Book Epistle to the Romans Order in the Bible part 6 | Bible part New Testament Category Pauline epistles | |
 | ||
Romans 13 is the thirteenth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is authored by Paul the Apostle, but written by an amanuensis, Tertius of Iconium, while Paul was in Corinth, in winter of AD 57-58. Paul wrote to the Roman Christians because he was "eager to preach the gospel" to them, so as to remind them on "certain subjects". Although he had been hindered from coming to them many times, he longed to encourage the Roman church by reminding them of the gospel, because of his calling to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews.
Contents
In this chapter, Paul reminds his readers that they should honour and obey the secular authorities. Reformer Martin Luther suggested that "he includes this, not because it makes people virtuous in the sight of God, but because it does insure that the virtuous have outward peace and protection and that the wicked cannot do evil without fear and in undisturbed peace".
Text
Structure
The New King James Version organises this chapter as follows:
Love Your Neighbour (verse 9)
New King James Version
For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery”, “You shall not murder”, “You shall not steal”, “You shall not bear false witness”, “You shall not covet”, and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”Citations: Exodus 20:13–15; Deuteronomy 5:17–19,21; Leviticus 19:18
Many texts do not include "You shall not bear false witness", but it is included in the Textus Receptus and the King James Bible. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges suggests that it is "perhaps to be omitted, on documentary evidence".
The day is at hand (verses 11-14)
Non-conformist theologian Matthew Henry calls these verses "a Christian's directory for his day's work". According to the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, "Paul enforces all the preceding precepts (of chapters 12 and 13) by the solemn assertion of the approach of the eternal Day of Resurrection and Glory", "for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed" (King James Version). Many translations, such as the New King James Version and Revised Standard Version, refer to "when we first believed".
New King James Version
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.