New King James Version
Romans 13:2
2Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
Romans 13:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
- New International Version (NIV)Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
- New Living Translation (NLT)So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.
Context of Romans 13:2
1Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3For 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. 4For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
Read all of Romans 13Romans 13:2 word by word
ὥστε ὁ ἀντιτασσόμενος τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ τῇ τοῦ θεοῦ διαταγῇ ἀνθέστηκεν· οἱ δὲ ἀνθεστηκότες ἑαυτοῖς κρίμα λήμψονται.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Whosoeverἀντιτάσσωantitassomai · to resistG498
- thereforeὥστεhōste · soG5620
- the powerἐξουσίαexousia · authorityG1849
- resistethἀνθίστημιanthistēmi · to opposeG436
- the ordinanceδιαταγήdiatagē · ordinanceG1296
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- andδέde · thenG1161
- shall receiveλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
- to themselvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
- damnationκρίμαkrima · judgmentG2917
Cross-references for Romans 13:2
- Jeremiah 23:8but, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ And they shall dwell in their own land.”
- Jeremiah 44:14so that none of the remnant of Judah who have gone into the land of Egypt to dwell there shall escape or survive, lest they return to the land of Judah, to which they desire to return and dwell. For none shall return except those who escape.’ ”
- Isaiah 58:2Yet they seek Me daily, And delight to know My ways, As a nation that did righteousness, And did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God.
- 1 Peter 2:13Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme,
- Romans 13:5Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.
- Matthew 23:14Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
- Mark 12:40who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”
- Luke 20:47who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”
- James 3:1My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
Commentaries on Romans 13:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Whosoever resisteth the power - ̔ , He who sets himself in order against this order of God; ͅ ͅ, and they who resist, ̔ , they who obstinately, and for no right reason, oppose the ruler, and strive to unsettle the constitution, and to bring about illegal changes, Shall receive to themselves damnation - , condemnation; shall be condemned both by the spirit and letter of that constitution, which, under pretense of defending or improving, they are indirectly…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Whosoever therefore resisteth - That is, they who rise up against “government itself;” who seek anarchy and confusion; and who oppose the regular execution of the laws. It is implied, however, that those laws shall not be such as to violate the rights of conscience, or oppose the laws of God. Resisteth the ordinance of God - What God has ordained, or appointed. This means clearly that we are to regard “government” as instituted by God, and as agreeable…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2The main command in 13:1–7 is to submit to governing authorities. In God’s ordering of the world, people are accountable to those who hold positions of authority. This submission usually takes the form of obedience. However, God stands above all governments. For this reason, submission to governing authorities is always shaped by our ultimate obedience to God (see Acts 4:19–20). Some Christians in Rome may have been resisting the government. They may have…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-141-2. Let every soul--every man of you be subject unto the higher powers--or, "submit himself to the authorities that are above him." For there is no power--"no authority" but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God--"have been ordained of God."Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 13:2
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries