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ESVPay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
NIVGive to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
NASBPay to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.
CSBPay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.
NLTGive to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.
KJVRender therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica®.
The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® Copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New American Standard Bible Copyright© 1960 - 2020 by The Lockman Foundation.
Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright© 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by Permission.
Paul concludes this section on submitting to government authorities with a broader statement about paying what is owed in every sense of the word. In short, Paul describes Christians as people who pay what is owed in all cases. This includes taxes, as described in the previous verse, revenue—meaning money—as well as respect and honor. While we're obligated to disobey openly ungodly commands (Acts 5:27–29), Christians are to live lives, in general, of lawful obedience.
Within the context of this section, adding the words respect and honor to what believers owe government may make Paul's teaching even more difficult. Peter's letters go even further when he instructs that we must honor the emperor (1 Peter 2:13–17). It's important to note the difference between giving respect and honor versus having a high opinion of, or voicing praise for someone. Paul does not command living-sacrifice Christians to have positive thoughts for every authority figure. Nor does he command believers to advocate or defend them when they are wrong. Instead, Paul eliminates the option for us to speak and act in ways that are disrespectful and dishonoring.
As other Scriptures make clear, this also does not mean believers are to be unquestioningly obedient. Beginning with Jesus and Paul and the other apostles, Christianity has a long history of civil disobedience to those in authority. Most famously, Peter and the other apostles continued to preach the gospel when ordered not to. They said, "We must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). Most of them paid for that position with their lives: that's "submission" in contrast to "obedience."
Even in those circ*mstances, though, those martyred believers did not refuse to be respectful or honoring toward those in positions of what they believed to be God-given authority. Paul's larger point is that Christians should never be known as people who defy and disrespect authority, especially in matters not related to obeying God. In addition, he insists that our acts of respect, honor, and submission to human authorities are, in truth, acts of faith in the God who provides for us.
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THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica®.
The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® Copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New American Standard Bible Copyright© 1960 - 2020 by The Lockman Foundation.
Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright© 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by Permission.
As an enthusiast and expert in biblical studies, I have dedicated a significant portion of my academic and personal pursuits to understanding the intricacies of various Bible versions and the contextual nuances of biblical passages. My knowledge spans across the Old and New Testaments, delving into the historical, cultural, and theological dimensions of the scriptures.
In the provided passage, the focus is on a verse from the book of Romans, specifically Romans 13:7, which touches upon the concept of rendering what is due to others, encompassing taxes, revenue, respect, and honor. The verse is presented in multiple translations, including the ESV (English Standard Version), NIV (New International Version), NASB (New American Standard Bible), CSB (Christian Standard Bible), NLT (New Living Translation), and KJV (King James Version).
Let's break down the concepts and references mentioned in the passage:
1. Bible Versions:
- ESV (English Standard Version)
- NIV (New International Version)
- NASB (New American Standard Bible)
- CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
- NLT (New Living Translation)
- KJV (King James Version)
2. Books of the Bible:
- Genesis
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
- Joshua
- Judges
- Ruth
- 1 Samuel
- 2 Samuel
- 1 Kings
- 2 Kings
- 1 Chronicles
- 2 Chronicles
- Ezra
- Nehemiah
- Esther
- Job
- Psalms
- Proverbs
- Ecclesiastes
- Song of Solomon
- Isaiah
- Jeremiah
- Lamentations
- Ezekiel
- Daniel
- Hosea
- Joel
- Amos
- Obadiah
- Jonah
- Micah
- Nahum
- Habakkuk
- Zephaniah
- Haggai
- Zechariah
- Malachi
- Matthew
- Mark
- Luke
- John
- Acts
- Romans
- 1 Corinthians
- 2 Corinthians
- Galatians
- Ephesians
- Philippians
- Colossians
- 1 Thessalonians
- 2 Thessalonians
- 1 Timothy
- 2 Timothy
- Titus
- Philemon
- Hebrews
- James
- 1 Peter
- 2 Peter
- 1 John
- 2 John
- 3 John
- Jude
- Revelation
3. Romans 13:7 Verse:
- The verse emphasizes the idea of fulfilling one's obligations to others, including paying taxes, giving respect, and showing honor.
4. Concepts:
- Submission to government authorities
- Paying what is owed
- Obedience to lawful authority
- Living a life of lawful obedience
- Distinguishing between positive thoughts and respectful behavior
- Civil disobedience in the context of obeying God
- Acts of respect, honor, and submission as acts of faith
The passage further explores the broader context of submitting to authority, bringing in references from other biblical texts, such as Acts 5:27–29 and 1 Peter 2:13–17. It underscores the importance of Christians being known for respectful and honoring behavior, even in the face of civil disobedience for matters related to obeying God. The narrative also highlights the historical precedence of civil disobedience within Christianity, citing examples such as the apostles' defiance of orders to stop preaching.
In conclusion, this passage provides a comprehensive view of the biblical perspective on civic responsibility, authority, and the balance between lawful obedience and acts of faith.
