Romans 13 Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part, verse-by-verse approach, to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Rom 13:1-7

1 Let everyone be subject 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, whoever 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 you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents 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 as a matter 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 to everyone what you owe them: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour.

A. Find Out:

1. From where do authorities come? v.1
2. What is rebellion against authority? v.2
3. How do we avoid fear of authority? v.3
4. What is the function of authority? v.4
5. What 2 reasons are there for obeying? v.5
6. Why do we pay taxes? v.6

B. Think:

1. Why do we need laws in society?
2. What is happening to our laws today?
3. What should be our attitude today towards the Law and why?

C. Comment:

Law is needed to protect the weak, order society and restrain evil doers. All societies in history have established laws. Why? Because God has put it in the hearts of men to restrain sin for the good of society. So, says Paul, obey authority, because it is God who instigates authority. In western society today we are seeing various trends: increased law making because of increased lawlessness, enforced caring for the poor, needy or minorities because we are not caring, and often a removing of restraints, e.g. abortion law removes protection for unborn, Sunday Trading law removes protection for workers wanting family life, Euthanasia law will remove protection from the elderly.

Increasingly there is an anti-law feeling and anti- government feeling in much western society with a resulting spirit of lawlessness pervading it. No belief in God means no arbiter for what is right or wrong, therefore every man does what is right in his own sight. We as Christians therefore need to take very much to heart Paul’s words in the first half of this chapter, whether we like the particular authority or not, that is where it IS “authority” bringing restraint to evil.

D. Application?

1. We are to be law abiding citizens as long as the law does not demand a breaking of God’s laws.
2. The people in places of authority may be sinners but authority is still God’s authority.

Passage: Rom 13:8-14 

8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ 10 Love does no harm to a neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.

11 And do this, understanding the present time: the hour has already 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 armour of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing 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 flesh.

A. Find Out:

1. How is the law fulfilled? v.8
2. How are the commandments summed up? v.9
3. What does Paul exhort them to do? v.11
4. What are we to put on? v.12
5. How are we to behave? v.13
6. How are we to clothe ourselves? v.14

B. Think:

1. How does this passage link the thoughts from the previous two passages?
2. What do you think night and day refer to here?
3. How are light and darkness contrasted?

C. Comment:

In Chapter 12, verse 9 Paul spoke about love and went on to talk about blessing your enemies. He then foresaw in the minds of his readers the thought, “The State is my enemy” and so went on to specifically deal with the question of authority and law.

From there his mind naturally flows on to love and the law of God. You see, he says, if you love you will automatically be doing all the other things that the commandments require. We don’t put aside the ten commandments, we actually fulfil them when we love God and love one another. So, he says, don’t have any ongoing debts but the debt of love. See yourself as constantly owing love to others!

Not only that, be alert to the fact that one of these days you will be seeing the Son of Glory (whether when He returns or when you die, whichever is earlier) and when He comes it will be like day following night. So in preparation for that, in a sense, put on light, put on Christ NOW and that will act as protection against the deeds of darkness (12:21 overcome evil with good!) which are to have no part in the Christian’s life. Let the light of Christ fill and surround your life and then there will be no room for evil in you!

D. Application?

1. As I love God and man, so I will fulfil the ten commandments.
2. As I “put on” Christ, so I will be giving no room for evil in my life.