I. Introduction
We find in Paul’s letter to the Romans the hand (Rom 5:1-2) that, slipping into its glove (Jhn 19:30), comprises the heart of the Gospel. O a blessed Gospel. Justification. Salvation. Life eternal in the very presence of Jehovah God, freely available for anyone; anyone justified by faith, by faith alone; by faith in the God of Salvation alone; anyone who must needs confess, and repent of their Sin; and going forward walks the language of Gospel-Salvation, in the power of the Timeless One, the Timeless Worker, the blessed Holy Spirit (“A Letter of Invitation”—the language, the walk, an explanation, an invitation). And that is where this chapter thirteen of Romans comes to the fore; it is concerned with that walk. It was written (“New Testament Canon-dates“) at a time when Rome was near entering an anarchistic transition (transition in AD 69), only to settle down and flourish under the Flavians (AD 69-96); a time when its mad-dog rulers loved not much more than their bellies and their tomorrows and their myriad little gods. And it was written at a time when all things Christian were new (“Early Christendom“), and yet at a time when the rebellious history of an old thing very Jewish cast a pall on this new religion “of the Jews.” And so our friend and brother in Christ, Paul the Apostle, was commissioned by the Lord of this brand new thing, even Jesus Christ, to write a little letter (but not so little, for centuries later its Spirit-power set the Church on its ears in a far-reaching Reformation); commissioned him to write a letter to the Roman Christians, instructing them to walk in a manner that would, no, not just show the excellence of the One on whom that walk centers, no, not just that, great, and exceeding worthy as it is, but present itself such an excellent walk that Rome itself would be shaken with nary a rebel afoot and would embrace, that Excellent One, on whom that brand new thing Christianity is centered.
We broke this chapter into three, “walk-set” verses. The first, vv. 1-5, are a mandate on the Christian walk with respect to Authority. The second, vv. 6-10, are a mandate on the Christian walk with respect to others per se. And the third, vv. 11-14, are a mandate on the Christian walk with respect to Godliness in and of self before the God of Salvation soon to set ablaze the eastern sky in His manifest glory.
We will follow this format:
Verse of Scripture utilizing the YLT text followed by an NASB mouse over of that verse. Key words in the YLT text will be footnoted with a link to a word study based on the Greek text, and/or a general discussion relative to the given word (we are not biblical Greek or Hebrew scholars, please consider our grammatical constructions with a critical eye).
Commentary We shall be commenting on this passage keeping before us at all times the crucial fact that every jot and every tittle comprising these verses came forth under the inspiration of the blessed Holy Spirit. We pray that He, by His grace, helps us along the way.
II. Romans Chapter Thirteen Commentary Verses
13:1-5-Let Every Soul to the Higher Authorities Be Subject, for There is No Authority Except from God
YLT TEXT: Let every soul[1] to the higher authorities[2] be subject[3], for there is no authority except from God,[4] and the authorities existing are appointed[5] by God, so that he who is setting himself against the authority, against God’s ordinance[6] hath resisted;[7] and those resisting, to themselves shall receive judgment.[8] 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, for of God it is a ministrant[9] to thee for good; and if that which is evil thou mayest do, be fearing,[10] for not in vain doth it bear the sword;[11] for of God it is a ministrant, an avenger for wrath to him who is doing that which is evil. Wherefore it is necessary to be subject, not only because of the wrath,[12] but also because of the conscience,[13] for because of this also pay ye tribute;[14] for servants of God they are, on this very thing attending continually; (Rom 13:1-6, Rom 13:1-6, NLT)
COMMENTARY: The Holy Spirit wants us to metabolize the fact that all authority comes from Jehovah God. Our text says that there is no authority except from God: “…there is no authority except from God, and the authorities existing are appointed by God…” (cf.Jhn 19:10-11). Immediately a question arises, does Jehovah God appoint evil (anti-Law of God, anti-spirit of the Law of God) authorities? No. If our definition of evil be allowed, the notion is an oxymoron; but more so, such an appointment would compromise God’s nature, which is holy (“Be Holy”). God, deity, cannot on the one hand claim to be holy, and require others to be holy even as He is holy, and then partner by appointment with the antithesis of holiness —evil —on the other, not least because God is not frivolous, He is consistent. This is axiomatic (“The Alpha and the Omega”). It is clear from Scripture however that God allows evil authorities. [15] Even Satan, the embodiment of evil, is said to be the ruler of the world presently (Jhn 12:31, 14:30, 16:11,Eph 2:2). We can be sure that Satan was not appointed to this position; it is reasonable to think that it was allowed because humankind had broken off with Jehovah God in lieu of Satan at the Fall. And it is not a stretch to think that Satan’s cronies are allowed some measure of authority under cover of the same Fall-umbrella. Now we must address the first part of the text: “…Let every soul to the higher authorities be subject …”. Here Scripture is quite explicit; there is hardly any room to question the meaning. No provisos are given, no caveats, nothing. One hardly needs to exegete it, it speaks for itself. We will revisit the evil authority discussion just above once more though and ask if the text includes subjection to evil authorities, and the precedent of Scripture in toto requires subjection. We would offer this though to our readers. If we personally were told to do something that violated Jehovah God’s requirements in any way as outlined in Scripture, or told to deny Him, at whatever cost for noncompliance, we would steadfastly beseech our Lord for courage, and strength, and we would set our heels in His power and not do it. Let us move on.
It is God’s business, not ours, to remove the evil ones from His offices—to en masse, or, indiscriminately gun down authorities in satisfaction of some humanly devised program of retribution for injustice/s perceived and/or real is not of God but comes from the evil one—God will and does punish the evil ones. Vengeance is His and His alone (Deu 32:35, Isa 35:3-4, Rom 12:19). Our text in fact reaffirms, and qualifies, this vengeance of God; in the context of our verses, it comes by way of His ministrants bearing the sword: “…so that he who is setting himself against the authority, against God’s ordinance hath resisted; and those resisting, to themselves shall receive judgment. 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, 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…” God has in place avengers for wrath to those who are doing that which is evil. It is a form of the vengeance of God that He warns be left to His doings. But the pendulum swings both ways here, Authority is a ministrant for good, and praise, for those that are doing good. As there is vengeance for evil, so there is reward for good. And fear, the role of (literal) fear of Authority, is here shown to be a metric by which one may personally assess one’s subjection, or not, to Authority, to that which Authority requires and upholds. It is inside all of us, not by accident, this fear, or not, of Authority, and it betrays our walk in the face of Authority: “…to themselves shall receive judgment…” (red font added). To the one doing evil is struck fear, and all manner of attendant paranoia—not a good way of life, even before the sword strikes; and to the one doing good is struck no fear at all, but all manner of attendant peace and normalcy in life prevail. What an avenger, or rewarder, this fear, or not. God is never mocked, not even a little bit. Either those doing evil are struck down by the long Arm wielding the sword, or they might well wish they were struck down, living in the misery of paranoia and fear, peeking around every corner before daring to turn the corner, day in and day out. What a wasted way of life to live like that, constantly in fear. Friend, if that is you living in fear like that, won’t you consider turning it all around by giving up the evil you know you do; by giving yourself over to Jesus Christ, who has peace and normalcy, and so much more in His mind, all good, all intended precisely for your mind, and person, and spirit: “….Wherefore it is necessary to be subject, not only because of the wrath, but also because of the conscience…” (“A Letter of Invitation”). We are praying for you friend.
13:6-10-Compensation to, and Love of, Others
YLT TEXT: for because of this also pay ye tribute;[16] for servants of God they are, on this very thing attending continually; render, therefore, to all their dues;[17] to whom tribute, the tribute; to whom custom,[18] the custom; to whom fear,[19] the fear; to whom honour,[20] the honour. To no one owe anything, except to love[21] one another; for he who is loving the other — law[22] he hath fulfilled, for, ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery,[23] Thou shalt do no murder,[24] Thou shalt not steal[25], Thou shalt not bear false testimony,[26] Thou shalt not covet;[27] and if there is any other command, in this word it is summed up, in this: ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor[28] as thyself;’ the love to the neighbor doth work no ill;[29] the love, therefore, is the fulness of law. (Rom 13:7-10, Rom 13:7-10, NLT)
COMMENTARY: God calls for those who benefit from Authority to pay the wages of the ministrants of Authority: “…for because of this also pay ye tribute; for servants of God they are, on this very thing attending continually…” Please notice that our text indicates that these ministrants of God are career ministrants, or certainly very much occupied by the task: “…on this very thing attending continually…”, and as such they must be paid right wages, because there is no other means of income for them, consumed as they are with the daily business of instituting the ordinance/s of God. They must be paid in order to survive and continue their work for God, these career ministrants of God, be they spiritual or secular. Clearly there is a divine system at work in the administration of our God’s authority for the ultimate good of all concerned (Fig. 1). And as is always the case with our God, He requires that we go beyond that which even the Godless know to do—particularly instructive to the Roman Christian recipients of this letter—God calls His people not just to financial accountability, but to spiritual accountability as well; a higher plane: “…render, therefore, to all their dues; to whom tribute, the tribute; to whom custom, the custom; to whom fear, the fear; to whom honour, the honour…”. Consummate pay. And it is a short step from such a spirit of accountability to consummate obedience of Authority, because consummate pay is motivated by (AGAPH) love: “…To no one owe anything, except to love one another; for he who is loving the other — law he hath fulfilled, 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 neighbor as thyself;’ the love to the neighbor doth work no ill; the love, therefore, is the fulness of law…”. Thus did Jesus, He, very AGAPH Love, fulfill the Law for His neighbors, even us, at Calvary; thus did Jesus, He, very agaph Love, render consummate pay for His neighbors, even us, at Calvary. Thank you great savior God; how good it is that we have you.
13:11-14-Sobriety and Godliness in Self
YLT TEXT: And this, knowing the time, that for us, the hour already is to be aroused out of sleep,[30] for now nearer is our salvation[31] than when we did believe; 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; as in day-time, let us walk becomingly;[32] not in revellings[33] and drunkennesses,[34] not in chamberings[35] and lasciviousnesses,[36] not in strife and emulation[37]; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and for the flesh[38] take no forethought — for desires. (Rom 13:11-14, Rom 13:11-14, NLT)
COMMENTARY: What time is it? Does anybody know? Some do! We Christian brethren do; we know what time it is! It is time to get busy, and stay busy. Busy? How so? Busy as points of light; busy about the business of Salvation, as points of light in our Lord’s absence (Jhn 9:4-5, Luk 1:78): “…And this, knowing the time, that for us, the hour already is to be aroused out of sleep, for now nearer is our salvation than when we did believe; the night did advance, and the day came nigh…” The Dayspring from on High came nigh, did die, for us did die, did fly, did fly, yonder high, did fly, O my, let us try, ever try, for Him, to shine! To shine, to shine; see, thus we shine: “…let us lay aside, therefore, the works of the darkness, and let us put on the armour of the light; as in day-time, let us walk becomingly; not in reveling, and drunkennesses, not in chamberings and lasciviousnesses, not in strife and emulation; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and for the flesh take no forethought — for desires…”.
Praised be your Name blessed Dayspring from on High; please help us to shine down here for you, to shine like you, like Paul, like our Roman Christian brethren of old; we do so want to shine for you, you whom we adore, and love so. Amen.