1Subjection to magistrates enforced. 7We must render to all their dues: 8only love is a debt we must always owe, and virtually containeth the whole law. 11Rioting, drunkenness, and other works of darkness, must be put away, as much out of season under the gospel.
1LET everya1soul be 2subject unto the 3higher 4powers. Forb there is 5no power 6but of God: the powers 7that be are 8ordained of God.
a Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13.
1 That is, every man, of what lineage, state, calling, or age so ever he be; and consequently the ministers of the Gospel also.
2 That is, must not only be obedient to them, but also duly acknowledge and honor them.
3 That is, the magistrates, which are placed by God over others with power and authority.
4 Gr. authority, or excellent, that is, having supreme power; whereby are understood not only the highest magistrates, but also all who are placed in any office of government under them. 1 Tim. 2:2; 1 Peter 2:13, 14.
b Prov. 8:15; Dan. 4:32.
5 That is, no magistrate clothed with power.
6 Namely, Who has not only instituted the office of the magistrate, but Who also chooses and appoints the persons thereunto, although for the most part by means of men, Prov. 8:15; Dan. 4:32.
7 Namely, be they high or low, be they supreme or placed under others, 1 Peter 2:13, 14.
8 That is, instituted among mankind to rule them with order in God’s stead; although some of them oftentimes abuse their power, which God permits to punish the sins of the people, Job 34:30.
2Whosoever therefore 9resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall 10receive to themselves 11damnation.
9 Namely, not only by rebellion, as Absalom, but also by disobedience in things which are not contrary to God’s Word.
10 Gr. obtain.
11 That is, a punishment, as well from God as from the authorities.
312For rulers are not 13a terror 14to good works, but 15to the evil. 16Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have 17praise of the same:
12 That is, the authorities placed over us.
13 Namely, that they will punish.
14 That is, when you do well, and are obedient to their commands.
15 Namely, evil works, that is, when you do wickedness and transgress their commands.
16 That is, wilt thou be free from fear of being punished by them.
17 That is, be praised by them, and honored with recompense. For the office of the government is not only to punish evil, but also to reward that which is good; by which two things, as by sinews, the corporality of the state is bound and kept together.
4For he is the 18minister of God 19to thee for good. But if thou do that which is 20evil, 21be afraid; for he 22beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, 23a revenger to execute 24wrath upon him that doeth evil.
18 That is, appointed by God, to serve you as God’s instrument.
19 That is, to bring all good to you by the same, and to take care for your welfare. See the annotation on 1 Tim. 2:2.
20 That is, transgresses the good laws of the authorities.
21 Namely, that you shall be punished by them for it.
22 That is, has received the power to punish evil doers, even with death itself, Gen. 9:6, and causes not the sword to be carried before him without cause, or wears it by his side to give to understand that he has such power, and will also execute the same against evil doers.
23 Namely, on God’s behalf, to Whom belongs vengeance, Rom. 12:19.
24 Or, unto punishment. See the same in Mat. 3:7; Luke 21:23; Rom. 2:8.
5Wherefore ye must 25needs be subject, not only 26for wrath, but also 27for conscience sake.
25 Namely, to be true subjects, and especially true Christians.
26 That is, for fear of punishment.
27 That is, because we know that God has ordained and commanded this, and that for this cause no man can have a good and quiet conscience who does not do this.
6For 28for this cause 29pay ye 30tribute also: 31for they are 32God’s ministers, 33attending continually 34upon this very thing.
28 That is, it appears that ye are and ought to be subject to authorities, because ye pay tribute. See Mat. 22:21.
29 Namely, to the authorities, or those who are appointed by them for this purpose.
30 Whereby is understood all taxes or burdens which are imposed on the subjects.
31 This is the reason to prove that it is just that we should be obedient to authorities, and pay tribute.
32 Gr. leitourgoi; which word we see here used, not only of ecclesiastical ministries, as Acts 13:2, but also of political and civil administrations. See also Rom. 15:27; Heb. 1:14.
33 Gr. persevering to this same thing; that is, continually abiding much labor, difficulty, trouble, and care in this service. See of this word in Acts 1:14.
34 Namely, to serve God in governing the people.
735Renderc therefore 36to all their dues: 37tribute to whom tribute is due; 38custom to whom custom; fear 39to whom fear; honour 40to whom honour.
35 Gr. give again, or recompense to everyone their dues.
c Mat. 22:21.
36 Namely, magistrate; although it may also be taken in general.
37 What is appropriately laid upon the persons, or real estate.
38 It is what is levied upon merchandise, or upon goods and wares that are imported and exported.
39 Namely, to the authorities and their officers, whom they make use of to punish evil doers.
40 Namely, to authorities, whether they be high or low, 1 Peter 2:17.
841Owe no man any thing, 42but to love one another; ford he that loveth 43another hath 44fulfilled 45the law.
41 That is, pay everyone that whereunto ye are obliged unto him, whether it be money, services, or anything else; which, when it is not done, the obligation and debt remain.
42 For, this obligation can never be done away, or paid off, but the guilt remains always afresh, which must continually be paid.
d Gal. 5:14; 1 Tim. 1:5.
43 That is, his neighbor.
44 That is, done and observed, that not only which was required in one or two commandments, but in all the commandments together, in respect of all the parts of them; although in regard of the degrees of perfection, no man can fulfill the same in this life, seeing our love is still imperfect here, 1 Kings 8:46; Psalm 19:12; Prov. 20:9; James 3:2; 1 John 1:8.
45 That is, the commandments of the second table of the law, as is declared in the following verse.
9For this, 46Thoue shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended 47in this saying, namely, Thouf shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
46 The apostle does not keep the order of the commandments, as they are propounded in the Ten Commandments, because that matters not so much, as long as all the commandments are kept properly.
e Exod. 20:13; Deut. 5:17; Mat. 19:18.
47 That is, in this one commandment.
f Lev. 19:18; Mat. 22:39; Mark 12:31; Gal. 5:14; James 2:8.
1048Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is 49the fulfilling of the law.
48 Here he describes the nature of love, as also in 1 Corinthians 13.
49 See verse 8, and 1 Tim. 1:5
11And that, 50knowingg the time, that now it is high time 51to awake out of sleep: for now is our 52salvation 53nearer than 54when we believed.
50 That is, seeing we are now no more unbelieving, as we were in former times, being in the dark night of ignorance, Eph. 4:18; Col. 1:13; 1 John 2:8, but seeing Christ, the Son of righteousness, Mal. 4:2, and the Light of the world, John 8:12, has now appeared unto us.
g Eph. 5:14; 1 Thes. 5:6.
51 Namely, of sin, Eph. 5:14; 1 Thes. 5:6.
52 Or, for salvation is now nearer to us, that is, the price of our heavenly calling in Christ Jesus, which we run and pursue after, 1 Cor. 9:24, 25; Philip. 3:14, which is the end of our faith, 1 Peter 1:9.
53 That is, we are now by our christian course come nearer to the same, to lay hold on it shortly, Philip. 3:12; 1 Tim. 6:12, and therefore we must not faint to finish this christian race, 2 Tim. 4:7, seeing it would be great shame and loss, that being come so nigh, through fainting or turning away, we should not obtain the same. For, how much nearer anyone comes to the prize, so much the faster he ought to run.
54 That is, when we were first called and converted to the faith in Christ.
12Theh55night is 56far spent, the 57day is 58at hand: leti us therefore 59cast off 60the works of darkness, and 61let us put on 62the armour 63of light.
h 1 Thes. 5:5.
55 Namely, of ignorance, 1 Thes. 5:5.
56 The Greek word signifies that the most part thereof is passed. For all darkness is not yet perfectly done away out of our hearts, 1 Cor. 13:9, 10.
57 Namely, of saving knowledge, verse 13; 1 Thes. 5:5.
58 That is, we are come to the saving light of the knowledge of Christ, yet not perfectly, as long as we are in this life, but have such a light as there is when the day begins to dawn and to give light.
i Col. 3:8.
59 Namely, as men, when it is become day, cast away night clothes and coverings, and have no more to do with them, Eph. 4:22.
60 That is, sins, which they, who are yet in the darkness of ignorance, are wont to commit, and especially those ugly sins which men are even ashamed to do publicly in the light, but which they commit by night in darkness, Job 24:15, 16; John 3:20, 21; 1 Thes. 5:7; whereof some are rehearsed in the following verse.
61 That is, as they do who, arising from sleep, put on their clothes to cover their nakedness, and to walk honorably in the day.
62 This word signifies all that wherewith the body is covered against all injuries; and are here understood thereby all manner of Christian virtues, wherewith our souls are not only clothed and adorned, but also, as it were, armed against the wounds and temptations of the devil and the flesh. See Rom. 6:13; 2 Cor. 6:7; Eph. 6:11, 12, etc.; 1 Thes. 5:8.
63 That is, which proceed from the light of the true knowledge of God, and to His glory give light before men, and which become those who are called to this light, and will walk honestly in the light.
13Let us 64walk 65honestly,j66as in the day; notk in 67rioting and 68drunkenness, notl69in chamberingm and 70wantonness, notn in strife and envying.
64 That is, order our life, and associate among people.
65 That is, not only piously before God, but also fairly and honestly before men.
j Philip. 4:8; 1 Thes. 4:12.
66 That is, as becomes those to whom by the grace of God, the light of saving knowledge has appeared.
k Luke 21:34; 1 Thes. 5:6.
67 Whereby are understood, not honorable and moderate feasts, Gen. 21:8; John 2:1, but gluttonous and immodest ones, in which all manner of excess, wantonness, dancing and immodesty is practiced.
68 Or, immoderate swallowing of wine or strong drink, Isa. 5:22.
l 1 Cor. 6:10; Eph. 5:5.
69 That is, adulteries and fornications, which are commonly practiced in bedrooms.
m sensual, wanton living.
70 That is, lascivious and unchaste wantonness.
n James 3:14.
14Buto71put ye on 72the Lord Jesus Christ, andp73make not provision for 74the flesh, to fulfil 75the lusts thereof.
o Gal. 3:27.
71 Namely, as your garment or armor.
72 Namely, by faith receiving His righteousness, and imitating all His virtues, clothing and adorning your soul therewith, Gal. 3:27.
p 1 Peter 2:11.
73 Gr. do not take forethought of the flesh.
74 That is, the body, whereby it is not forbidden that men may provide the body of a decent garment, meat, drink, medicines and other things necessary for the sustentation of the same; for that is even commended, Eph. 5:29; 1 Tim. 5:8, 23, but not to satisfy the same in its sinful lusts, 1 Cor. 9:27.
75 Namely, which tend to intemperance, pride, gluttony, impurity, to feed therein, and to give it its demand, 1 John 2:16.