1Everyone must obey the government officers. It is God who gives the authority to rule. The people who rule have received their authority from God. 2So anyone who refuses to obey that authority is refusing to obey God. That person will receive the proper punishment.
3People who do good things do not need to be afraid of the rulers. Only people who do bad things should be afraid of the rulers. Do you want to live and not be afraid of the rulers? Then you must do good things and they will respect you. 4Rulers are God's servants. They help you to do good things. But if you do bad things, then you should be afraid of them. They really do have authority to punish people. On God's behalf they punish people who do bad things. 5So you must obey the people who have authority to rule. You must obey them not only so that they do not punish you. You must obey them because it is right to obey them. And you yourselves know that this is right.
6This is also the reason why you pay taxes to the government. You should pay them, because the officers are God's servants. They are doing the work that God has given to them. 7So you must give to each person what you ought to give them. Pay taxes to the people who receive taxes. Do that for every kind of tax. Respect those people that you should respect. Praise people that you should praise.
Love other people
8Always pay your debts to people. The only debt that you should have is to love each other. Anyone who loves other people has obeyed God's Law completely.
9The rules in God's Law say this: ‘Do not have sex with anyone who is not your own wife or your own husband. Do not kill anyone. Do not rob anyone. Do not want things that belong to other people.’ All these rules, and all the other rules in God's Law, are all included in one rule. That one rule is: ‘Love other people as much as you love yourself.’ 10If you love other people, you will never do anything bad to them. So anyone who loves other people has obeyed God's Law completely.
11Live in that way, because you know what is happening in this time now. It is time that you should stop sleeping. It is now time to wake up. The time when God will save us completely is near. That time is nearer now than when we first believed in him. 12The night has nearly finished and the day is almost here. So we must stop doing the bad things that belong to the dark. Instead, we must take weapons like soldiers who are ready to fight in the light.
13:12
Jesus gives us the power to win against bad things. This is like using weapons to fight against bad and wrong things. See Ephesians 6:11; 1 Timothy 1:18.
13We should live in a good way, because we live in the light of day. We should not go to wild parties. We must not be drunks. We must not have sex with anyone who is not our own wife or husband. We must not do wrong things with our bodies. We must not quarrel. We must not be jealous of other people. 14Instead, you must live with the Lord Jesus Christ as your guide. Do not even think about the bad things that you may want to do to make yourself happy.
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As an expert on biblical studies and religious texts, I can confidently discuss the concepts and themes presented in the passage you provided from the EasyEnglish Bible. My knowledge extends to various translations and interpretations of religious scriptures.
In the passage, the focus is on the Christian perspective of obedience to government authorities, emphasizing that these authorities derive their power from God. Here are key concepts explored in the text:
Obedience to Government Authorities:
The passage stresses the importance of obeying government officers, framing it as obedience to God Himself. It suggests that those who resist authority will face consequences.
Authority and Punishment:
The authority of rulers is seen as God-given, and rulers are considered as God's servants. They are portrayed as instruments of justice, having the right to punish those who engage in wrongdoing.
Fear and Respect:
Those who do good things are encouraged not to fear rulers, as the rulers are there to reward good behavior. Respect and fear are presented as outcomes of one's actions.
Taxation:
The passage advocates for paying taxes as a form of obedience to God. It views government officers as servants doing the work assigned to them by God.
Love and Morality:
The text transitions to a broader moral code, emphasizing the importance of love. It condenses various moral and ethical principles into the overarching rule of loving others as oneself.
Debt of Love:
The passage suggests that the only debt one should have is the obligation to love others. It connects this concept to the fulfillment of God's Law.
Rules of God's Law:
Specific rules from God's Law are mentioned, including prohibitions against adultery, murder, theft, and coveting. These rules are encapsulated in the broader commandment to love others.
Living in the Light:
The text encourages believers to live in a manner befitting the light of day, avoiding indulgence in sinful behaviors such as wild parties, drunkenness, and immoral activities.
Alertness and Wakefulness:
The passage urges believers to be alert and awake, recognizing the proximity of the time when God will bring complete salvation. This is depicted as a call to spiritual vigilance.
Battle against Darkness:
The metaphor of taking up weapons and being ready to fight against darkness signifies the spiritual battle against evil. Reference is made to the power provided by Jesus to overcome wrongdoing.
Transformation and Renewal:
Believers are called to transform their lives, abandoning the deeds of darkness. The nearing dawn symbolizes the hope of salvation and the need for a renewed, righteous life.
In summary, the passage intertwines themes of obedience to authority, moral conduct, love, and spiritual vigilance, all framed within the context of Christian beliefs and principles.
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