Introduction
† This chapter deals with authority, love, and the urgency of their time.
† Paul is speaking to believers living under Roman rule before Jerusalem fell.
† The focus is submission, love fulfilling the law, and recognizing the time they were in.

Romans 13:1
Let every person place themselves under the governing authorities, because no authority exists except from God, and those that exist have been appointed by Him
† God allowed Rome to rule as part of His plan to bring judgment on Israel (Daniel 2:37-38)
† Jesus said authority comes from above, even to Pilate (John 19:11)
† This is about recognizing God's control in that moment, not blind obedience forever

Romans 13:2
So whoever resists authority is opposing what God has established, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves
† Resisting Rome in that time brought destruction, which happened in AD 70 (Luke 21:20-22)
† The Jewish rebellion led directly to their judgment
† This warning is tied to that generation

Romans 13:3
Rulers aren't a terror to good conduct, but to bad, if you want no fear of authority, do what's good and you'll receive praise
† Rome maintained order by punishing crime
† This is about civil order, not spiritual righteousness
† Even pagan authority was used to keep peace

Romans 13:4
Because it's God's servant for your good, but if you do wrong, be afraid, because it doesn't carry the sword for nothing, it's a servant of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil
† Rome was used as an instrument of God's wrath (Isaiah 10:5)
† The sword represents real power to punish
† This connects to the coming judgment on Jerusalem

Romans 13:5
So it's necessary to submit, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience sake
† Believers lived rightly, not just to avoid punishment
† Conscience mattered before God
† This separated them from rebellious groups

Romans 13:6
Because of this you also pay taxes, since they are servants of God devoted to this very thing
† Jesus already taught to pay taxes (Matthew 22:21)
† Paying taxes avoided unnecessary conflict
† This showed submission to the system God allowed

Romans 13:7
Give to everyone what is owed to them, tax to whom tax is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor
† Proper conduct keeps peace in society
† Honor and respect reflect godly living
† This maintains a good witness

Romans 13:8
Don't owe anything to anyone except to love one another, because the one who loves has fulfilled the law
† Love replaces the old law system
† The law's purpose is completed in love (Galatians 5:14)
† This shows covenant fulfillment

Romans 13:9
For this, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and any other commandment, it's summed up in this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself
† All commandments are summed up in love
† Love becomes the true standard
† The law reaches its fulfillment here

Romans 13:10
Love doesn't do harm to a neighbor, so love is the fulfillment of the law
† Love produces righteousness naturally
† The law is fulfilled, not continued
† This is the new covenant reality

Romans 13:11
Do this knowing the time, that it's already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed
† This was urgent for them, not future for us
† Salvation points to their coming deliverance (Hebrews 9:28)
† They were at the edge of fulfillment

Romans 13:12
The night is almost gone, and the day is near, so let's lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light
† The night is the old covenant fading
† The day is the new covenant arriving
† This matches Hebrews 8:13

Romans 13:13
Let's behave properly as in the day, not in drunkenness, not in sexual immorality, not in strife and jealousy
† Their behavior had to reflect the new reality
† This is practical holiness
† Identity shows through conduct

Romans 13:14
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and don't make plans for the flesh to fulfill its desires
† Putting on Christ means living in His finished work
† This is identity, not striving
† This is new covenant life

Historical References
† Josephus records that rebellion against Rome led to Jerusalem's destruction, confirming the warning
† Eusebius writes that believers fled Jerusalem, showing they understood the time
† Tacitus confirms Rome's authority and suppression of rebellion

How it applies to us today
† This was written to a specific generation approaching judgment
† We now live in the fulfilled kingdom reality
† Love is our governing principle, not law
† Salvation is accomplished, not future
† We walk in the light that has already come

Q & A Appendix
Q: Is this about modern government?
A: No, it was written to believers under Rome before AD 70 (Luke 21:20-22)
Q: Must we always obey authority?
A: No, God comes first (Acts 5:29)
Q: What does salvation is nearer mean?
A: It refers to their coming deliverance (Hebrews 9:28)
Q: What is the night and day?
A: Old covenant ending, new covenant arriving (Hebrews 8:13)
Q: How is love fulfillment of the law?
A: Love completes everything the law required (Galatians 5:14)

† This is the fulfilled perspective we proclaim at Fulfilled Prophecies †
© Fulfilled Prophecies - Dan Maines.

Source Index
† Romans 13
† Josephus, Wars of the Jews
† Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History
† Tacitus, Histories