Romans 13 4

Romans 13:4 kjv

For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Romans 13:4 nkjv

For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

Romans 13:4 niv

For the one in authority is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

Romans 13:4 esv

for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.

Romans 13:4 nlt

The authorities are God's servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God's servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.

Romans 13 verses

Romans 13 4 Meaning

Romans 13:4 clearly outlines the divinely appointed function of civil authorities as instruments of God's justice. The verse establishes that a ruler serves as God’s minister, tasked with both promoting the well-being of the populace and actively punishing those who commit evil. This authority is concrete and purposeful, symbolized by the "sword," signifying the legitimate power to enforce laws, including capital punishment. It emphasizes that this power is not idle or ineffectual, but rather exercised as an "avenger" to execute God's wrath upon wrongdoers, thus maintaining order and deterring wickedness.

Romans 13 4 Context

Romans 13:4 is situated within a crucial segment (verses 1-7) where the Apostle Paul instructs Christian believers on their responsibilities toward governing authorities. This teaching logically follows the preceding chapter (Rom 12), which calls for a life transformed by God’s grace, characterized by love and humble service, even towards adversaries. The immediate context of Romans 13:1-3 establishes that all governing authority originates from God, making resistance to it resistance to God's ordained order. These verses state that rulers are not a terror to good conduct but to bad. Verse 4 then expands on this principle, detailing why authorities wield such power, focusing on their specific role in dispensing justice and maintaining societal good.

Historically, this epistle was addressed to the Christian community in Rome, the epicenter of the formidable Roman Empire. In a society where Roman citizens, including Christians, faced complex questions regarding allegiance to an imperial power that demanded, at times, quasi-divine honor, Paul’s instruction offered essential guidance. He affirms that the state, despite being pagan, serves a God-given function of maintaining civil order and justice. This message countered potential Christian radicalism or outright resistance to state authority, as well as a possible antinomian attitude, grounding submission not in fear of human power alone, but in recognition of God’s providential ordering of human society.

Romans 13 4 Word analysis

• For he: Refers to the singular "governing authority" or "ruler" introduced in Rom 13:1-3, emphasizing the divinely appointed office of civil leadership.
• is God’s minister (διάκονος - diakonos): Diakonos denotes a servant or one who executes commands. It signifies that the ruler, irrespective of personal faith, fulfills a specific function under God's overarching purpose for maintaining order and justice on earth.
• to you for good (εἰς τὸ ἀγαθόν - eis to agathon): "For good" (τὸ ἀγαθόν - to agathon) indicates the beneficial aspect of governmental authority. Its purpose is to ensure the welfare, protection, and conditions conducive to peaceful and righteous living for law-abiding citizens.
• But if you do evil: Denotes acts of intentional wrongdoing that transgress civil laws and disturb public order, distinguishing between personal sin and legally punishable offenses.
• be afraid (φοβοῦ - phobou): An imperative command to experience a rightful apprehension or dread of the legal consequences for unlawful actions, recognizing the state's legitimate punitive power.
• for he does not bear the sword (μάχαιραν φορεῖ - machairan phorei) in vain (εἰκῆ - eikē):
  • bear the sword (μάχαιραν φορεῖ): The sword (machaira) is a well-understood symbol of judicial and executive authority, particularly the state’s power to enforce laws, deliver judgment, and exact punishment, including capital punishment, referencing the ius gladii (right of the sword) in the Roman context.
  • in vain (εἰκῆ): From eikē, meaning idly, ineffectually, or without purpose. This phrase affirms that the power symbolized by the sword is not merely ceremonial; it is given for effective, decisive application.
• for he is God’s minister (διάκονος - diakonos): A repetition emphasizing and reinforcing that the ruler's authority, even in its punitive capacity, is a divine delegation and not arbitrary human power.
• an avenger (ἔκδικος - ekdikos): From ekdikos, meaning one who punishes or executes justice. This identifies the ruler as a designated agent for meting out deserved retribution, mirroring God’s own role as an avenger against injustice (Deut 32:35).
• to execute wrath (εἰς ὀργὴν - eis orgēn): "Wrath" (orgē) here refers to the righteous judgment of God against sin and evil. The ruler becomes a temporal instrument through which this divine wrath, in the form of civil punishment, is carried out on earth.
• on him who practices evil: Specifies that the target of this punitive action is those who habitually or purposefully engage in actions that are wicked and violate societal law and order.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For he is God’s minister to you for good." This segment establishes the state's positive and protective role. It emphasizes that the ultimate divine intent for civil authority is beneficial, aiming to foster an environment of peace and security where righteousness can flourish, thereby serving the citizens' common good.
• "But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain;" This introduces the punitive aspect, warning that the state’s authority is consequential. The image of "the sword" highlights the state’s legitimate, practical power of enforcement, indicating that its deterrent capacity is real and intended to be exercised against lawbreakers, making the fear of retribution a rational response.
• "for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil." This conclusive statement grounds the state's punitive role squarely in divine prerogative. It asserts that the ruler, in their official capacity, functions as a direct agent of God's justice, carrying out His righteous "wrath" against those whose actions are consistently wicked, thus demonstrating that temporal punishment aligns with divine judgment.

Romans 13 4 Bonus section

The consistent use of "minister" (διάκονος) for the ruler underlines the theological depth of Paul's instruction. It elevates the role of government beyond mere human political maneuvering, rooting its authority in God's cosmic plan. While it doesn't imply the personal holiness or even conscious awareness of a pagan ruler to be God's servant, it asserts that the office serves God's purposes in the providential governance of the world. This theological perspective has historically guided Christian ethics concerning political engagement, emphasizing the need for justice, mercy, and lawfulness within state structures, as those wielding power ultimately operate under God's ultimate authority. This principle, however, is balanced by the implicit boundary found elsewhere in Scripture (e.g., Acts 5:29), where obedience to God always takes precedence if a state demands action contrary to His commands, confirming that the state's authority, though divinely given, is not absolute but delegated.

Romans 13 4 Commentary

Romans 13:4 provides a foundational Christian perspective on the nature and purpose of civil government. It declares that governmental authority is not a mere human construct, but a divinely ordained institution with a sacred responsibility. This responsibility is two-fold: to provide protection and benefit for its law-abiding citizens ("for good") and to act as an agent of justice by punishing evildoers ("an avenger to execute wrath"). The symbol of "the sword" is crucial, signifying the legitimate coercive power of the state, including its authority to impose severe penalties, even capital punishment. This power is "not in vain"; it is given with the explicit purpose of actively confronting and restraining wickedness. Consequently, submitting to authorities is not merely obeying human rules, but revering a system God Himself has established to maintain order and administer a form of His own righteous justice in the world. This instruction obliges believers to recognize the seriousness and divine grounding of civil law enforcement, understanding that even secular governing bodies can be used by God to further His moral order on earth.

Examples for practical usage:

• A Christian legislator crafts just laws, recognizing they are a minister of God for the good of their constituents.
• A Christian citizen respects police authority, understanding it is God’s ordained instrument for order and justice, not simply human power.
• Believers participate in efforts to ensure fair trials and due process, affirming the government's role as a righteous avenger, not an arbitrary one.