Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

Romans 13:2

Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

KJV

ὥστε ὁ ἀντιτασσόμενος τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ τῇ τοῦ θεοῦ διαταγῇ ἀνθέστηκεν, οἱ δὲ ἀνθεστηκότες ἑαυτοῖς κρίμα λήμψονται.

Greek NT

Itaque qui resistit potestati, Dei ordinationi resistit. Qui autem resistunt, ipsi sibi damnationem acquirunt :

Vulgate

Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment.

ASV

Therefore, he that resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God. And they that resist purchase to themselves damnation.

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

11 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

δέ
de
conjunction · 2781×
διαταγή
diatage
noun · 2×
θεός
theos
noun · 1311×
κρίμα
krima
noun · 27×
λαμβάνω
lambano
verb · 259×
ἀνθίστημι
anthistemi
verb · 14×
ἀντιτάσσομαι
antitassomai
verb · 5×
ἐξουσία
exousia
noun · 102×
ἑαυτοῦ
eautou
reflexive_pronoun · 316×
ὁ
o
article · 19778×
ὥστε
oste
conjunction · 85×

Historic Christian voices

8 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§1899The authority required by the moral order derives from God: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment."17
§2238Those subject to authority should regard those in authority as representatives of God, who has made them stewards of his gifts:43 "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution.... Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God."44 Their loyal collaboration includes the right, and at times the duty, to voice their…
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. Calvin expounds the Christian's duty to civil government. The magistrate is God's minister — civil authority is ordained by God, and resistance to it is resistance to the ordinance of God. Yet Calvin carefully limits this: the magistrate's authority is not absolute but delegated, and obedience to God takes precedence. Love is th…
Q. What is God's will for you in the fifth commandment? A. That I honor, love, and be loyal to my father and mother and all those in authority over me; that I obey and submit to them, as is proper, when they correct and punish me; and also that I be patient with their failings — for through them God chooses to rule us.
The magistracy of every nation is instituted by God himself, for the peace and tranquillity of his people, and thus it should be held in the highest honor. If the magistrate is opposed to the Church, he can hinder and disturb it very much; but if he is a friend and member of the Church, he is a most useful and excellent member thereof, and is able to benefit it very much. The d…

Cross-references

  • 1Cor 11:29 — For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
  • 1Pet 2:13 — Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
  • Exod 16:8 — And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: an
  • Exod 22:28 — Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
  • Isa 58:2 — Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in appr
  • Jas 3:1 — My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
  • Jer 23:8 — But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.
  • Jer 44:14 — So that none of the remnant of Judah, which are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall escape or remain, that they should return into the land of Judah, to the which they have a desire to
  • Luke 20:47 — Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.
  • Mark 12:40 — Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
  • Matt 23:13 — But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
  • Rom 13:5 — Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
  • Rom 14:23 — And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
  • Titus 3:1 — Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,