Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, November 26th, 2024
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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New Living Translation

Romans 13:6

Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Citizens;   Government;   Rulers;   Thompson Chain Reference - Nation, the;   Taxes;   Tribute;   The Topic Concordance - Government;   Ministry;   Tribute;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Conduct, Christian;   Kings;   Magistrates;   Tribute;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Ethics;   Government;   Nation;   Rome;   Ruler;   Steal;   War;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Evil;   Honor;   Punishment;   Tithe, Tithing;   Wealth;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Justice;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Minister;   Taxes;   Tribute;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Minister;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Romans, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ethics;   Psychology;   Romans, Epistle to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Christian Life;   Debt, Debtor;   Discipline;   Dispersion;   Man of Sin;   Minister, Ministration;   Peter Epistles of;   Polycarp;   Rufus;   Soberness Sobriety;   Tribute;   Vengeance;   Worldliness;   King James Dictionary - For;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Minister;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Interesting facts about the bible;   Tax taxing taxation;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Minister;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Attend;   Cause;   Church Government;   Law in the New Testament;   Tribute;   Very;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
And this is why you pay taxes too. Those rulers are working for God, and they give all their time to the work of ruling.
Revised Standard Version
For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And even for this cause paye ye tribute. For they are goddes ministers servynge for the same purpose.
Hebrew Names Version
For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are ministers of God's service, attending continually on this very thing.
International Standard Version
This is also why you pay taxes. For rulersthey">[fn] are God's servants faithfully devoting themselves to their work.to this very thing">[fn]
New American Standard Bible
For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.
New Century Version
This is also why you pay taxes. Rulers are working for God and give their time to their work.
Update Bible Version
For this cause you pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God's service, attending continually on this very thing.
Webster's Bible Translation
For, for this cause ye pay tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
English Standard Version
For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.
World English Bible
For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are ministers of God's service, attending continually on this very thing.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For this cause ye pay tribute also: for they are the ministers of God, attending continually on this very thing.
Weymouth's New Testament
Why, this is really the reason you pay taxes; for tax-gatherers are ministers of God, devoting their energies to this very work.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For therfor ye yyuen tributis, thei ben the mynystris of God, and seruen for this same thing.
English Revised Version
For for this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God's service, attending continually upon this very thing.
Berean Standard Bible
This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God's servants, who devote themselves to their work.
Contemporary English Version
You must also pay your taxes. The authorities are God's servants, and it is their duty to take care of these matters.
Amplified Bible
For this same reason you pay taxes, for civil authorities are God's servants, devoting themselves to governance.
American Standard Version
For for this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God's service, attending continually upon this very thing.
Bible in Basic English
For the same reason, make payment of taxes; because the authority is God's servant, to take care of such things at all times.
Complete Jewish Bible
This is also why you pay taxes; for the authorities are God's public officials, constantly attending to these duties.
Darby Translation
For on this account ye pay tribute also; for they are God's officers, attending continually on this very thing.
Etheridge Translation
6 On this account also give we tribute [fn] to them; for they are the servants of Aloha over these things constituted.
Murdock Translation
For this cause also ye pay tribute money; for they are the ministers of God, established for these same objects.
King James Version (1611)
For, for this cause pay you tribute also: for they are Gods ministers, attending continually vpon this very thing.
New Life Bible
It is right for you to pay taxes because the leaders of the land are servants for God who care for these things.
New Revised Standard
For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, busy with this very thing.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For, for this cause ye pay also tribute: for they are Gods ministers, applying themselues for the same thing.
George Lamsa Translation
For, for this reason you pay head tax also: for they are ministers of God who are in charge of these things.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, because of this, are ye paying tribute also, - for, God's ministers of state, they are, unto this very thing, giving constant attendance.
Douay-Rheims Bible
For therefore also you pay tribute. For they are the ministers of God, serving unto this purpose.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And for this cause pay ye tribute. For they are Gods ministers, seruyng for the same purpose.
Good News Translation
That is also why you pay taxes, because the authorities are working for God when they fulfill their duties.
Christian Standard Bible®
And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks.
King James Version
For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
Lexham English Bible
For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are servants of God, busily engaged in this very thing.
Literal Translation
For on this account you also pay taxes, for they are ministers of God, always giving attention to this very thing.
Young's Literal Translation
for because of this also pay ye tribute; for servants of God they are, on this very thing attending continually;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For this cause must ye geue trybute also. For they are Gods mynisters, which mateyne ye same defence.
Mace New Testament (1729)
from a principle of conscience. for this is the reason why you also pay tribute, because under God, they are continually
THE MESSAGE
That's also why you pay taxes—so that an orderly way of life can be maintained. Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders.
New English Translation
For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants devoted to governing.
New King James Version
For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Pay your taxes as well. I say this for the same reasons I just got through talking about. Even government officials need grub to eat. They are riding for God whether they know it or not.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.
Legacy Standard Bible
For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.

Contextual Overview

1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4 The authorities are God's servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God's servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. 6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

pay: Ezra 4:13, Ezra 4:20, Ezra 6:8, Nehemiah 5:4, Matthew 17:24-27, Matthew 22:17-21, Mark 12:14-17, Luke 20:21-26, Luke 23:2

attending: Romans 12:8, Exodus 18:13-27, Deuteronomy 1:9-17, 1 Samuel 7:16, 1 Samuel 7:17, 2 Samuel 8:5, 1 Chronicles 18:14, Job 29:7-17

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:22 - at all seasons Nehemiah 5:14 - the bread Matthew 17:25 - Yes Mark 13:34 - and to Luke 20:25 - Render Romans 13:4 - he is Hebrews 1:14 - ministering

Cross-References

Genesis 13:6
But the land could not support both Abram and Lot with all their flocks and herds living so close together.
Genesis 13:7
So disputes broke out between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. (At that time Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land.)
Genesis 13:10
Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
Genesis 13:11
Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram.
Genesis 13:17
Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you."
Genesis 13:18
So Abram moved his camp to Hebron and settled near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. There he built another altar to the Lord .
1 Timothy 6:9
But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For, for this cause pay you tribute also,.... To show that we are subject to the higher powers, and as a proof and evidence of our subjection to them, we do and ought to pay tribute to them, to support them in their office and dignity; and this is done not for fear of trouble, of distress on goods and estate, or imprisonment of person, but for conscience sake: payment of taxes is not a mere matter of prudence, and done to avoid dangerous consequence, but is and ought to be a case of conscience; whatever is anyone's due, and of right belongs to him, conscience dictates it ought to be paid him; as therefore it tells a man, that whatever is God's should be rendered to him, so whatever is Caesar's, should be given him; and indeed to do otherwise, to refuse to pay tribute, or by any fraudulent means to deprive the civil magistrate of his due, is not only to do an injury to him, but to the whole body politic, which has a greater concern therein than he himself; and such a person forfeits all right and claim to his protection:

for they are God's ministers. This is another reason why tribute should be paid them, not only to testify subjection to them, and keep conscience clear, but because they are called unto, and put into this high office by God; for promotion to such honour and high places comes not from east, west, north, or south; but is by the providence of God, who puts down, and sets up at pleasure; they are his vicegerents, they act under him, are in his stead, and represent his majesty; and therefore, in some sort, what is done to them is done to him:

attending continually upon this very thing; not of laying, collecting, and receiving tribute, but of service and ministry under God, for the welfare of their subjects; for rightly to administer the office of magistracy requires great pains, care, diligence, and assiduity; and as great wisdom and thoughtfulness in making laws for the good of the body, so a diligent constant concern to put them in execution, to secure the lives of subjects from cut throats and murderers, and their properties and estates from thieves and robbers; and they are not only obliged diligently to attend to such service at home, but to keep a good lookout abroad, and penetrate into, and watch the designs of foreign enemies, to defend from their invasions, and fight for their country; that the inhabitants thereof may live peaceable and quiet lives, enjoying their respective rights and privileges; and since therefore civil government is a business of so much care, and since our rulers are so solicitous, and constantly concerned for our good, and which cannot be done without great expense, as well as diligence, we ought cheerfully to pay tribute to them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For this cause - Because they are appointed by God; for the sake of conscience, and in order to secure the execution of the laws. As they are appointed by God, the tribute which is needful for their support becomes an act of homage to God, an act performed in obedience to his will, and acceptable to him.

Tribute also - Not only be subject Romans 13:5, but pay what may be necessary to support the government. “Tribute” properly denotes the “tax,” or annual compensation, which was paid by one province or nation to a superior, as the price of protection, or as an acknowledgment of subjection. The Romans made all conquered provinces pay this “tribute;” and it would become a question whether it was “right” to acknowledge this claim, and submit to it. Especially would this question be agitated by the Jews and by Jewish Christians. But on the principle which the apostle had laid down Romans 13:1-2, it was right to do it, and was demanded by the very purposes of government. In a larger sense, the word “tribute” means any tax paid on land or personal estate for the support of the government.

For they are God’s ministers - His servants; or they are appointed by him. As the government is “his” appointment, we should contribute to its support as a matter of conscience, because we thus do honor to the arrangement of God. It may be observed here, also, that the fact that civil rulers are the ministers of God, invests their character with great sacredness, and should impress upon “them” the duty of seeking to do his will, as well as on others the duty of submitting to them.

Attending continually - As they attend to this, and devote their time and talents to it, it is proper that they should receive a suitable support. It becomes then a duty for the people to contribute cheerfully to the necessary expenses of the government. If those taxes should be unjust and oppressive, yet, like other evils, they are to be submitted to, until a remedy can be found in a proper way.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Romans 13:6. For this cause pay ye tribute also — Because civil government is an order of God, and the ministers of state must be at considerable expense in providing for the safety and defence of the community, it is necessary that those in whose behalf these expenses are incurred should defray that expense; and hence nothing can be more reasonable than an impartial and moderate taxation, by which the expenses of the state may be defrayed, and the various officers, whether civil or military, who are employed for the service of the public, be adequately remunerated. All this is just and right, but there is no insinuation in the apostle's words in behalf of an extravagant and oppressive taxation, for the support of unprincipled and unnecessary wars; or the pensioning of corrupt or useless men. The taxes are to be paid for the support of those who are God's ministers-the necessary civil officers, from the king downwards, who are attending CONTINUALLY on this very thing. And let the reader observe, that by God's ministers are not meant here the ministers of religion, but the civil officers in all departments of the state.


 
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