Romans 13:2

Authority and leadership Obedience Judgment

¹ Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.

Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

³ For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval.

⁴ For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
KJV: Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
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.
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.
BLB: Therefore the one setting [himself] against the authority has resisted the ordinance of God, and those having resisted will receive judgment to themselves.

ÅB: Derfor står den som setter seg imot myndigheten, imot Guds ordning. Men de som gjør motstand, skal få sin dom.
OTB: Derfor, den som motsetter seg myndigheten, motsetter seg det Gud har innstiftet, og de som gjør det vil bringe dom over seg selv.
B1930: så at den som setter sig imot øvrigheten, står Guds ordning imot; men de som står imot, skal få sin dom.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Peter 2:13
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority,
Read in context
Titus 3:1
Remind the believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good work,
Read in context
James 3:1
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
Read in context
Romans 13:5
Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience.
Read in context
Luke 20:47
They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”
Read in context
Mark 12:40
They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”
Read in context
Matthew 23:13
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter.
Read in context
Jeremiah 44:14–17
so that none of the remnant of Judah who have gone to reside in Egypt will escape or survive to return to the land of Judah, where they long to return and live; for none will return except a few fugitives.”
Read in context