Romans 13:1-14 (AMP)
1 LET EVERY person be loyally subject to
the governing (civil) authorities. For there is no authority except from God [by
His permission, His sanction], and those that exist do so by God’s appointment.
2 Therefore he who resists and
sets himself up against the authorities resists what God has appointed and
arranged [in divine order]. And those who resist will bring down judgment upon
themselves [receiving the penalty due them].
3 For civil authorities are not a terror
to [people of] good conduct, but to [those of] bad behavior. Would you have no
dread of him who is in authority? Then do what is right and you will receive his
approval and commendation.
4 For he is God’s servant for your good.
But if you do wrong, [you should dread him and] be afraid, for he does not bear
and wear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant to execute His
wrath (punishment, vengeance) on the wrongdoer.
5 Therefore one must be subject, not
only to avoid God’s wrath and escape punishment, but also as a matter
of principle and for the sake of conscience.
6 For this same reason you pay taxes,
for [the civil authorities] are official servants under God, devoting themselves
to attending to this very service.
7 Render to all men their dues. [Pay]
taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom
respect is due, and honor to whom honor is due.
8 Keep out of debt and owe no
man anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor [who
practices loving others] has fulfilled the Law [relating to one’s fellowmen,
meeting all its requirements].
9 The commandments, You shall not commit
adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet (have an
evil desire), and any other commandment, are summed up in the single command,
You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.
10 Love does no wrong to one’s neighbor
[it never hurts anybody]. Therefore love meets all the requirements and
is the fulfilling of the Law.
11 Besides this you know what [a
critical] hour this is, how it is high time now for you to wake up out of your
sleep (rouse to reality). For salvation (final deliverance) is nearer to us now
than when we first believed (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Christ, the
Messiah).
12 The night is far gone and the day is
almost here. Let us then drop (fling away) the works and deeds of
darkness and put on the [full] armor of light.
13 Let us live and conduct
ourselves honorably and becomingly as in the [open light of] day, not
in reveling (carousing) and drunkenness, not in immorality and debauchery
(sensuality and licentiousness), not in quarreling and jealousy.
14 But clothe yourself with the Lord
Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh [put
a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature] to [gratify
its] desires (lusts).
1 Peter 2:13-14 (AMP)
13 Be submissive to every human
institution and authority for the sake of the Lord, whether it be to
the emperor as supreme,
14 Or to
governors as sent by him to bring vengeance (punishment, justice) to those who
do wrong and to encourage those who do good service.
Titus 3:1 (AMP)
1 REMIND PEOPLE to be submissive to
[their] magistrates and authorities, to be obedient, to be prepared and
willing to do any upright and honorable work,