Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 13

Let every soul. Every person. In the first seven verses of this chapter, the apostle discusses the subject of the duty that Christians owe to civil government; a subject that is extremely important, and at the same time exceedingly difficult. There is no doubt that he had express reference to the peculiar situation of the Christians at Rome; but the subject was of so much importance that he gives it a general bearing, and states the great principles on which all Christians are to act. The circumstances that made this discussion proper and important were the following:

1. The Christian religion was designed to extend throughout the world. Yet it contemplated the rearing of a kingdom amid other kingdoms, an empire amid other empires. Christians professed supreme allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ; He was their Lawgiver, their Sovereign, their Judge. It became, therefore, a question of great importance and difficulty, what kind of allegiance they were to render to earthly magistrates.

2. The kingdoms of the world were then pagan kingdoms. The laws were made by pagans and were adapted to the prevalence of heathenism. Those kingdoms had been generally founded in conquest, blood, and oppression. Many of the monarchs were blood-stained warriors, were unprincipled men, and were polluted in their private and oppressive in their public character. Whether Christians were to acknowledge the laws of such kingdoms and of such men was a serious question, and one that could not but occur very early. It would occur also very soon, in circumstances that would be very affecting and trying. Soon the hands of these magistrates were to be raised against Christians in the fiery scenes of persecution, and the duty and extent of submission to them became a matter of very serious inquiry.

3. Many of the early Christians were composed of Jewish converts. Yet the Jews had long been under Roman oppression and had borne the foreign yoke with great uneasiness. The whole heathen magistracy they regarded as founded in a system of idolatry, as opposed to God and His kingdom, and as an abomination in His sight. With these feelings they had become Christians; and it was natural that their former sentiments should exert an influence on them after their conversion. How far they should submit, if at all, to heathen magistrates, was a question of deep interest; and there was danger that the Jewish converts might prove to be disorderly and rebellious citizens of the empire.

4. Nor was the case much different with the Gentile converts. They would naturally look with abhorrence on the system of idolatry that they had just forsaken. They would regard all as opposed to God. They would denounce the religion of the pagans as an abomination; and as that religion was interwoven with the civil institutions, there was danger also that they might denounce the government altogether and be regarded as opposed to the laws of the land.

5. There were cases where it was right to resist the laws. This the Christian religion clearly taught; and, in cases like these, it was indispensable for Christians to take a stand. When the laws interfered with the rights of conscience, when they commanded the worship of idols, or any moral wrong, then it was their duty to refuse submission. Yet, in what cases this was to be done, where the line was to be drawn, was a question of deep importance, and one that was not easily settled. It is quite probable, however, that the main danger was that the early Christians would err in refusing submission, even when it was proper, rather than in undue conformity to idolatrous rites and ceremonies.

6. In the changes that were to occur in human governments, it would be an inquiry of deep interest what part Christians should take, and what submission they should yield to the various laws that might spring up among the nations. The principles on which Christians should act are settled in this chapter. Be subject. Submit. The word denotes that kind of submission that soldiers render to their officers. It implies subordination; a willingness to occupy our proper place, to yield to the authority of those over us. The word used here does not designate the extent of the submission but merely enjoins it in general. The general principle will be seen to be that we are to obey in all things that are not contrary to the law of God.

The higher powers. The magistracy; the supreme government. It undoubtedly here refers to the Roman magistracy and has relation not so much to the rulers as to the supreme authority that was established as the constitution of government (Matthew 28:18).

For. The apostle gives a reason why Christians should be subject; and that reason is that magistrates have received their appointment from God. As Christians, therefore, are to be subject to God, so they are to honor God by honoring the arrangement that He has instituted for the government of mankind. Doubtless, he here intends also to repress the vain curiosity and agitation with which men are prone to inquire into the titles of their rulers; to guard them from the agitations and conflicts of party, and of contentions to establish a favorite on the throne. It might be that those in power had not a proper title to their office, that they had secured it not according to justice but by oppression; but into that question Christians were not to enter. The government was established, and they were not to seek to overturn it.

No power. No office; no magistracy; no civil rule.

But of God. By God's permission or appointment; by the arrangements of His providence, by which those in office had obtained their power. God often claims and asserts that He sets up one and puts down another (Psalms 75:7; Daniel 2:21; Daniel 4:17, 26, 34-35).

The powers that be. That is, all the civil magistracies that exist; those who have the rule over nations, by whatever means they may have obtained it. This is equally true at all times, that the powers that exist, exist by the permission and providence of God.

Are ordained of God. This word ordained denotes the ordering or arrangement that exists in a military company or army. God sets them in order, assigns them their location, and changes and directs them as He pleases. This does not mean that He originates or causes the evil dispositions of rulers, but that He directs and controls their appointment. By this we are not to infer:

1. That He approves their conduct; nor,

2. That what they do is always right; nor,

3. That it is our duty always to submit to them. Their requirements may be opposed to the law of God, and then we are to obey God rather than man (Acts 4:19; Acts 5:29). But it is meant that the power is entrusted to them by God, and that He has the authority to remove them when He pleases.

If they abuse their power, however, they do it at their peril; and when so abused, the obligation to obey them ceases. That this is the case is apparent, further, from the nature of the question that would be likely to arise among the early Christians. It could not be and never was a question whether they should obey a magistrate when he commanded a thing that was plainly contrary to the law of God.

But the question was whether they should obey a heathen magistrate at all. This question the apostle answers in the affirmative, because God had made government necessary, and because it was arranged and ordered by His providence. Probably, also, the apostle had another object in view. At the time in which he wrote this epistle, the Roman empire was agitated with civil dissensions.

One emperor followed another in rapid succession. The throne was often seized, not by right, but by crime. Different claimants would rise, and their claims would excite controversy. The object of the apostle was to prevent Christians from entering into those disputes and from taking an active part in a political controversy.

Besides, the throne had been usurped by the reigning emperors, and there was a prevalent disposition to rebel against a tyrannical government. Claudius had been put to death by poison, Caligula in a violent manner; Nero was a tyrant; and, amidst these agitations, crimes, and revolutions, the apostle wished to guard Christians from taking an active part in political affairs.

Whosoever therefore resisteth, etc. That is, those who rise up against government itself; who seek anarchy and confusion; and who oppose the regular execution of the laws. It is implied, however, that those laws shall not be such as to violate the rights of conscience or oppose the laws of God.

Resisteth the ordinance of God. That is, what God has ordained, or appointed. This means, clearly, that we are to regard government as instituted by God and as agreeable to his will. When established, we are not to be agitated about the titles of the rulers; not to enter into angry contentions, or to refuse to submit to them because we are apprehensive of a defect in their title, or because they may have obtained it by oppression. If the government is established, and if its decisions are not a manifest violation of the laws of God, we are to submit to them.

Shall receive to themselves damnation. The word "damnation" we now apply exclusively to the punishment of hell, to future torments. But this is not necessarily the meaning of the word used here (krima). It often simply denotes punishment (Romans 3:8; 1 Corinthians 11:29; Galatians 5:10).

In this place, the word implies guilt or criminality in resisting the ordinance of God and affirms that the man who does it shall be punished. Whether the apostle means that he shall be punished by God or by the magistrate is not quite clear. Probably the latter, however, is intended . It is also true that such resistance shall be attended with the displeasure of God and punished by him.

For rulers. The apostle here speaks of rulers in general. It may not be universally true that they are not a terror to good works, for many of them have persecuted the good; but it is generally true that those who are virtuous have nothing to fear from the laws. It is universally true, that the design of their appointment by God was not to injure and oppress the good, but to detect and punish the evil. Magistrates, as such, are not a terror to good works.

Are not a terror, etc. Are not appointed to punish the good. Their appointment is not to inspire terror in those who are virtuous and peaceable citizens. (Compare to 1 Timothy 1:9).

But to the evil. Appointed to detect and punish evil-doers, and therefore an object of terror to them. The design of the apostle here is, evidently, to reconcile Christians to submission to the government, from its utility. It is appointed to protect the good against the evil; to restrain oppression, injustice, and fraud; to bring offenders to justice, and thus promote the peace and harmony of the community.

As it is designed to promote order and happiness, it should be submitted to; and so long as this object is pursued and obtained, government should receive the countenance and support of Christians. But if it departs from this principle and becomes the protector of the evil and the oppressor of the good, the case is reversed, and the obligation to its support must cease.

Wilt thou not, etc. If you do evil by resisting the laws, or in any other manner, will you not fear the power of the government? Fear is one of the means by which people are restrained from crime in a community. On many minds it operates with much more power than any other motive. And it is one which a magistrate must make use of to restrain people from evil.

Do that which is good. Be a virtuous and peaceable citizen; abstain from crime, and yield obedience to all the just laws of the land.

And thou shalt have praise of the same. (Compare to 1 Peter 2:14–15). You shall be unmolested and uninjured, and shall receive the commendation of being peaceable and upright citizens. The prospect of that protection, and even of that reputation, is not an unworthy motive to yield obedience to the laws. Every Christian should desire the reputation of being a person seeking the welfare of his country, and the just execution of the laws.

The minister of God. The servant of God. He is appointed by God to do his will, and to execute his purposes.

To you. For your benefit.

For good. That is, to protect you in your rights; to vindicate your name, person, or property; and to guard your liberty, and secure to you the rewards of your industry. The magistrate is not appointed directly to reward men, but they practically furnish a reward by protecting and defending them, and securing to them the interests of justice.

If you do that, etc. That is, if any citizen should do evil. Be afraid. Fear the just vengeance of the laws.

For he does not bear the sword in vain. The sword is an instrument of punishment, as well as an emblem of war. Princes were accustomed to wear a sword as an emblem of their authority; and the sword was often used for the purpose of beheading, or otherwise punishing the guilty.

The meaning of the apostle is, that he does not wear this badge of authority as an unmeaning show, but that it will be used to execute the laws. As this is the design of the power entrusted to him, and as he will exercise his authority, men should be influenced by fear to keep the law, even if there were no better motive.

A revenger, etc. In Romans 12:19, vengeance is said to belong to God. Yet he executes his vengeance by means of subordinate agents.

It belongs to him to take vengeance by direct judgments, by the plague, famine, sickness, or earthquakes; by the appointment of magistrates; or by letting loose the passions of men to prey upon each other.

When a magistrate inflicts punishment on the guilty, it is to be regarded as the act of God taking vengeance by him; and on this principle only is it right for a judge to condemn a man to death.

It is not because one man has by nature any right over the life of another, or because society has any right collectively which it does not have as individuals; but because God gave life, and because he has chosen to take it away when crime is committed, by the appointment of magistrates, and not by coming forth himself visibly to execute the laws.

Where human laws fail, however, he often takes vengeance into his own hands; and by the plague, or some signal judgments, sweeps the guilty into eternity.

To execute wrath. For an explanation of the word wrath, see the comments on Romans 1:18.

It denotes here punishment, or the just execution of the laws. It may be remarked that this verse is an incidental proof of the propriety of capital punishment.

The sword was undoubtedly an instrument for this purpose, and the apostle mentions its use without any remark of disapprobation. He enjoins subjection to those who wear the sword, that is, to those who execute the laws by that; and evidently intends to speak of the magistrate with the sword, or in inflicting capital punishment, as having received the appointment of God.

The tendency of society now is not to too sanguinary laws. It is rather to forget that God has doomed the murderer to death; and though humanity should be consulted in the execution of the laws, yet there is no humanity in allowing the murderer to live to infest society and endanger many lives, in place of his own, which was forfeited to justice.

Far better that one murderer should die, than that he should be allowed to live, to stain his hands perhaps in the blood of many who are innocent. But the authority of God has settled this question (Genesis 9:5–6), and it is neither right nor safe for a community to disregard his solemn decisions. See Blackstone's Commentaries, vol. iv. p. 8, [9.]

Therefore, (dio). The reasons why we should be subject, which the apostle had given, were two:

1. That government was appointed by God.
2. That violation of the laws would necessarily expose to punishment.

You must needs be. It is necessary (anagkh) to be. This is a word stronger than that which implies mere fitness or propriety. It means that it is a matter of high obligation and necessity to be subject to the civil ruler.

Not only for wrath. Not only on account of the fear of punishment, or the fact that wrath will be executed on evildoers.

For conscience' sake. As a matter of conscience, or of duty to God, because he has appointed it and made it necessary and proper. A good citizen yields obedience because it is the will of God, and a Christian makes it a part of his religion to maintain and obey the just laws of the land. See Matthew 22:21. Compare Ecclesiastes 8:2: I counsel them to keep the king's commandments, and that in regard of the oath of God.