Romans Chapter 13
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
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For Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth.
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For Moses writeth that the man that doeth the righteousness which is of the law shall live thereby.
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But the righteousness which is of faith saith thus, Say not in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down:)
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or, Who shall descend into the abyss? (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)
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But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach:
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because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus
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as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:
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for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
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For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be put to shame.
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For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same
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Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him:
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for, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
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How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
Let every soul be subject to the authorities that are above [him]. For there is no authority except fromGod; and those that exist are set up byGod.
2
So that he that sets himself in opposition to the authority resists the ordinance ofGod; and they who [thus] resist shall bring sentence of guilt on themselves.
3
For rulers are not a terror to a good work, but to an evil [one]. Dost thou desire then not to be afraid of the authority? practise [what is] good, and thou shalt have praise from it;
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for it isGod's minister to thee for good. But if thou practisest evil, fear; for it bears not the sword in vain; for it isGod's minister, an avenger for wrath to him that does evil.
5
Wherefore it is necessary to be subject, not only on account of wrath, but also on account of conscience.
6
For on this account ye pay tribute also; for they areGod's officers, attending continually on this very thing.
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Render to all their dues: to whom tribute [is due], tribute; to whom custom, custom; to whom fear, fear; to whom honour, honour.
8
Owe no one anything, unless to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the law.
9
For, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not lust; and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
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Love works no ill to its neighbour; love therefore [is the] whole law.
11
This also, knowing the time, that it is already time that we should be aroused out of sleep; for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12
The night is far spent, and the day is near; let us cast away therefore the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13
As in the day, let us walk becomingly; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and lasciviousness, not in strife and emulation.
14
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not take forethought for the flesh to [fulfil its] lusts.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Omnis anima potestatibus sublimioribus subdita sit: Non est enim potestas nisi a Deo: quæ autem sunt, a Deo ordinatæ sunt.
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Itaque qui resistit potestati, Dei ordinationi resistit. Qui autem resistunt, ipsi sibi damnationem acquirunt:
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nam principes non sunt timori boni operis, sed mali. Vis autem non timere potestatem? Bonum fac: et habebis laudem ex illa:
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Dei enim minister est tibi in bonum. Si autem malum feceris, time: non enim sine causa gladium portat. Dei enim minister est: vindex in iram ei, qui malum agit.
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Ideo necessitate subditi estote non solum propter iram, sed etiam propter conscientiam.
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Ideo enim et tributa præstatis: ministri enim Dei sunt, in hoc ipsum servientes.
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Reddite ergo omnibus debita: cui tribulatum, tributum: cui vectigal, vectigal: cui timorem, timorem: cui honorem, honorem.
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Nemini quidquam debeatis: nisi ut invicem diligatis: qui enim diligit proximum, legem implevit.
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Nam: Non adulterabis: Non occides: Non furaberis: Non falsum testimonium dices: Non concupisces: et si quod est aliud mandatum, in hoc verbo instauratur: Diliges proximum tuum sicut teipsum.
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Dilectio proximi malum non operatur. Plenitudo ergo legis est dilectio.
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Et hoc scientes tempus: quia hora est iam nos de somno surgere. Nunc enim propior est nostra salus, quam cum credidimus.
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Nox præcessit, dies autem appropinquavit. Abiiciamus ergo opera tenebrarum, et induamur arma lucis.
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Sicut in die honeste ambulemus: non in comessationibus, et ebrietatibus, non in cubilibus, et impudicitiis, non in contentione, et æmulatione:
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sed induamini Dominum Iesum Christum, et carnis curam ne feceritis in desideriis.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.
2
Therefore he who resists the authority withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment.
3
For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the authority,
4
for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.
5
Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.
6
For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, continually doing this very thing.
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Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
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Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
9
For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
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Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.
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Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed.
12
The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the deeds of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of light.
13
Let’s walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy.
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But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.
wh1881 (wh1881) - Westcott-Hort Greek NT 1881 eBible USFM
1
πασα ψυχη εξουσιαις υπερεχουσαις υποτασσεσθω ου γαρ εστιν εξουσια ει μη υπο θεου αι δε ουσαι υπο θεου τεταγμεναι εισιν
2
ωστε ο αντιτασσομενος τη εξουσια τη του θεου διαταγη ανθεστηκεν οι δε ανθεστηκοτες εαυτοις κριμα λημψονται
3
οι γαρ αρχοντες ουκ εισιν φοβος τω αγαθω εργω αλλα τω κακω θελεις δε μη φοβεισθαι την εξουσιαν το αγαθον ποιει και εξεις επαινον εξ αυτης
4
θεου γαρ διακονος εστιν σοι εις το αγαθον εαν δε το κακον ποιης φοβου ου γαρ εικη την μαχαιραν φορει θεου γαρ διακονος εστιν εκδικος εις οργην τω το κακον πρασσοντι
5
διο αναγκη υποτασσεσθαι ου μονον δια την οργην αλλα και δια την συνειδησιν
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δια τουτο γαρ και φορους τελειτε λειτουργοι γαρ θεου εισιν εις αυτο τουτο προσκαρτερουντες
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αποδοτε πασιν τας οφειλας τω τον φορον τον φορον τω το τελος το τελος τω τον φοβον τον φοβον τω την τιμην την τιμην
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μηδενι μηδεν οφειλετε ει μη το αλληλους αγαπαν ο γαρ αγαπων τον ετερον νομον πεπληρωκεν
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το γαρ ου μοιχευσεις ου φονευσεις ου κλεψεις ουκ επιθυμησεις και ει τις ετερα εντολη εν τω λογω τουτω ανακεφαλαιουται [εν τω] αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον
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η αγαπη τω πλησιον κακον ουκ εργαζεται πληρωμα ουν νομου η αγαπη
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και τουτο ειδοτες τον καιρον οτι ωρα ηδη υμας εξ υπνου εγερθηναι νυν γαρ εγγυτερον ημων η σωτηρια η οτε επιστευσαμεν
12
η νυξ προεκοψεν η δε ημερα ηγγικεν αποθωμεθα ουν τα εργα του σκοτους ενδυσωμεθα [δε] τα οπλα του φωτος
13
ως εν ημερα ευσχημονως περιπατησωμεν μη κωμοις και μεθαις μη κοιταις και ασελγειαις μη εριδι και ζηλω
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αλλα ενδυσασθε τον κυριον ιησουν χριστον και της σαρκος προνοιαν μη ποιεισθε εις επιθυμιας
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
Let every soul to the higher authorities be subject, for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities existing are appointed by God,
2
so that he who is setting himself against the authority, against God's ordinance hath resisted; and those resisting, to themselves shall receive judgment.
3
For those ruling are not a terror to the good works, but to the evil; and dost thou wish not to be afraid of the authority? that which is good be doing, and thou shalt have praise from it,
4
for of God it is a ministrant to thee for good; and if that which is evil thou mayest do, be fearing, for not in vain doth it bear the sword; for of God it is a ministrant, an avenger for wrath to him who is doing that which is evil.
5
Wherefore it is necessary to be subject, not only because of the wrath, but also because of the conscience,
6
for because of this also pay ye tribute; for servants of God they are, on this very thing attending continually;
7
render, therefore, to all <FI>their<Fi> dues; to whom tribute, the tribute; to whom custom, the custom; to whom fear, the fear; to whom honour, the honour.
8
To no one owe anything, except to love one another; for he who is loving the other--law he hath fulfilled,
9
for, `Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false testimony, Thou shalt not covet;' and if there is any other command, in this word it is summed up, in this: `Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself;'
10
the love to the neighbour doth work no ill; the love, therefore, <FI>is<Fi> the fulness of law.
11
And this, knowing the time, that for us, the hour already <FI>is<Fi> to be aroused out of sleep, for now nearer <FI>is<Fi> our salvation than when we did believe;
12
the night did advance, and the day came nigh; let us lay aside, therefore, the works of the darkness, and let us put on the armour of the light;
13
as in day-time, let us walk becomingly; not in revellings and drunkennesses, not in chamberings and lasciviousnesses, not in strife and emulation;
14
but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and for the flesh take no forethought--for desires.
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).