Romans 13:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

If the Apostle laid this down when rulers were pagans, much more should it be done now, when we have believers as rulers. If you say that something greater has been entrusted to you, know that your time has not yet come. You are still a stranger and a sojourner. A time will come when you will appear brighter than all. Now 'your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory' (Col 3:3-4). Therefore do not seek recompense for yourself in this temporal life. Even if you must stand before a ruler with fear, do not think this unworthy of your nobility. This is pleasing to God, that the ruler who has received authority from Him should possess his own power. If even one conscious of no evil stands before a judge with fear, much more should the evildoer be afraid. You will be held in still greater honor because of this. Humiliation is not caused by showing another reverence, but by failing to show it. The ruler himself will admire you all the more. Even if he is an unbeliever, he will glorify your Lord.

It harms him not at all, but makes him still more honorable and glorious. One must yield to authority in every way where neither piety nor virtue suffers harm. On the contrary, through the modesty of those who honor them, these things become more royal and more glorious. 'Render honor to whom honor is due.' To one worthy of honor, most learned man, honor must indeed be rendered. Yet it must not be such honor as displays servility and seeks his favor. There is danger here of falling into abasement and shaming oneself with flattery fit for some dependent parasite. Rather, with proper discretion, one should render as much honor as is fitting. For it is possible to pay one's debt with decorum.

How then did he say above, ‘If you want not to fear the authority, do what is good,’ while now he says, ‘Render fear’? Here by fear he means the highest degree of respect, not fear arising from an evil conscience, which he meant above. He did not say, ‘Give,’ but, ‘Render,’ and he added, ‘what is due.’ For fulfilling this is not a gift, but a debt. If you do not fulfill it, you will be punished as ungrateful. Do not think that the honor of your philosophy will be lowered or suffer harm if you stand up or uncover your head in the presence of a ruler. For if the Apostle ordained this when rulers were pagans, how much more must it be observed now, when we have Christian rulers. If you say that something greater has been entrusted to you, namely faith and gifts of grace, then know that your time has not yet come. Now you are a stranger and sojourner. The time will come when you will appear stronger than all. Now your life is hidden with Christ in God. But when Christ appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory (cf. Col 3:3-4). Therefore do not seek recompense for yourself in temporal life. If it is necessary for you to stand before a ruler with fear, do not consider this a lowering of your nobility. This is pleasing to God, that the ruler who has received from Him the honor of authority should have his power. For you this will serve to still greater honor. A man is not lowered by showing honor to another, but by not showing it. The ruler himself will admire you all the more and, even if he is an unbeliever, will glorify the Lord because of this.” Blessed Theophylact, in agreement with Oecumenius, interprets this passage thus: “Do not give money alone. Render fear also, that is, respect, reverence, and exceptional honor. Therefore he adds, ‘to whom honor, honor.’ Fear is of two kinds. One fear is that by which criminals are afraid, a fear arising from an unclean conscience. This fear the Apostle has already rejected. The other fear is that which those who love have toward the beloved, that is, the highest degree of respect.” But fear may be referred to all persons in authority, and honor to all others who are honored in society. Ambrosiaster expresses this thought: “It is fitting to show fear before rule and authority, because fear does not allow one to fall into errors and crimes pursued by authority. In relation to parent and master, son and slave must show honor from a feeling of gratitude. The honor indicated here may also be referred to persons who are worldly high in the world, so that, seeing the humility of the servants of Christ, they may praise rather than reproach the Gospel teaching.”