- Submission to the Authorities
- 1
- Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities,
- for there is no authority except that which God has established.
- The authorities that exist have been established by God.
- 2
- Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what
- God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
- 3
- For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong.
- Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority?
- Then do what is right and he will commend you.
- 4
- For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong,
- be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing.
- He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
- 5
- Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities,
- not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
- 6
- This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants,
- who give their full time to governing.
- 7
- Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes;
- if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
- Love, for the Day Is Near
- 8
- Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to
- love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
- 9
- The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder,"
- "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment
- there may be, are summed up in this one rule:
- "Love your neighbor as yourself."
- 10
- Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
- 11
- And do this, understanding the present time.
- The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber,
- because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
- 12
- The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.
- So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
- 13
- Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness,
- not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
- 14
- Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,
- and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.