Verse By Verse Through Romans

Chapter Thirteen

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.”

• The word translated “soul” [ψυχή] is most often translated that way (@58 times). It is also translated as “life” @ 40 times (Matthew 10:39, Matthew 16:25, Matthew 20:28, etc.). See Strong’s # 5590
• Higher powers is contextually in reference to “rulers” (Romans 13:3) who are civil authorities based on the context.
• Every living person is to be under subjection to civil authorities, because God has ordained such (I Peter 2:13-16 and Titus 3:1-2).
• Submissiveness is an attribute spiritually minded people should not have a problem with (Ephesians 5:21 and I Peter 5:5; cf. Jude 1:8).

• This verse emphasizes that if one were to oppose the authority of civil government, that is resisting God. The consequence of which is damnation (John 5:28-29, II Thessalonians 1:7-9, Hebrews 2:1-3, Hebrews 10:26-31, and Hebrews 12:25).
• There is an exception. If civil authorities instruct you to disobey God, you cannot chose human authority over divine authority (Acts 5:12-42).

• In general, civil rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil (Proverbs 14:35, Proverbs 20:8, and Proverbs 20:26).
• We know there are certainly times when rulers are a terror against the good (Matthew 10:17-20; cf. Acts 4:1-5:42).
• There are even times when rulers can be persuaded to be against the righteous (Daniel 6:1-28 and Mark 6:14-29).
• More often than not though, rulers want obedient subjects. If you obey, you shall have praise of the same (I Peter 3:9-13).
• As we already have addressed, God has put civil authority in place. We see here that civil authorities are the sword against evil in this world. This goes back to an additional reason as to why we should seek to live peaceably with all men (Romans 12:17-21). God will deal the eternal justice while civil authorities have their role on earth.

• Again, as we have already been reading, we are to be subject to the authorities. To reject civil authority is to reject God's ordinance and, consequently, to face His wrath (Romans 13:2-4).
• An additional point is that our subjection need not only be for fear of God’s wrath, but also for our own conscience sake (Acts 24:16, I Peter 2:19-20, and I Peter 3:15-18).
• Simply put, God is teaching His people how to stay out of trouble. Be subject to those in civil authority so as not to suffer under their judgments (Proverbs 16:13-15).

• Pay all your taxes and dues (Matthew 17:24-27 and Luke 20:21-25).
• Render to them the fear and honor that are due them (Proverbs 24:21 and I Peter 2:17).

• Do not remain under obligation to anyone except to love one another. If one has paid his dues (Romans 13:6-7) and is living according to the pattern of Christ (I John 2:3-6), there remains no unpaid obligation except to continue loving others.
• This is the summary of loving God and your neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40).
• Don’t misunderstand this as freedom from obligations. In light of many other Scriptures, this is not an instruction not to be under obligations to others (Galatians 5:13, Colossians 3:22-25, I Timothy 5:8, etc.).
• Nor is this a prohibition for lending of money (Matthew 5:42).
• Be just in the way you handle your obligations. Say for example, in the financial realm (Deuteronomy 24:14-15 and Proverbs 3:27-28).
• Would you want to be treated in the fashion you are treating others (Matthew 7:12)?

• Adultery (Exodus 20:14, Proverbs 6:32, and Matthew 5:27-32).
• Murder (I John 3:15 and Revelation 21:8).
• Stealing (Ephesians 4:28).
• Bearing false witness (Exodus 20:16, Proverbs 14:5, and Proverbs 21:28).
• Covetousness (Luke 12:13-21, Ephesians 5:3, and Hebrews 13:5-6).
• The contextual point is what we owe others: to love thy neighbor as thyself (Luke 10:25-37, Galatians 5:13-14, and James 2:8-13).
• Love does no harm to others (I Corinthians 13:1-7).
• Love is the fulfilling of the Law (Galatians 5:14).

• The time under consideration here is something they knew was at hand. So, the focus is not on Jesus’ final return as no one knew when that was coming (Matthew 24:35-36 and II Peter 3:9-14).
• Since the events in Revelation had yet to be revealed, this would not appear to be under consideration.
• Saints in multiple places were preparing for an earthly occurrence that was close to happening (I Corinthians 7:29-31, Hebrews 10:23-25, James 5:8-9, and I Peter 4:7).
• The destruction of Jerusalem and the wars, etc. surrounding that time are likely what is meant (Matthew 23:37-24:34). The events surrounding AD 70 were viewed as "the end" of the Jewish order and are connected with salvation language (Matthew 24:13-14).
• With the tension between Jews and Gentiles already addressed in this letter (Romans 2; Romans 9-11), consider the potential threat to unity when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans. Jewish Christians in this congregation were assembling alongside Gentile Romans.
• In preparation, they were to cast off works of darkness (Ephesians 4:22-24 and Ephesians 5:6-11) and put on the armor of light (I John 1:3-7).
• Walk honestly (I Thessalonians 4:12).
• Not rioting [reveling; nightly partying] (Luke 17:27-28 and Galatians 5:19-21).
• To be sober, not drunken (I Thessalonians 5:1-9 and I Peter 4:1-5).
• The word translated here as “chambering” [κοίτη; Strong’s # 2845] is translated as “conceived” earlier in this letter (Romans 9:10). The marriage bed is the only place where sexual relations are authorized (Hebrews 13:4).
• The term translated “wantonness” is otherwise known as “lasciviousness” (Ephesians 4:19) or “filthy conversation” (II Peter 2:7). Thayer defines the Greek term, in part, as "unbridled lust" (Strong's #766). Think about what happens when someone does not control his or her lusts (James 1:13-16).
• Not in strife (Proverbs 15:18, I Corinthians 3:1-3, and James 3:13-18).
• Not in envy (Proverbs 27:4).

• Those to whom this letter was written had put on Christ in baptism (Romans 6:3-6; cf. Galatians 3:27). This, therefore, is not an invitation to become a Christian, but rather an instruction for some who needed to be restored.
• The process of restoration (cf. Galatians 6:1-2) does not involve being baptized again (Acts 8:12-24, I John 1:9, Revelation 2:1-7, etc.). Rather, it is a conversion from a state of sin back to faithful fellowship in Christ (James 5:19-20).
• Don’t make provision [forethought, i.e. provident care or supply: — providence; Strong’s # 4307] for the flesh (Matthew 26:41, Romans 8:1-13, Galatians 5:13-24, I Peter 2:11, and I John 2:15-17).
• In light of the context (Romans 13:12-13), think of some of the things a Gentile in Roman culture would have to cease doing to become—or remain—a faithful Christian. One would go from a socially acceptable mindset of unbridled lust (cf. Ephesians 2:1-3) to controlling those desires.
• We must remember that there are things “of the flesh” that are not sinful to provide for. For example, we are lawfully permitted to eat and enjoy food (I Timothy 4:1-5), yet even that liberty can be abused (Philippians 3:18-19).