Catholic Commentary on Romans 13

"Love does no harm to a neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law." (Romans 13:10)

Governing Authorities

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. Paul wrote this when Nero was emperor, before the persecutions began. The Church has always read this passage with nuance: the legitimate authority of civil government is a gift of God for the ordering of society, and Christians are obliged to obey it. But the Catechism is equally clear that this obligation has limits: when civil authority requires what is contrary to the moral order or the rights of persons, citizens are obliged to refuse to obey (CCC 2242). The obedience of Romans 13 is not absolute; it operates within the higher obedience of Acts 5:29.

Pay taxes, give revenue where it is owed, show respect and honour. Let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love one another. The commandments against adultery, murder, stealing, and coveting are summed up in the single command: love your neighbour as yourself. Love does no harm to a neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law. Paul echoes the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 22: the whole Law and the Prophets hang on the two love commands. Love does not abolish the specific commandments; it fulfils them, going beyond mere external compliance to the interior disposition that would never want to harm a neighbour.

Wake Up

The hour has already come to wake up from slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light. Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. The eschatological urgency of Paul's ethics: every day brings the return of Christ closer, and every day is a day to be clothed in Christ rather than in the deeds of darkness.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, love does no harm to a neighbour. Before every action, that simple test: does this harm the person in front of me? If it does, love forbids it, regardless of whether a specific commandment names it. If it does not, love may permit or even require it. This is the fulfilment of the law: not the minimum compliance that avoids guilt, but the active orientation toward the good of the neighbour that goes beyond compliance to genuine care.

Prayer

Lord God, the night is nearly over and the day is almost here. Help us put aside the deeds of darkness and clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. Let love be our only outstanding debt: paid daily, never discharged, owed to everyone we meet. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

13
Submission to Authorities
(1 Peter 2:13–20)
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. 2 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.
 
5 Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience. 6 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.
Love Fulfills the Law
(Leviticus 19:9–18)
 
8 Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,”* 13:9 Exodus 20:13–17; Deuteronomy 5:17–21 and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”† 13:9 Leviticus 19:18 10 Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
The Day Is Near
 
11 And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourselves with‡ 13:14 Or put on; see verse 12. the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

*13:9 13:9 Exodus 20:13–17; Deuteronomy 5:17–21

†13:9 13:9 Leviticus 19:18

‡13:14 13:14 Or put on; see verse 12.

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