Romans 13:1,Romans 13:2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Romans 13:1-6

We are here taught how to conduct ourselves towards magistrates, and those that are in authority over us, called here the higher powers, intimating their authority (they are powers), and their dignity (they are higher powers), including not only the king as supreme, but all inferior magistrates under him: and yet it is expressed, not by the persons that are in that power, but the place of power itself, in which they are. However the persons themselves may be wicked, and of those vile persons... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 13:1-7

13:1-7 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 set in their places by God. So he who sets himself up against authority has really set himself up against God's arrangement of things. Those who do set themselves against authority will receive condemnation upon themselves. For the man who does good has nothing to fear from rulers, but the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 13:1

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, as members of a church, and with reference to each other, and their moral conduct in the world; proceeds to advise, direct, and exhort them to such duties as were relative to them as members of a civil society; the former chapter contains his Christian Ethics, and this his Christian Politics.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 13:1

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers - This is a very strong saying, and most solemnly introduced; and we must consider the apostle as speaking, not from his own private judgment, or teaching a doctrine of present expediency, but declaring the mind of God on a subject of the utmost importance to the peace of the world; a doctrine which does not exclusively belong to any class of people, order of the community, or official situations, but to every soul; and, on the principles... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 13:1

Verse 1 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 which existed especially in that age, though the preaching of the gospel at all times renders this necessary. There are indeed always some tumultuous spirits who believe that the kingdom of Christ cannot be sufficiently elevated, unless all earthly powers be abolished, and that they cannot... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:1

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of (rather, from ) God: the powers that be are ordained of God . It is of God's ordering that there should be human governments and human laws. Without them there could be no order, security, or progress among mankind. Imperfect as they may often be, and in some instances oppressive and unjust, still they exist for a purpose of good, and form part of the Divine order for the government of the world. In this... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:1-6

Submission to constituted authority. The reception of a new truth requires its adjustment to previously accepted truths. The introduction of a new system like Christianity necessitated an examination of its relationship to existing systems of government. There was a danger of Jewish fanaticism being fanned into heated sedition in Jewish converts to the gospel by the very joy of finding the Messiah and of hopes concerning a literal temporal kingdom. And the novelty of the views opened up... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:1-7

Loyalty, There was danger, in the first age of Christianity, lest the nature of the kingdom of the Lord Jesus should be misunderstood even by its subjects, and misrepresented by those without. A spiritual empire was a new conception, and carnal minds were prone to confound the dominion over souls with civil and political authority. Hence the importance and appropriateness of the admonitions so emphatically addressed by the apostle to the Christians of Rome. I. THE INSPIRED ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:1-7

The Christian as citizen. The duty of Christians as citizens is in our day not sufficiently recognized. Many Christians keep aloof from public life and the duties of citizenship because of the political corruption and party strife which are so common. Others, again, enter into public duties, but seem to leave their religion behind them. The result is a sad want of Christian statesmanship and of Christian legislation. I. THE CHRISTIAN RECOGNIZES THE NECESSITY OF GOVERNMENT ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:1-7

Christian submission. We now pass from ecclesiastical to civil relations. Because the Christian has entered upon a new brotherhood in Christ, he does not cease to belong to the old brotherhood of natural society. And as in the spiritual brotherhood humility and love are the twin principles that should regulate all our conduct, so in the natural commonwealth of the state there should be, analogously, submission towards the powers, and a love-inspired justice towards private members of the... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Romans 13:1-6

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 13:1-7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 13:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 13:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 13:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:1-7

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