[Paul, having shown how the faith-life offers itself as a daily sacrifice of love in spiritual and social spheres, now gives an outline of the sacrifice of self which it is to make in civil and business affairs. This he does in two sections, the first of which sets forth the Christian's relationship... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God [This is the enunciation of the general principle without any accompanying exceptions. Pressed to its limits, this precept would prevent any revolution from succeeding, for the leader of the revolution could never be permitted... [ Continue Reading ]
For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. ["For" explains why the punishment comes upon the rebel. It is because government exists to promote the good and suppress the evil (1 Timothy 2:1-2; 1 Peter 2:13-17). If it does otherwise, "it," as Burkitt sagely remarks, "was not ordain... [ Continue Reading ]
for he is a minister of God to thee for good. [The law-abiding have no fear of the laws, and have just reason to expect the recognition and consideration which are the rightful dues of honesty and probity. "Commendations by magistrates," says Lange, "in opposition to punishments, were common even in... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore [because of all that has been said-- Romans 13:1-4] _ye must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience' sake_. [1 Peter 2:13. The Christian has a double incentive for keeping the civil law; for if he resists the government he will not only be punished,... [ Continue Reading ]
For [epexigetic, introducing a detail or illustrative fact proving the principle] _for this cause ye pay tribute also_ [i. e., among other acts of submission]; _for they_ [the recipients of the taxes] _are ministers of God's service, attending continually upon this very thing_. [I. e., acting contin... [ Continue Reading ]
Render to all [civil officials] _their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor_. [Kypke points out the distinction between tribute and custom. The former means direct taxes; poll, real and personal; custom refers to tolls, imports, indirect... [ Continue Reading ]
[Having shown that the Christian must recognize the rights of those above him ("the higher powers"), the apostle now proceeds to enjoin upon him the recognition of the just rights of his fellow-beings who are all about him. If the state has a right to demand dutiful conduct of him, his neighbors, fe... [ Continue Reading ]
For this [Paul here begins the statement of a first premise, and in the eleventh verse, with the words "and this," he begins the statement of a second premise. The first premise is that the Christian (or faith) life, freed from the complications and onerous burden of the multitudinous laws of the Je... [ Continue Reading ]
Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: love therefore is the fulfillment of the law. [All divine law, whether of Moses and the prophets, of Christ or the apostles, is fulfilled by love, for those things that law requires are the natural, normal acts of a loving heart. "Love," says Leibnitz, "is that w... [ Continue Reading ]
[At Romans 12:1-2 Paul began this hortatory division of his Epistle by reminding his readers of the past mercies of God, making of those blessings which lay behind them a strong motive, impelling them by every sense of gratitude to go forward in the Christian life. He here closes his exhortation wit... [ Continue Reading ]
The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. [In this figure "night" stands for the Christian's earthly life, which is constantly being shortened and quickly becomes "far spent." "Day" stands for eternity, that... [ Continue Reading ]
Let us walk becomingly, as in the day [i. e., as if the day of salvation and the presence of God (Revelation 21:3) were already here]; _not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy_. [Here are three couplets of vices. The first pair relate to intempe... [ Continue Reading ]
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ [Kypke's researches reveal the fact that this bold figure of speech, so little used by us, was very familiar to the writers who were read by those of Paul's day. If a man chose any hero or teacher as an example for his life, or as an object for his imitation, he w... [ Continue Reading ]