Romans 13:1-7

Responsibility toward Authorities

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1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.

2Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval.

4For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.

5Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience.

6This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work.

7Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

Berean Standard Bible

Read aloud

Paul says every person should be subject to the governing authorities, because there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. He warns that resisting authority brings judgment, since rulers are not a terror to good conduct but to bad.

Paul says a ruler is God's servant for good and an avenger who carries out wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore believers should be subject not only to avoid wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

For the same reason they pay taxes, because authorities are God's servants attending to this very thing. They should give everyone what is owed: taxes, revenue, respect, and honor. The passage addresses civic responsibility, but Scripture's wider witness also judges rulers who harm the innocent.

Submission is a matter of conscience before God, not merely a way to avoid punishment. Public authority has a real role in restraining wrongdoing and serving the common good. A ruler's failures do not make every civic duty disappear. Yet the ruler remains God's servant, accountable to Him rather than entitled to worship.

Scripture also shows a limit to human authority. In Acts 5, the apostles refuse an order to stop teaching about Jesus because they must obey God rather than men. Respect for government and refusal to obey a command to sin can belong together. Paul calls us to take what we owe seriously while keeping God above every earthly ruler.

Questions

1 What does Paul say about governing authorities?

AnswerHe says their authority comes from God and calls people to submit. Their appointed purpose is to serve the good; the passage does not make every action of a ruler right.

2 What is a ruler supposed to do?

AnswerA ruler is supposed to be God's servant for good and an avenger against wrongdoing. Public authority is given a moral purpose rather than permission to serve itself.

3 Why do believers pay taxes?

AnswerThey pay because authorities attend to civic responsibilities and because the community owes what is due. Paying taxes does not make every government decision righteous.

4 What should be given to people who are owed it?

AnswerTaxes, revenue, respect, and honor should be given where due. Respect for an office does not require calling an unjust action good or obeying a command to sin.

What This Means for Us

This passage has been misused to silence resistance to tyranny. Paul describes what authority is for—good, justice, and protection—so rulers who terrorize the innocent contradict the purpose he names.

Civic responsibility is still real. Christians should not use criticism of government as an excuse to avoid taxes, public duties, or respectful engagement.

Teach your household to distinguish lawful respect from worshipful obedience. Honor public servants while supporting accountability, protecting the vulnerable, and refusing commands that require wrongdoing.

Prayer

God of justice, give authorities wisdom and integrity. Help our household fulfill civic responsibilities without worshiping power, honor what is honorable, and protect people when rulers betray the good they were meant to serve. Amen.

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