Daniel P. Barron

1 Let every soul be subject to higher ⁱ authorities. For no authority exists, except by God, ⁱⁱ and the authorities who exist are appointed by the God. 2 So that, the one opposing the authority resists the ordinance of the God, and those who resist will receive judgment upon themselves. ⁱⁱⁱ 3 For the rulers are not a fear of the good works, but of the bad. And, do you want to not fear the authority? Do the good, and you will have praise from the same.

4 For he is a servant of God to you for the good. And if you do the bad, fear. For he does not vainly bear the sword. For he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to the one who does the bad. 5 Therefore, to be subject is a necessity, not only because of the wrath, but also because of the conscience.

6 For because of this, you pay taxes. For they are ministers ^iv of God continuing unto this very thing. 7 Therefore, pay to all the dues, to whom the tax, the tax, to whom the custom, the custom, to whom the fear, the fear, to whom the honor, the honor. 8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another. For the one who loves the other has fulfilled law.

9 For this, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, ^v you shall not desire, ^vi and if some other commandment, in this the word is summed up, in that, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. 10 The love to the neighbor does not work bad. Therefore, the love is fulfillment of law.

11 And this, knowing the time, that an hour is already for us to be raised from sleep. For now, the salvation is nearer for us than when we believed. 12 The night advanced, and the day has come near. Therefore, let us lay aside the works of the darkness and put on the instruments of the light. ^vii 13 As in day, let us walk properly, not in revelry ^viii and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity ^ix and lewdness, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But, put on the Lord Joshua Christ, and make no provision for desires of the flesh.

Romans 12 - Romans 14

Translated by Darwin Fish. See original pdf.

1. ὑπερεχούσαις (huperechousais) “higher” YLT, KJV; “governing” NKJV, NAS – found also in Philippians 2:3 (“better”); 3:8 (“excellence”); 4:7 (“surpasses”); 1 Peter 2:13 (king as “supreme”). ^
2. Romans 11:36; Lamentations 3:37 ^
3. Even if the authority is being unjust, He still requires we do not oppose/resist (Matthew 5:39//Luke 6:29-30; James 5:6). See also Lamentations 3:27-41 (vs 33 is more literally, “for he does not afflict from his heart” e.g. Jeremiah 9:1-3). ^
4. λειτουργοὶ (leitourgoi) “ministers” - found also in Romans 15:16; Philippians 2:25; Hebrews 1:7; 8:2. Related verb, λειτουργέω (leitourgeô), has to do with service (ministering) to God, found in Acts 13:2; Romans 15:27; Hebrews 10:11. ^
5. RT, ψευδομαρτυρήσεις (pseudomarturêseis) “you shall not bear false witness,” not in the CT or MT. ^
6. ἐπιθυμήσεις (epithumêseis) “desire” - see Romans 7:7 and footnote. Covetousness = desiring what you should not. ^
7. Ephesians 6:12-18 ^
8. κώμοις (kômois) “revelry” (“noisy partying” Webster) NKJV; “rioting” KJV; “carousing” NAS – found also in Galatians 5:21; 1 Peter 4:3. ^
9. κοίταις (koitais) plural noun, “sexual promiscuity” NAS; see footnote for Romans 9:10. ^