Romans 13:2-6 NIV

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 13:2

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 13:3

For rulers are not a terror to good works ,.... That is, to them that do good works in a civil sense; who behave well in the neighbourhoods, towns, cities, and countries where they dwell. The apostle seems to anticipate an objection made against governors, as if there was something very terrible and formidable in them; and which might be taken up from the last clause of the preceding verse; and which he removes by observing, that governors neither do, nor ought to inject terror into men that... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 13:5

Wherefore ye must needs be subject ,.... To the higher powers, to the civil magistrates; there is a necessity of it, because magistracy is God's ordinance, it is for the good of men; and such that oppose it will severely smart for it: but subjection to it from Christians should be, not only for wrath ; through fear of punishment, and for the sake of escaping it; either the wrath of men or of God, in this or the other world: but also for conscience sake : to keep conscience clear, to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 13:6

For, for this cause pay you tribute also ,.... To show that we are subject to the higher powers, and as a proof and evidence of our subjection to them, we do and ought to pay tribute to them, to support them in their office and dignity; and this is done not for fear of trouble, of distress on goods and estate, or imprisonment of person, but for conscience sake: payment of taxes is not a mere matter of prudence, and done to avoid dangerous consequence, but is and ought to be a case of... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 13:3

For rulers are not a terror to good works - Here the apostle shows the civil magistrate what he should be: he is clothed with great power, but that power is entrusted to him, not for the terror and oppression of the upright man, but to overawe and punish the wicked. It is, in a word, for the benefit of the community, and not for the aggrandizement of himself, that God has entrusted the supreme civil power to any man. If he should use this to wrong, rob, spoil, oppress, and persecute his... 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

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 13:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 13:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 13:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 13:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 13:6

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 13:3

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

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