Romans 13:3

Romans 13:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
• New International Version (NIV)For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,
• New King James Version (NKJV)For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.

Context of Romans 13:3

1Everyone must obey the government officers. It is God who gives the authority to rule. The people who rule have received their authority from God. 2So anyone who refuses to obey that authority is refusing to obey God. That person will receive the proper punishment. People who do good things do not need to be afraid of the rulers. Only people who do bad things should be afraid of the rulers. Do you want to live and not be afraid of the rulers? Then you must do good things and they will respect you. 4Rulers are God's servants. They help you to do good things. But if you do bad things, then you should be afraid of them. They really do have authority to punish people. On God's behalf they punish people who do bad things. 5So you must obey the people who have authority to rule. You must obey them not only so that they do not punish you. You must obey them because it is right to obey them. And you yourselves know that this is right.

Romans 13:3 word by word

οἱ γὰρ ἄρχοντες οὐκ εἰσὶν φόβος τῷ ἀγαθῷ ἔργῳ ἀλλὰ τῷ κακῷ. θέλεις δὲ μὴ φοβεῖσθαι τὴν ἐξουσίαν; τὸ ἀγαθὸν ποίει καὶ ἕξεις ἔπαινον ἐξ αὐτῆς·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• rulersὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• rulersἄρχωνarchōn · rulerG758
• areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• notοὐou · noG3756
• a terrorφόβοςphobos · fearG5401
• toἔργονergon · workG2041
• goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• to the evilκακόςkakos · evil/harm: evilG2556
• Wilt thouθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• thenδέde · thenG1161
• notμήmē · notG3361
• be afraid ofφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399
• the powerἐξουσίαexousia · authorityG1849
• doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• thou shalt haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• praiseἔπαινοςepainos · praiseG1868
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• the sameαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846

Cross-references for Romans 13:3

• Romans 13:4Rulers are God's servants. They help you to do good things. But if you do bad things, then you should be afraid of them. They really do have authority to punish people. On God's behalf they punish people who do bad things.
• Deuteronomy 25:1When there is an argument between two people, they must both go to the judges. Then the judges will decide which of the two people is right. They will decide the punishment for the guilty person.
• Proverbs 14:35A king will be pleased with a wise servant. But he will be angry with any servant who brings shame.
• Proverbs 20:2When the king is angry, he is as dangerous as a lion that roars. If you make him angry, you will lose your life.
• Ecclesiastes 10:4If your master becomes angry with you, do not leave your place. Be patient and answer him quietly. Then he will forgive your mistakes.
• Jeremiah 22:15Are you better than other kings because you use more cedar wood to build your palace? Think about how your father lived. He did what was right and fair. He had enough to eat and to drink. So he was happy with a good life.
• 1 Peter 2:13Obey all people who have authority in this world. Obey them, because you are servants of the Lord Jesus. First of all, obey the king, who rules everyone.
• 1 Peter 3:13If you always try to do good things, then nobody should hurt you.

Commentaries on Romans 13:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3For rulers are not a terror to good works - Here the apostle shows the civil magistrate what he should be: he is clothed with great power, but that power is entrusted to him, not for the terror and oppression of the upright man, but to overawe and punish the wicked. It is, in a word, for the benefit of the community, and not for the aggrandizement of himself, that God has entrusted the supreme civil power to any man. If he should use this to wrong, rob…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3For rulers - The apostle here speaks of rulers “in general.” It may not be “universally” true that they are not a terror to good works, for many of them have “persecuted” the good; but it is generally true that they who are virtuous have nothing to fear from the laws. It is “universally” true that the design of their appointment by God was, not to injure and oppress the good, but to detect and punish the evil. Magistrates, “as such,” are not a terror to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3rulers are not a terror to good conduct: Paul presents a positive picture of governing authorities. He describes them according to the role God has given them. Paul does not discuss situations where rulers punish those who do good and reward those who do evil. Paul was aware of such situations. He knew them from the Old Testament and Jewish history, from the experience of Jesus and the other apostles, and from events in the Greco-Roman world. Here, Paul…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-43-4. For rulers are not a terror to good works--"to the good work," as the true reading appears to be but to the evil.Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 13:3

• Citizens
• Government
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Chamber
• Chambering
• Comprehend
• Custom
• Fear
• Near
• Owe
• Sword
• Taxes
• Terror

Commentaries on Romans 13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings