark 2:10; John 1:12. The powers that be...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    St. Paul, writing to the Romans, whose city was the seat of the empire, speaks largely of obedience to magistrates: and this was also, in effect, a public apology for the Christian religion. Let every...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Observe here, 1. The title given to magistrates, they are POWERS, HIGHER POWERS, that is, persons invested with power, and placed in supreme authority over us. All mankind is not of one rank, doth not...

Continues after advertising