Submission to Authorities
(Parallel teachings: 1 Peter 2:13-17)
(Thematic parallels: Daniel 3; Daniel 6)
- 1 Let every soul be submitted to the authorities surpassing him or her, for there’s no authority except under God, and the ones existing have been appointed by God.
- 2 Therefore, the man setting himself against the authority has resisted the mandate of God, and the men who have resisted shall incur judgement on themselves.
- 3 For rulers aren’t a terror to a good deed, but to evil. And do you wish not to fear the authority? Do good and you will have praise from the authority.
- 4 For he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do evil, be frightened, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain. For he is a servant of God, an avenger for bringing wrath on the man practicing evil.
- 5 Therefore, it’s necessary to be submitted, not only because of wrath, but also because of conscience.
- 6 For because of this, you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God, continually attending to this same thing.
What to owe
(Parallel teachings: Matthew 22:15-21, Matthew 22:37-40)
- 7 Repay what’s owed to all; tax to whom tax is owed, the toll to whom the toll is owed, fear to whom fear is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
- 8 Owe nothing to anyone, except to ^love one another, for the man ^loving another has fulfilled the law.
- 9 For “You shall not have sex with another man’s wife.”fnquotation/allusion to Exodus 20:14 and Deuteronomy 5:18 (also quoted/alluded to by Matt 5:27, 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Jas 2:11). “have sex with another man’s wife” is one word in Greek, typically translated “commit adultery”. However, the Greek word (and Hebrew too) is more limited in scope than our English word adultery. In English, “adultery” means illicit sex between a married person – man or woman – and someone who isn’t their spouse. In Greek (and Hebrew also), it meant “a man having sex with another man’s wife”. A married man having sex with an unmarried woman was called fornication. “You shall not murder“fnquotation/allusion to Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17 (also quoted/alluded to by Matt 5:21, 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Jas 2:11) “You shall not steal“fnquotation/allusion to Exodus 20:15 and Deuteronomy 5:19 (also quoted/alluded to by Matt 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20) [“You shall not testify falsely“fnquotation/allusion to Exodus 20:16 and Deuteronomy 5:20 (also quoted/alluded to by Matt 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20)] “You shall not covet“,fnquotation/allusion to Exodus 20:17 and Deuteronomy 5:21 (also quoted/alluded to by Rom 7:7) and if there’s any other commandment, it is summarized in this statement: “You shall ^love your neighbor as yourself.”fnquotation/allusion to Leviticus 19:18 (also quoted/alluded to by Matt 19:19, 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Gal 5:14; Jas 2:8)
- 10 ^Love doesn’t do evil to its neighbor, therefore, ^love is the fulfillment of the law.
Clothe yourselves in the Anointed
(Parallel teachings: 1 Thessalonians 5:5-8; Ephesians 5:8-14)
(Thematic parallels: Zechariah 3:1-5 (see also Matthew 22:11-14))
- 11 And do this, *knowing the season, that it’s already the hour for you to be awakened from sleep. For now, our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
- 12 The night progressed and the day has drawn near. Therefore, we should cast off the works of darkness and should clothe ourselves with the war equipmentfn“war equipment” is one word in Greek. It refers to the various tools, implements, and weapons used to wage war. The Greek word is “ὅπλον” (hoplon), which was one name for the large wooden shield from which the “Hoplites” in the ancient Grecian military got their name. of light.
- 13 We should walk properly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in immoral sex and wanton debaucheries, and not in strife and jealousy.
- 14 But clothe yourselves with the Anointed Lord Jesus, and don’t make provision for the cravings of the flesh.