Romans 13:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Then, after fear, the Apostle proves the benefit of obedience and persuades on the basis of rational arguments, saying, “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil.” First he struck a strong blow and brought his hearers into fear. Now he again gives relief and, like a wise physician, administers a soothing medicine. He comforts them and says: why are you afraid? Why are you terrified? Does the ruler punish the one who does good? Is he terrible to one who cares for virtue? Therefore the Apostle also adds, “Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from him.” Do you see how he reconciled the one who does good with the ruler, showing that the ruler has been appointed to praise him? Do you see how he removed every anger? See verse 4.

Why do you fear and tremble? Does the ruler rebuke you if you do good? Is he fearsome to you if you are zealous for virtue? On the contrary, if you do good, the ruler has been appointed to praise you. He is so far from causing you fear that he even praises you.

“Do good, and you will have praise from the authority.” These words may trouble some people when they think that Christians have often suffered persecution from these authorities. They will say: did the Christians not do good, if they not only did not receive praise from the authorities, but were even punished and killed by them? The Apostle’s words must be considered. He does not say, “Do good, and the authority will praise you,” but, “You will have praise from it.” Whether it approves your good deed or persecutes you, you will have praise from it, either through the victory of your obedience to God, or by being crowned with the crown of the persecuted.

One must obey the governing authorities, unless the commandment of God prevents this.

But do you wish not to fear rulers? Then do good, and in place of your fear before them you will receive great approval from them.

Therefore evil is not from authority, but from the love of authority. Authority is established by God, and the one who uses it for good is a servant of God.

By rulers here he means kings, who are chosen for the correction of life and the prevention of evil. In them is the image of God, for all the rest are subject to them.

“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil.” For they punish those who live wickedly. “Do you wish, then, not to fear the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from him.”

“Do you wish not to fear the authority? Do what is good.” The only feeling produced in man by the presence and action of authority is fear. The Apostle shows us even here that this feeling comes not from the nature of authority, but from the character and actions of those subject to it. If they act badly, authority arms itself against them with threats and punishments. But if good is done, every fear of authority disappears.

Consequently, it is pleasing to the Lord that, even in this age and from men like themselves, people receive praise when they do good, and punishment or vengeance when they do evil. This is pleasing to the Lord so that, by fear of human punishments and temporal execution, the sword, He may restrain people from evil. By human praise and temporal reward, He encourages them to do good. Can one resist this care of God for us? It turns us away from eternal punishment through fear of temporal punishment, and leads us to the heavenly reward through desire for an earthly reward.

“Having acted upon them by fear, the Apostle proves the benefit of obedience and persuades from reason, saying: ‘For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil,’ that is, not to those who do good works, but to evildoers, as Oecumenius says. First he inflicted a deep wound and brought his hearers into fear. Now he again gives relief and, like a wise physician, administers a soothing remedy. He comforts them and says: why are you afraid? Why are you terrified? Does the ruler rebuke the one who does good? Is he terrible to the one zealous for virtue? Therefore the Apostle also adds, ‘Do you want to be unafraid of the authority?