Romans 13:6

You yourself testify that the ruler benefits you, because you give him compensation, obviously, as one who provides for you. We would not have been paying taxes from the beginning if we did not know that we receive benefit from the authorities, those who hold …

Then when he says, for therefore also you pay tribute, he urges men to show the sign of their subjection to authority: first, he mentions the sign of subjection; second, he urges them to render the sign of subjection, at render therefore. In regard to …

Hence it appears that laws with penalties for the lawless and disobedient ( 1 Tim. i. 9 ) must be constituted in Christian nations, and are agreeable with, and not contradictory to, the gospel. When men are become such beasts, such ravenous beasts, one to another, they must be dealt with accordingly, taken and destroyed in terrorem--to deter others.

9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture

For, for this cause pay you tribute also,....

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 defense 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.

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 Rom 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 Rom 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. […]