1: Let
every soul yield to the higher powers For there is no power but of God the
powers that be are ordained of God[1] 2:
Whosoever therefore resists the powers resist the ordinance of God and they
that resist shall receive to themselves damnation 3: For rulers are not
a terror to good works but to the evil Will you then not be afraid of the powers
Do that which is good and you shall have praise of the same 4: For he is
the minister of God to you for good But if you do that which is evil be afraid For
he bears not the sword in vain for he is the minister of God a revenger to
execute wrath upon them that do evil 5: Wherefore it is necessary that
you yield not only for wrath but also for conscience sake 6: For, for
this cause you pay tribute also for they are God's ministers attending
continually upon this very thing 7: Render therefore to all their dues
tribute to whom tribute is due custom to whom custom fear to whom fear honor to
whom honor 8: Owe no one anything but to love one another for they that
love another has fulfilled the law 9: For this You shall not commit
adultery You shall not kill You shall not steal You shall not bear false
witness You shalt not covet and if there be any other commandment it is briefly
comprehended in this saying namely You shall love your neighbor as yourself 10:
Love worketh no ill to its neighbor therefore love is the fulfilling of the law
11: And that knowing the time that now it is high time to awake out of
sleep for now is our deliverance nearer than when we believed 12: The
night is far spent the day is at hand let us therefore cast off the works of
darkness and let us put on the armor of light 13: Let us walk honestly
as in the day not in rioting and drunkenness not in chambering and wantonness
not in strife and envying 14: But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and
make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof
[1] It is God who raises up Kings
(Presidents, elected officials, magistrates, etc.). And it is God who brings
them down. It is the place of the Christian to pray for those who are in
authority over us, to speak up in defense of the defenseless, to bring relief
to those who are oppressed, and to obey just laws. It is the place of those
whom God has raised up to use their positions of power for good and not for evil.
Additional commentary pending for this
chapter. Questions and comments are welcome.
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