Scripture Reference Window
    Browser "Back" or "Alt+Left_Arrow" to return.

Romans 13:1-2 GW Every person should obey the government in power. No government would exist if it hadn't been established by God. The governments which exist have been put in place by God. (2) Therefore, whoever resists the government opposes what God has established. Those who resist will bring punishment on themselves.

Please do not confuse this scripture to mean the governments are "willing and compliant" servants of God. They are not! (1 John 5:19 of 18-21) God's kingdom by Christ is now taking control of creation. (Dan 2:44; 1 Cor 15:12-28) As Romans 13:1-2 says, human governments have (mostly unknowingly) been (and are being) used by God to fend off anarchy; during the period we have awaited the arrival of Christ's Kingdom.

Romans 13:1-2 GNB Everyone must obey state authorities, because no authority exists without God's permission, and the existing authorities have been put there by God. (2) Whoever opposes the existing authority opposes what God has ordered; and anyone who does so will bring judgment on himself.

Romans 13:1-2 ESV 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. (2) Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

Romans 13:1, 2 NWT 13 Let every soul be in subjection to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except by God; the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God. 2 Therefore he who opposes the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God; those who have taken a stand against it will receive judgment to themselves.

Use browser "Back Arrow" or "Alt + Left_Arrow" keys to previous page. | Home


You will note the reference windows often include more than one translation of the Bible. The reason is to strive to gain the best possible understanding of the original Hebrew and Greek. Since we don't speak those languages, we rely on those who have come before and made the effort to translate those texts into English for us. Considering several translations gives the benefit of the understanding of several translation committees or individuals.
The Translations we quote are:

ALT - Analytical Literal Translation

ASV - American Standard Version (by the American revision committee in 1897).

BBE - 1965 Bible in Basic English

Bishops - 1568 Bishop's Bible

Calvin - 1856 by Calvin Translation Society

CEV - Contemporary English Version

Coverdale - 1535 Miles Coverdale Bible

Darby - 1889 Darby Bible

DRB - 1899 Douay-Rheims Bible

ESV - English Standard Version

GNB - Good News Bible

GW - God's Word Bible

ISV - International Standard Version

KJV - 1769 King James Version

KJV-1611 - Old King James Version from 1611

LitNT - Literal New Testament

LITV - Literal Translation of the Holy Bible

MKJV - 1962 Modern King James Version

Murdock - 1851 James Murdock New Testament

MWT - Modern World Translation

NWT - New World Translation

RV - Revised Version

Webster - 1833 Webster Bible

WTNT - 1525-26 William Tyndale New Testament

Wycliffe - 1394 Wycliffe Bible

YLT - 1862/1898 Young's Literal Translation

Scripture Reference Window
    Browser "Back" or "Alt+Left_Arrow" to return.