In Romans 12 Paul calls believers into a transformed life- offering themselves as living sacrifices, walking in humility, loving sincerely, and overcoming evil with good. The focus is personal conduct and how we reflect YHVH’s character in our relationships. In Romans 13, he extends that same mindset into the public sphere and addresses how believers are to live within society- particularly in relation to governing authorities, responsibility and the ongoing call to love as the fulfillment of the Torah.
1 Every soul the powers surpassing [him] let be subject to; not indeed there is authority if not from [under] God. Those however existing under God having been appointed they are.
Because this passage is often misquoted irresponsibly, it’s important to point out here what versions such as KJV state versus what the actual Greek says:
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained by God.”
Paul is not stating if someone is in power is because that individual is ordained by God and to blindly follow them:
The Greek phrase tetagmenai, from the root tassō; to arrange, order, appoint in a structured sense
It does not mean:
- morally approved
- righteous
- personally chosen with favor
It’s about ordering/structuring- not God personally endorsing every authority figure.
So Paul is actually saying:
- Authority as a system originates under God
- Existing authorities exist within that already established ordered framework
2 Therefore the [one] resisting the authority, the ordinance of God has resisted. Those now having resisted, upon themselves judgment will bring.
3 Indeed the leaders not are a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you desire now not to fear the authority? [Then] the good do and you will have praise from him.
4 Of God indeed servant he is to you unto good. If however evil you do, be afraid- not indeed in vain the sword he bears of God. Indeed a servant he is, an avenger for wrath to the [one] evil doing.
Never yourselves avenging, beloved; instead give seat to wrath- it has been written, Indeed Mine vengeance. I will repay says Adonay (YHVH)
– Romans 12:19
Paul was quoting from Deuteronomy 32:35– The point is:
- Individuals are not to take personal vengeance
- Justice belongs ultimately to YHVH
- Followers are to refuse retaliation and personal payback
So Romans 12 establishes: Don’t become the judge and executioner in personal matters.
But now Paul elaborates:
- God does administer justice in the world
- He does so through ordered authority structures
- Those structures punish earthly wrongdoing
So public enforcement of “good”, in principle, belongs to civil structures/ government – not individuals or assemblies.
5 Therefore necessary [it is] to be subject- not only for the sake of the wrath but also by reason of the conscience.
6 By this reasoning indeed also you pay taxes; servants indeed of God they are, upon this very thing attending continually
7 Render to all their dues- to [whom] the tax, the tax; to the customs the customs, to the reverence the reverence, and to the honor the honor.
- “tax”- phoros– tribute tax; that which is owed by a subject to a governing authority
- “Customs”- telos– customs duties / economic taxes
- “Reverance”- phobos– respectful fear / reverence; owed to authority because of its role in maintaining order and enforcement
- Honor- timē– esteem and recognition of status which is owed to those in positions of responsibility
Paul is continuing one consistent idea:
Believers should not live in rebellion or contempt within the society they are placed in, but should fulfill their legitimate obligations and maintain a respectful posture toward existing authority structures.
Paul is not saying:
- all rulers are righteous
- governments follow God
- believers must morally agree with authorities
- submission is blind or unlimited
He is saying-
- don’t withhold what is owed in that system
- don’t live in defiance or disrespectful hostility
- don’t treat authority with contempt
8 To no one nothing owing if not one another to love- the [one] indeed loving the other the Torah has made full.
9 Indeed Not you shall commit adultery, not you shall murder, not you shall steal, not you shall covet- and if any other command in the Word this it is summarized in You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The phrase “it is summarized” in Greek is anakephalaioutai, meaning to gather together under one head; be unified into one principle
Paul is not saying “love” abolishes or replaces Torah; actually, he’s quoting from it-
“Not you shall take vengeance not bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall ahav (love) your neighbor as yourself- I [am] YHVH.”
Leviticus 19:18
In Hebrew understanding, ahav is not just affection or attachment, but an active showing of loyalty, commitment and choice. It’s meaning is closer to “to be deeply committed to someone or something”.
In Torah context, “love your neighbor” meant
- do not steal from them
- do not harm them
- do not exploit them
- act in justice and honesty toward them
There are two words used for “love” in the New Testament: Agápē and philía
Agápē means self-giving, covenantal love
- committed love
- willful care for another’s good
- loyalty expressed in action
- unconditional in nature
Philía means friendship or affection
- an emotional bond
- mutual affection
- companionship
The word Paul uses is Agápē–
So “love” your neighbor means acting with covenantal ethical behavior toward others– not just with emotion, affection or tolerance.
10 Agápē (love) to the neighbor evil not does do; fullness therefore of Torah love [is].
11 And this knowing the time that [it is the] hour already for you out of sleep to awaken; now indeed nearer [is] of us the salvation than when first we came to trust.
This is a direct indication that “salvation” is a process, not just an instantaneous one-time event-
Paul says “soteria is nearer than when we first pisteuo “
- soteria- meaning welfare, prosperity, deliverance, preservation and safety
- pisteuo– to believe, to trust, have faith in; to entrust with
We have entrusted our lives to God by having faith in Messiah- that means that our whole lives are going to reflect that
12 The night is far spent and the day has drawn near. We should lay away therefore the works of darkness and be clothed with the armor of light.
13 As in daytime becomingly we should walk- not in reveling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in contention and jealousy
(Chambering; many versions say “sexual immorality” but that meaning is from pornea, describing sexual sin. Koitē litterally means bed; implying sexual activity- it only becomes negative given the immediate context.)
Paul is describing a pattern of “night-time excess living” marked by drunkenness, revelry, loss of restraint, and sexually indulgent behavior- contrasted with the disciplined, self-controlled conduct expected of those who “walk in the day.”
14 But be clothed in the Adonay Yeshua Messiah, and of the flesh foresight not make for [its] desires.
Endysasthe– often translated as “put on”, the phrase literally means “to clothe yourself” and “to wear as a garment”.
This means
- adopt Messiah’s way of living
- let His character define your actions
- live as someone “wearing” Messiah publicly and internally
Pronoian mē poieisthe– “make no forethought”; meaning not planning ahead or supplying opportunities:
- Don’t create or partake in environments that feed uncontrolled desire
- Don’t structure your life in a way that anticipates and enables indulgence
In this chapter, Paul has taught that followers of Messiah:
- live under God’s sovereign ordering in a structured world
- are not called to rebellion or vengeance when that structure fails
- should fulfill legitimate civic responsibilities without contempt or chaos
- are defined by Torah-shaped love expressed through good will and self-controlled living
- “wear” Messiah as their identity rather than feeding flesh-driven patterns
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