• Romans 13:2
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 2 ὥστε as-and ὁ the (one) ἀντιτασσόμενος setting self against τῇ the ἐξουσίᾳ authority τῇ to the τοῦ of the θεοῦ God διαταγῇ thorough setting ἀνθέστηκεν, has taken stand against, οἱ the (ones) δὲ but ἀνθεστηκότες having taken stand against ἑαυτοῖς to themselves κρίμα judgment λήμψονται. they will receive.

  • Romans 13:2
    The Emphasized Bible

    • 2 So that he who rangeth himself against the authority Against the arrangement of God opposeth himself, And they who oppose shall unto themselves a sentence of judgment receive.

  • Romans Study Notes—Chapter 13
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 13:2

      the arrangement of God: “The superior authorities” are part of a temporary arrangement permitted by God. (Ro 13:1) The Greek expression used here denotes what God has ordered or directed. These secular authorities are God’s temporary means of maintaining order in human society. But there would be no human authority if God did not permit it. (Joh 19:11) In that sense, the superior authorities have a relative position within God’s purpose. When Paul wrote this letter, the superior authorities affecting Christians were primarily the government of Rome under Emperor Nero, who ruled from 54 to 68 C.E. Paul clearly recognized the need for and the superiority of God’s way of governing. (Ac 28:31; 1Co 15:24) He was simply saying that as long as Jehovah allows human rulership to exist, Christians should respect and accept it as “the arrangement of God.”