Obey Those in Authority

¹Everyone should obey the government, because the government gets its authority from God. God has established the government.

²So whoever rebels against the government is rebelling against an authority that God has established, and anyone who does that will be judged.

³If you do what’s right, you won’t need to be afraid of your rulers. But if you do what’s wrong, watch out! You don’t want to be afraid of those in authority, do you? Then do what’s right, and you’ll be praised.

⁴The one in authority serves God for your good. But if you do wrong, watch out! Rulers have been given the power of punishment for a good reason. They’re working for God, and it’s on God’s behalf that they punish people who do wrong.

⁵So you must obey the authorities, and not just so that you won’t be punished, but because that’s the right thing to do.

⁶You must also pay taxes for the same reason. The authorities are working full time for God as rulers, and they need to be supported.

⁷Give everyone what you owe them. If you owe taxes, then pay them. If you owe other fees, then pay those. And don’t forget that you also owe your leaders respect and honor and that you should give them those things.

Love Fulfills the Law

⁸Pay all your debts back on time. But you can never pay back all the love you owe one another. Whoever loves other people has done everything the law requires.

⁹There’s a commandment that says, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” That one command sums up all the others, including “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not commit murder,” “Do not steal,” and, “Don’t want what belongs to others.”

¹⁰Love never does anything wrong to a neighbor. Instead, love does all the good things the law requires.

The Day Is Near

¹¹When you do these things, keep in mind the times we’re living in. The time has already come for you to wake up from your sleep. The full effects of our salvation are closer now than when we first believed in Christ.

¹²The night is nearly over and the day is almost here. So let’s put off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

¹³Let’s act properly, like people living in the daytime. Don’t go to wild parties and don’t get drunk. Don’t do anything immoral or indecent. Don’t get into fights or be jealous of anyone.

¹⁴Instead, develop the qualities of the Lord Jesus Christ in your life, and don’t think about how to satisfy any wrong desires.