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July 31, 2026 (Gregorian calendar/7th month/Day 211)
Friday, 24 Hamle 2018 (Ethiopian calendar/11th month)
Karar (Karar) כרר 8 (Enochian calendar/5th month/Heat of summer)
16 July, 2026 (International Fixed calendar)
Magnetic Moon 1, Limi 6 (13 Moon calendar/Waning Gibbous moon)
~ Magnetic Bat Moon of Purpose, July 26th – August 22nd
Holly Moon: July 8 – August 4 (Celtic 13 Month Tree calendar)
Month of the Ripe Corn Moon…Gu ye quo ni (Cherokee Moon)
canpasapa wi…moon when the chokecherries are black (Lakota Moon)
13.0.13.14.10 8 Oc 3 Yaxk’in’ (Mayan Long Count calendar)
shredded wheat day

Romans 13:1-7
(Berean Standard Bible)
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. 2 Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. 4 For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.
5 Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work. 7 Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

summary:

Verses 1–2 – Submission to Authorities
Paul declares that every person must place himself under the existing governing powers because all authority comes from God. Resisting rulers equals resisting God’s arrangement and invites judgment.

Verses 3–4 – Government as God’s Servant
Rulers are meant to discourage wrongdoing and reward good deeds. The magistrate “does not carry the sword in vain,” meaning he has divine permission to punish evil for the protection of society.

Verses 5–7 – Conscience, Taxes, and Honor
Believers submit not only to avoid punishment but also to keep a clear conscience. Paying taxes, revenue, respect, and honor are all part of recognizing that civil servants are “God’s servants.”

Historical Setting: Believers in Nero’s Rome
Paul likely wrote around AD 57 while Nero was on the throne. Rome boasted more than a million residents, a sophisticated road system, and strict tax collection. Christians faced suspicion yet had not begun the brutal persecutions that would erupt a few years later. Paul’s counsel prepared the church for loyalty to lawful authority even under a pagan emperor.

Practical Applications for Today
• Pay taxes honestly, even when disagreeing with rates.
• Vote, obey laws, and advocate for justice without slander or violence.
• Show courtesy to police, judges, and civil servants.
• Keep short accounts—repay debts promptly; maintain the permanent debt of love.
• Live expectantly: Christ’s return may be soon; let that govern entertainment, relationships, and spending.
• Replace sinful habits with intentional pursuit of Christlikeness – “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ” daily.

Teaching Points:
Divine Ordination of Authorities
Romans 13:1 states, Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. This verse emphasizes that all governing authorities are established by God, and thus, respecting them is part of our obedience to Him.

Consequences of Rebellion
Verse 2 warns, Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. This highlights the spiritual and practical consequences of resisting governmental authority.

Role of Authorities
According to Romans 13:3-4, For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is right, and you will have his approval. For he is God’s servant to you for good. Authorities are meant to promote good and restrain evil, serving as God’s servants for our benefit.

Obligation to Pay Taxes
Verse 6-7 instructs, This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work. Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due. Paying taxes and showing respect are part of our Christian duty.

Romans 13 continues Paul’s teaching on how believers should live. He focuses on the believer’s relationship with civil authority, the ongoing obligation to love, and the urgency to live out the Christian faith in light of the coming day of salvation.

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