Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsRomans 13
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read Romans 13 in the BibleRomans 13:2
They that resist.
◦ Whosoever resisteth or obeyeth not his lawful Superior in those causes wherein he is subject unto him, withstandeth God's appointment, & sinneth deadly, and is worthy to be punished both in this world by his Superior, and by God in the next life. For in temporal government and causes, the Christians were bound in conscience to obey their Heathen Emperors: though on the other side, they were bound under pain of damnation to obey their Apostles and prelates, and not to obey their kings or Emperors, in matters of religion. Whereby it is clear that when we be commanded to obey our Superiors, it is meant always, and only in such things as they may lawfully command, and in respect of such matters wherein they be our Superiors.
- ◦ In things lawfully commanded it is mortal sin not to obey our Superiors.
Romans 13:4
Beareth not the sword.
[1] That the Apostle meaneth here specially of temporal powers, we may see by the sword, tribute, & external compulsion, which he here attributeth to them. And the Christian men then had no doubt whether they should obey their Spiritual powers. But now the disease is clean contrary. For all is given to the secular power, and nothing to the spiritual, which expressly is ordained by Christ and the Holy Ghost: and all the faithful are commanded to be subject thereunto, as to Christ's own word and will. [2] There were Heretics called Begardi, that took away all rule and Superiority: The Wiclefists would obey not Prince nor Prelate, if he were once in deadly sin. The Protestants of our time (as we may see in all Countries where the secular sword is drawn against their Sects) care neither for the one nor for the other, though they extol only the secular when it maketh for them. [3] The Catholics only most humbly obey both, even according to God's ordinance, the one in temporal causes, and the other in Spiritual: in which order both these States have blessedly flourished in all Christian countries ever since Christ's time, and it is the very way to preserve both, as one day all the world shall confess with us.
- 1 The Apostle speaketh of temporal powers.
- 2 Heresies against rule and Superiority.
- 3 The obedience of Catholics both to Spiritual and temporal Superiors.
Romans 13:6
You give tributes.
Though every man ought to be ready to serve his temporal Prince with his goods, by tributes or what other lawful taxes and subsidies so ever: [1] yet they may exempt by privileges whom they think good. [2] As in all countries Christian: Priests for the honour of Christ, whose Ministers they be, have by the grants and ancient charters of kings been excepted and exempted. Notwithstanding they were never unready to serve voluntarily their Sovereign, in all common causes, with whatsoever they had. See Annot. in Mat. 17, 26.
- 1 Hiero. in Mat. 17.
- 2 The Clergy exempted from tribute.
Romans 13:13
Not in banquetings.
◦ This was the very place which S. Augustine, that glorious Doctor, was by a voice from heaven directed unto, at his first miraculous and happy conversion, not only to the Catholic faith, but also to perpetual continency, by this voice coming from heaven, Tolle, lege: Tolle, lege. Take up and read, take up and read. as himself telleth li. 8. Confes. c. 12.
- ◦ S. Augustine's conversion.
Original Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
Romans 13:1
Every soul be subject.
Because the Apostles preached liberty by Christ from the yoke of the Law and servitude of sin, and gave all the faithful both example and commandment to obey God more than men, and withal ever charged them expressly to be obedient and subject to their Prelates as to them which had cure of their souls and were by the Holy Ghost placed over the Church of God: there were many in those days newly converted, that thought themselves free from all temporal Potestates, carnal Lords, and human creatures or powers: whereupon the bondman took himself to be loose from his servitude, the subject from his Sovereign, were he Emperor, King, Duke, or what other secular Magistrate so ever, specially the Princes of those days being Heathens and persecutors of the Apostles, and of Christ's religion. [1] For which cause and for that the Apostles were untruly charged of their Adversaries, that they withdrew men from order and obedience to Civil laws and Officers: S. Paul here (as S. Peter doth 1. Chap. 2.) cleareth himself, and expressly chargeth every man to be subject to his temporal Prince and Superior: Not every man to all that be in Office or Superiority, but every one to him whom God hath put in authority over him, by that he is his Master, Lord, king, or such like: Neither to them in matters of religion or regiment of their souls (for most part were Pagans, whom the Apostle could not will men to obey in matters of faith) but to them in such things only as concern the public peace & Policy, and what other causes so ever consist with God's holy will and ordinance. For [2] against God no power may be obeyed.
No power but of God.
[1] S. Chrysostom [2] here noteth, that power, rule, & Superiority, is God's ordinance, but not eftsoons all Princes: because many may usurp, who reign by his permission only, and not by his appointment: nor all actions that every one doeth in and by his sovereign power, as Iulian's apostasy and affliction of Catholics, Pharao's tyrannical oppression of the Israelites, Achab's persecution of the Prophets, Nero's executing of the Apostles, Herod's and Pilate's condemning of Christ: all which things God permitted them, by the abuse of their power to accomplish, and not being the cause of their evil doings, turned and ordered the same to good effects. S. August. tract. 112. in Ioan. S. Tho, 1. p. q. 19. a. 9.