Romans 13:3
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
KJV
οἱ γὰρ ἄρχοντες οὐκ εἰσὶν φόβος τῷ ἀγαθῷ ἔργῳ ἀλλὰ τῷ κακῷ. θέλεις δὲ μὴ φοβεῖσθαι τὴν ἐξουσίαν; τὸ ἀγαθὸν ποίει, καὶ ἕξεις ἔπαινον ἐξ αὐτῆς·
Greek NT
nam principes non sunt timori boni operis, sed mali. Vis autem non timere potestatem ? Bonum fac : et habebis laudem ex illa :
Vulgate
For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same:
ASV
For princes are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good: and thou shalt have praise from the same.
Douay-Rheims
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In the original Greek
21 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.
αὐτός
autos
pronoun · 5564×
γάρ
gar
conjunction · 1036×
δέ
de
conjunction · 2781×
εἰμί
eimi
verb · 2461×
θέλω
thelo
verb · 208×
καί
kai
conjunction · 8973×
κακός
kakos
adjective · 50×
μή
me
particle · 1033×
οὐ
ou
particle · 1626×
ποιέω
poieo
verb · 569×
φοβέω
phobeo
verb · 95×
φόβος
phobos
noun · 48×
ἀγαθός
agathos
adjective · 102×
ἀλλά
alla
conjunction · 636×
ἄρχων
archon
noun · 37×
ἐκ
ek
preposition · 915×
ἐξουσία
exousia
noun · 102×
ἔπαινος
epainos
noun · 11×
ἔργον
ergon
noun · 169×
ἔχω
echo
verb · 707×
ὁ
o
article · 19778×
Textual variants
2 variant units attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.
minor
SBLGNT: τῷ ἀγαθῷ ἔργῳ | WH/Treg/NIV: τῷ ἀγαθῷ ἔργῳ | RP: τῶν ἀγαθῶν ἔργων
- τῷ ἀγαθῷ ἔργῳ — SBLGNT
- τῷ ἀγαθῷ ἔργῳ — Westcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
- τῶν ἀγαθῶν ἔργων — Robinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus
minor
SBLGNT: τῷ κακῷ | WH/Treg/NIV: τῷ κακῷ | RP: τῶν κακῶν
- τῷ κακῷ — SBLGNT
- τῷ κακῷ — Westcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
- τῶν κακῶν — Robinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus
Historic Christian voices
7 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.
Source. Translated by J. Walker, J. Sheppard and H. Browne, and revised by George B. Stevens. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 11. Edited by Philip Schaff. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1889.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210223.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Adven…
2. And say not unto me, where is the rule of justice preserved entire, if the punishment has no end? Rather, when God does anything, obey His decisions and submit not what is said to human reasonings. But moreover, how can it be anything else than just for one who has experienced innumerable blessings from the beginning, and then committed deeds worthy of punishment, and neithe…
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…
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
- 1Kgs 10:9 — Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.
- 1Pet 2:13 — Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
- 1Pet 2:14 — Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
- 1Pet 3:13 — And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
- 1Pet 3:13 — And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
- Dan 6:16 — Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
- Deut 25:1 — If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.
- Eccl 10:4 — If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
- Jer 22:15 — Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him?
- John 8:11 — She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
- Luke 18:3 — And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
- Neh 13:21 — Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.
- Phil 4:8 — Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report;
- Prov 14:35 — The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.
- Prov 20:2 — The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
- Rom 13:4 — 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