Romans 13:2
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Romans 13:2 in other translations
| BSB | Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. |
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| WEB | Therefore he who resists the authority withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment. |
| ASV | Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment. |
| YLT | so that he who is setting himself against the authority, against God's ordinance hath resisted; and those resisting, to themselves shall receive judgment. |
| DARBY | So that he that sets himself in opposition to the authority resists the ordinance of God; and they who thus resist shall bring sentence of guilt on themselves. |
| BBE | For which reason everyone who puts himself against the authority puts himself against the order of God: and those who are against it will get punishment for themselves. |
| Webster | Whoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. |
What does Romans 13:2 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 13:1-2
Ro 13:1-14. Same Subject Continued--Political and Social Relations--Motives. 1-2. 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."
Barnes' Notes
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 to his will. When established, we are not to be agitated about the titles of the rulers; not to enter into angry contentions, or to refuse to submit to them, because we are apprehensive of a defect in their title, or because they may have obtained it by oppression. If the government is established, and if its decisions are not a manifest violation of the laws of God, we are to submit to them.
Shall receive to themselves damnation. The word damnation we apply now exclusively to the punishment of hell; to future torments. But this is not necessarily the meaning of the word which is here used, (κριμα). It often simply denotes punishment, Rom 3:8; 1Cor 11:29, Gal 5:10. In this place the word implies guilt or criminality in resisting the ordinance of God, and affirms that the man that does it shall be punished. Whether the apostle means that he shall be punished by God, or by the magistrate, is not quite clear. Probably the latter, however, is intended. Comp. Rom 13:4. It is also true, that such resistance shall be attended with the displeasure of God, and be punished by him.
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 13:1-7
The grace of the gospel teaches us submission and quiet, where pride and the carnal mind only see causes for murmuring and discontent. Whatever the persons in authority over us themselves may be, yet the just power they have, must be submitted to and obeyed. In the general course of human affairs, rulers are not a terror to honest, quiet, and good subjects, but to evil-doers. Such is the power of sin and corruption…
Romans 13:2 in the original Greek
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Cross references for Romans 13:2
- 1 Peter 2:13
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
- Titus 3:1
Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
- James 3:1
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
- Romans 13:5
Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
- Luke 20:47
Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.
- Mark 12:40
Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
- Matthew 23:13
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
- Jeremiah 44:14-17
So that none of the remnant of Judah, which are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall escape or remain, that they should return into the land of Judah, to the which they have a desire to return to dwell there: for none shall return but such as shall escape. Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying, As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee. But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.
- Jeremiah 23:8-17
But, The Lord liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land. Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the Lord, and because of the words of his holiness. For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right. For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the Lord. …
- Isaiah 58:2
Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Romans 13:1
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
- Romans 13:2
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
- Romans 13:3
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:
Romans 13:2 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Así que, el que se opone á la potestad, á la ordenación de Dios resiste: y los que resisten, ellos mismos ganan condenación para sí. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | de sorte que celui qui résiste à l’autorité résiste à l’ordonnance de Dieu; et ceux qui résistent feront venir un jugement sur eux-mêmes. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Wer sich daher der Obrigkeit widersetzt, widersteht der Anordnung Gottes; die aber widerstehen, werden ein Urteil über sich bringen. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Itaque qui resistit potestati, Dei ordinationi resistit. Qui autem resistunt, ipsi sibi damnationem acquirunt: |