UTN uW Translation Notes:

Romans 13 Chapter Introduction

Structure and Formatting

7. Instructions for living as Christians ([12:1–15:13](../12/01.md)) * How to act toward God ([12:1–2](../12/01.md)) * How to serve the church ([12:3–8](../12/03.md)) * How to act toward other Christians ([12:9–13](../12/09.md)) * How to act toward unbelievers ([12:14–21](../12/14.md)) * How to act toward government ([13:1–7](../13/01.md)) * How to act toward other people ([13:8–10](../13/08.md)) * Act as if the end is near ([13:11–14](../13/11.md))

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Submission to rulers

In [13:1–7](../13/01.md) Paul commands his readers to obey rulers and pay taxes. Some readers will find this difficult to accept, especially if they live in places where wicked rulers persecute the church. It is important to recognize that the Holy Spirit led Paul to write these words while the Roman government was persecuting Christians. Christians must obey their rulers as well as obey God. The only time a Christian should disobey governing authorities is when those rulers do not allow Christians to do something God explicitly commands them to do (for an example of such a situation, see [Acts 5:28–29](../../act/05/28.md)).

“The night advanced, and the day has come near”

In [13:11–14](../13/11.md) Paul tells his readers that they should behave like Jesus because Jesus is coming back soon. He calls the current time in which people do what is evil the “night,” and he calls the time when Jesus returns the “day.”