Romans 13:8 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Romans 13:7-10

We are here taught a lesson of justice and charity. I. Of justice (Rom. 13:7): Render therefore to all their dues, especially to magistrates, for this refers to what goes before; and likewise to all with whom we have to do. To be just is to give to all their due, to give every body his own. What we have we have as stewards; others have an interest in it, and must have their dues. ?Render to God his due in the first place, to yourselves, to you families, your relations, to the commonwealth, to... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 13:8-10

13:8-10 Owe no man anything, except to love each other; for he who loves the other man has fulfilled the law. The commandments, You must not commit adultery, You must not kill, You must not steal, You must not covet, and any other commandment there may be, are all summed up in this saying--You must love your neighbour as yourself. Love does no harm to its neighbour. Love is, therefore, the complete fulfilment of the law. The previous passage dealt with what might be called a man's public... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 13:8

Owe no man anything ,.... From the payment of dues to magistrates the apostle proceeds to a general exhortation to discharge all sorts of debts; as not to owe the civil magistrate any thing, but render to him his dues, so to owe nothing to any other man, but make good all obligations whatever, as of a civil, so of a natural kind. There are debts arising from the natural and civil relations subsisting among men, which should be discharged; as of the husband to the wife, the wife to the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 13:8

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another - In the preceding verses the apostle has been showing the duty, reverence, and obedience, which all Christians, from the highest to the lowest, owe to the civil magistrate; whether he be emperor, king, proconsul, or other state officer; here he shows them their duty to each other: but this is widely different from that which they owe to the civil government: to the first they owe subjection, reverence, obedience, and tribute; to the latter they... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 13:8

Verse 8 8.To no one owe ye, etc. There are those who think that this was not said without a taunt, as though Paul was answering the objection of those who contended that Christians were burdened in having other precepts than that of love enjoined them. And indeed I do not deny, but that it may be taken ironically, as though he conceded to those who allowed no other law but that of love, what they required, but in another sense. And yet I prefer to take the words simply as they are; for I think... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:8-10

From specific admonitions on this subject, the apostle passes naturally to the principle which, in these regards as well as others, should inspire all our dealings with our fellow-men . Owe no man anything, but to love one another : for he that loveth another (literally, the other, meaning the same as his neighbour ) hath fulfilled law . νόμον here is anarthrous, denoting law in general, not the Mosaic Law in particular, though the instances of transgression that follow are from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:8-10

Love and law. To the unthinking, and at first sight, there seems a contradiction between law, which expresses authority, and is sanctioned by force, and love, which is spontaneous, and is of the heart. Christ himself, however, brought the two into harmony when he said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments;" and the apostle, in this passage, shows that, really and essentially, the two are one. I. THE TRUE PRINCIPLE OF SOCIAL LIFE IS LOVE . The new commandment which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:8-10

Christian righteousness. We here pass from public to private relations. Still in the civic sphere, viewing men as men, not as Christian brethren. And reminded by thought just advanced, the thought of tribute, custom, etc., as being "due" to those in power, that there are dues also which we owe each one to his neighbour. And it is of the very essence of justice that we "render to all their dues;" or, in the words of the eighth verse, that we "owe no man anything." Here, then, we may... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:8-10

Love, the fulfilment of the Law. The Lord's Prayer speaks of forgiving "our debtors." But it is the bounden duty of every man to strive to discharge his pecuniary obligations, otherwise he is guilty of living contentedly on stolen goods. The command, "Owe no man anything," if obeyed, would hinder many a bankruptcy and prevent many a business scandal. The apostle proceeds, with one of his skilful turns of thought, to speak of that debt which never can be entirely liquidated—a debt under... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Romans 13:7-10

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 13:8-10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 13:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 13:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 13:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:8-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:8-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:8-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:8-10

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