Romans 13:6
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.
5 Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience.
This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work.
7 Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
8 Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work.
- KJV
- For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
- WEB
- For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, continually doing this very thing.
- ASV
- For this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God`s service, attending continually upon this very thing.
- DARBY
- For on this account ye pay tribute also; for they are God's officers, attending continually on this very thing.
- BLB
- For because of this, you⁺ also pay taxes; for they are ministers of God, attending continually to this very thing.
- ÅB
- Derfor betaler dere også skatt. For de er Guds tjenere som vier seg nettopp til dette.
- OTB
- Dette er også grunnen til at dere betaler skatt, for myndighetene er Guds tjenere, som vier seg til denne oppgaven.
- B1930
- Derfor betaler I jo også skatt; for de er Guds tjenere, som nettop tar vare på dette.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Matthew 22:17–21
So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
Read in contextLuke 23:2
And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.”
Read in contextLuke 20:21–26
“Teacher,” they inquired, “we know that You speak and teach correctly. You show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
Read in contextMatthew 17:24–27
After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?”
Read in contextMark 12:14–17
“Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and seek favor from no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?”
Read in context1 Chronicles 18:14
Thus David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people:
Read in contextEzra 6:8
I hereby decree what you must do for these elders of the Jews who are rebuilding this house of God: The cost is to be paid in full to these men from the royal treasury out of the taxes of the provinces west of the Euphrates, so that the work will not be hindered.
Read in contextEzra 4:20
And mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.
Read in context