Romans 13:4 KJV

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 13:4

For he is the minister of God to thee for good ,.... He is a minister of God's appointing and commissioning, that acts under him, and for him, is a kind of a vicegerent of his, and in some, sense represents him; and which is another reason why men ought to be subject to him; and especially since he is appointed for their "good", natural, moral, civil, and spiritual, as Pareus observes: for natural good, for the protection of men's natural lives, which otherwise would be in continual danger... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 13:4

For he is the minister of God to thee for good - Here the apostle puts the character of the ruler in the strongest possible light. He is the minister of God - the office is by Divine appointment: the man who is worthy of the office will act in conformity to the will of God: and as the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears open to their cry, consequently the ruler will be the minister of God to them for good. He beareth not the sword in vain - His power is delegated to him... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 13:4

Verse 4 4.For he is God’s minister for good, etc. Magistrates may hence learn what their vocation is, for they are not to rule for their own interest, but for the public good; nor are they endued with unbridled power, but what is restricted to the wellbeing of their subjects; in short, they are responsible to God and to men in the exercise of their power. For as they are deputed by God and do his business, they must give an account to him: and then the ministration which God has committed to... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:1-8

From admonitions to keep peace, if possible, with all men, whether or not within the Christian circle, and to act honourably and benevolently towards all, the apostle now passes to the duty of Christians towards the civil government and the laws of the country in which they lived. It is well known that the Jews were impatient of the Roman dominion, and that some held it to be unlawful, on religious grounds, to pay tribute to Caesar ( Matthew 22:17 ). Insurrections against 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 13:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 13:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 13:4

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:1-8

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