Chapter 13

Be Subject to Government

1 Every 1aperson is to be in bsubjection to the governing authorities. For cthere is no authority except 2from God, and those which exist are established by God.

2 Therefore 1whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

3 For arulers are not a cause of fear for 1good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;

4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an aavenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.

5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also afor conscience’ sake.

6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.

7 aRender to all what is due them: btax to whom tax is due; ccustom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for ahe who loves 1his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

9 For this, “aYou shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “bYou shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

10 Love 1does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore alove is the fulfillment of the law.

11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is aalready the hour for you to bawaken from sleep; for now 1salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.

12 aThe night is almost gone, and bthe day is near. Therefore let us lay aside cthe deeds of darkness and put on dthe armor of light.

13 Let us 1abehave properly as in the day, bnot in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.

14 But aput on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh bin regard to its lusts.