.
The epistle to the Romans, the longest, the most systematic,
and the most profound of all the epistles, and perhaps the most important book
in the Bible, was written by the apostle Paul when he was in the Greek city of Corinth,
about 58 A.D.
American Standard Version 1901
ROMANS 1:1
ROMANS 1:1
1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called [to be] an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
2 which he promised afore through his prophets in the holy scriptures,
3 concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,
4 who was declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; [even] Jesus Christ our Lord,
ROMANS 13
ROMANS 13
13:1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the [powers] that be are ordained of God.
2. Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment.
3. For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same:
4. for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil.
5. Wherefore [ye] must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience` sake.
To the higher powers (exousiaiß uperecousaiß). Abstract for concrete. See Mark 2:10 for exousia. Huperecw is an old verb to have or hold over, to be above or supreme, as in 1 Peter 2:13.
Except by God (ei mh upo qeou). So the best MSS. rather than apo qeou (from God). God is the author of order, not anarchy. The powers that be (ai ousai). "The existing authorities" (supply exousiai). Art ordained (tetagmenai eisin). Periphrastic perfect passive indicative of tassw, "stand ordained by God."
Paul is not arguing for the divine right of kings or for any special form of government, but for government and order. Nor does he oppose here revolution for a change of government, but he does oppose all lawlessness and disorder.
(o antitassomenoß). Present middle articular participle of antitassw, old verb to range in battle against as in Acts 18:6, "he that lines himself up against." Withstandeth (anqesthken). Perfect active indicative of anqisthmi and intransitive, "has taken his stand against." The ordinance of God (th tou qeou diatagh). Late word, but common in papyri (Deissmann, Light, etc., p. 89), in N.T. only here and Acts 7:53. Note repetition of root of tassw. To themselves (eautoiß). Dative of disadvantage. See Mark 12:40 for "shall receive a judgment" (krina lhmpsontai). Future middle of lambanw.
(qeou diakonoß). General sense of diakonoß. Of course even Nero was God's minister "to thee (soi ethical dative) for good (eiß to agaqon, for the good)." That is the ideal, the goal. Beareth (porei). Present active indicative of porew, old frequentative form of perw, to bear, to wear. But if thou do (ean de poihß). Condition of third class, ean and present active subjunctive of poiew, "if thou continue to do." Sword (macairan). Symbol of authority as to-day policemen carry clubs or pistols. "The Emperor Trajan presented to a provincial governor on starting for his province, a dagger, with the words, 'For me. If I deserve it, in me'" (Vincent). An avenger (ekdikoß). Old adjective from ek and dikh (right), "outside of penalty," unjust, then in later Greek "exacting penalty from one," in N.T. only here and 1 Thessalonians 4:6.
ROMANS 16:16-27
Now to him that is able to establish you according to
my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ,
to euaggelion mou kai to khrugma ihsou cristou
according to the revelation of the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal,
but now is manifested, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known unto all the nations unto obedience of faith:
to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever. Amen
