A Christian’s Duties to the State

1Everyone must submit to the governing authorities,a for there is no authority except from God,b and those that exist are instituted by God. 2So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers are not a terrorc to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. 4For government is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For government is God’s servant, an avengerd that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. 5Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath, but also because of your conscience.e 6And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s public servants, continually attending to these tasks.f 7Pay your obligationsg to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes,h tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect,i and honor to those you owe honor.

Love, Our Primary Duty

8Do not owe anyone anything,j except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.k 9The commandments:

Do not commit adultery;

do not murder;

do not steal;l

do not covet;m, n

and whatever other commandment — all are summed up by this: Love your neighbor as yourself.o, p

10Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law.

Put On Christ

11Besides this, knowing the time, it is already the hourq for your to wake up from sleep,s for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.t 12The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near,u so let us discard the deeds of darknessv and put on the armor of light.w 13Let us •walk with decency,x as in the daylight: not in carousing and drunkenness;y not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. 14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,z and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires.aa