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 which they owed to their civil rulers, and those duties of justice and benevolence which were due f... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whosoever therefore resisteth the power_ Or the authority, of which the magistrate is possessed; _resisteth the ordinance of God_ God's appointment for the preservation of order and of the public peace. _And they that resist_ Who withstand so wise and beneficial an institution; _shall receive to th... [ Continue Reading ]
_For rulers_ In general, notwithstanding some particular exceptions; _are not a terror to good works_ Were not ordained, and do not use to punish those that do well, and conform to good laws; _but to the evil_ From which they deter people by punishing those who do them. _Wilt thou_ Wouldest thou the... [ Continue Reading ]
_For this cause pay ye tribute also_ Not only in token of the duty and subjection you owe them, but because _they are the ministers_ (officers) _of God_ For the public good; _attending continually on this very thing_ Giving the whole of their time, care, and labour to it. “The phrase, λειτουργοι Θεο... [ Continue Reading ]
_Render, therefore, to all_ Magistrates, whether supreme or subordinate; _their dues_ What by law, or by the appointment of God, belongs to them, even though you may have opportunities of defrauding them of it, to your own immediate and temporal advantage. In this precept the apostle follows the Lor... [ Continue Reading ]
Here, from our duty to magistrates, he passes on to general duties. _Owe no man any thing_ Endeavour to manage your affairs with that economy and prudent attention that you may, as soon as possible, balance accounts with all who have any demands upon you, except it be with respect to that debt, whic... [ Continue Reading ]
_And that_ That is, do this to which I exhort you; fulfil the law of love in all the instances above mentioned; _knowing the time_ Greek, τον καιρον, _the season_, that it is the morning of the day of the gospel, a season of increasing light and grace, but hasting away: _that now it is high time to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let us walk honestly_ Greek, ευσχημονως, _decently_, or in a manner becoming those to whom the glorious light of the gospel has appeared: _as in the day_ Namely, of gospel light, already shining about us, which requires that we conduct ourselves with great wisdom, and exemplary holiness; _not in ri... [ Continue Reading ]
_But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ_ A strong and beautiful expression for the most intimate union with him, and the being clothed with all the graces which were in him; including the receiving, in faith and love, every part of his doctrine; obeying his precepts, imitating his example, and adorning... [ Continue Reading ]