Romans 13

Submit to Government

1 Let every soul be *Titus 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:13subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists *(Titus 3:1)the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? *1 Pet. 2:14Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore *Eccl. 8:2you must be subject, not only because of wrath *Acts 24:16; (1 Pet. 2:13, 19)but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 *Matt. 22:21; Mark 12:17; Luke 20:25Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes aredue, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.