CHAPTER 13
Everyone
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.
Consequently,
the one who
resists
authority
is opposing
what
God
has set in place,
and
those who
do so
will bring
judgment
on themselves.
For
rulers
are
not
a terror
to good
conduct,
but
bad.
Do you want
to be unafraid
of the
one in authority?
Then do
what is
right,
and
you will have
his
approval.
For
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.
Therefore,
it is necessary
to submit to authority ,
not
only
to avoid
punishment,
but
also
as a matter of
conscience.
This is also why
you pay
taxes.
For
the authorities are
God’s
servants,
who devote themselves
to
their work.
Pay
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.
Be indebted
to no one,
except
to one another
in love,
for
he who
loves
his
neighbor
has fulfilled
the Law.
The commandments
“Do not commit adultery,”
“Do not murder,”
“Do not steal,”
“Do not covet,”
and
any
other
commandments,
are summed up
in
this
one
decree:
“Love
your
neighbor
as
yourself.”
And do
this,
understanding
the
occasion.
The hour
has come
for you
to wake up
from
your slumber,
for
our
salvation
is nearer
now
than
when
we first believed.
The
night
is nearly over;
the
day
has drawn near.
So
let us lay aside
the
deeds
of darkness
and
put on
the
armor
of light.
Let us behave
decently,
as
in
the daytime,
not
in carousing
and
drunkenness,
not
in sexual immorality
and
debauchery,
not
in dissension
and
jealousy.
Instead,
clothe yourselves
with the
Lord
Jesus
Christ,
and
make
no
provision
for
the desires
of the
flesh.