Romans 13:1-2 ESV

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 13:2

Whosoever therefore resisteth the power ,.... The office of magistracy, and such as are lawfully placed in it, and rightly exercise it; who denies that there is, or ought to be any such order among men, despises it, and opposes it, and withdraws himself from it, and will not be subject to it in any form: resisteth the ordinance of God , the will and appointment of God, whose pleasure it is that there should be such an office, and that men should be subject to it. This is not to be... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 13:2

Whosoever resisteth the power - Ὁ αντιτασσομενος , He who sets himself in order against this order of God; τῃ του Θεου διαταγῃ , and they who resist, οἱ ανθεστηκοτες , they who obstinately, and for no right reason, oppose the ruler, and strive to unsettle the constitution, and to bring about illegal changes, Shall receive to themselves damnation - Κριμα , condemnation; shall be condemned both by the spirit and letter of that constitution, which, under pretense of defending... 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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 13:2

Verse 2 2.And they who resist, etc. As no one can resist God but to his own ruin, he threatens, that they shall not be unpunished who in this respect oppose the providence of God. Let us then beware, lest we incur this denunciation. And by judgment, (402) I understand not only the punishment which is inflicted by the magistrate, as though he had only said, that they would be justly punished who resisted authority; but also the vengeance of God, however it may at length be executed: for he... 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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 13:2

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 13:2

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

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 13:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:1-6

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