ἐξουσία, submission, and the sword (13:1–7)
Says Everyone must submit to superior authorities (13:1). ἐξουσία (exousia, "authority") is from God; existing authorities are appointed by him. Resisting God's ordinance brings judgment (13:2).
Says Rulers are a terror to bad conduct, not good (13:3). The authority is God's servant and avenger toward the wrongdoer, bearing the μάχαιρα (machaira, "sword", 13:4). Submission is for wrath and conscience (13:5); taxes, revenue, respect, and honor are due (13:6–7).
Implies Rulers, sword, and taxes identify civil authority. The sword names coercive or punitive power in context. Divine appointment does not morally approve every ruler or action; conscience is more than fear of being caught. Contrast personal vengeance (note.language.Rom.12.17-Rom.12.21.orge-anthrakas).
Uncertain The duty may be unconditional, qualified by obedience to God, vocation-conditioned, or pragmatic non-insurrection. "Everyone" supports the unconditional reading; Acts 5:29 grounds obedience-to-God limits; "for good" grounds vocation-conditioning; avoiding wrath grounds pragmatic restraint. The sword may authorize execution or coercion generally, without settling Christian participation. See note.exegetical.Rom.13.1-Rom.13.7.authority-limits for the competing grounds and objections. τελεῖτε (teleite, "pay") permits indicative or imperative parsing: the explanatory context supports a statement; the surrounding commands support an imperative. No lean is taken here.
RP and TR add the noun and independent article at 13:1 (var.Rom.13.1.exousiai), use genitive plurals at 13:3 (var.Rom.13.3.agatho-ergo; var.Rom.13.3.kako), and add "therefore" at 13:7. TR alone has "from" rather than "by" God in 13:1's first clause.
Claims
- SaysEveryone is to submit to superior authorities; authority is from God and existing authorities are appointed by him; resisting that ordinance brings judgment (13:1–2).
- SaysRulers are a terror to bad conduct; the authority is God’s servant, bears the sword, and is an avenger toward the wrongdoer; submission is for wrath and conscience; taxes and other dues are to be rendered (13:3–7).
- ImpliesRulers, sword, and taxes identify civil authority; the sword names coercive or punitive power in context; divine appointment does not declare every ruler or act morally approved; conscience is more than fear of being caught.
- UncertainThe duty may be unconditional, qualified by obedience to God, vocation-conditioned, or pragmatic; execution and Christian participation remain disputed. τελεῖτε permits an indicative, supported by the explanatory context, or an imperative, supported by surrounding commands. No lean is taken here; the authority-limits note carries the fuller comparison.
Citations
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. ἐξουσία (G1849) —
a ruler or magistrate
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. τάσσω (G5021) —
to draw up in order, arrange in place, assign, appoint, order
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. ἀντιτάσσω (G498), middle ἀντιτάσσομαι —
to set oneself against, resist
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. διάκονος (G1249) —
a servant, attendant, minister
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. μάχαιρα (G3162) —
a short sword or dagger
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. φόρος (G5411) —
tribute paid by a subject nation
- SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Rom 13:1–7
2026-11-06
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