Romans 13:1–8

Being Subject to Authorities

¹³Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God.^{* 2}Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. ³For rulers are not a terror to good conduct but to bad. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval,^{* 4}for it is God’s agent for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority^e does not bear the sword in vain! It is the agent of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. ⁵Therefore one must be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience.^{* 6}For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s agents, busy with this very thing. ⁷Pay to all what is due them: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

Love for One Another

⁸Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.^*