SEV Biblia, Chapter 13:3
Porque los magistrados no son para temor al que bien hace, sino al malo. ¿Quieres pues no temer la potestad? Haz lo bueno, y tendrs alabanza de ella;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Romans 13:3
Verse 3. For rulers are not a terror to good works] Here the apostle shows the civil magistrate what he should be: he is clothed with great power, but that power is entrusted to him, not for the terror and oppression of the upright man, but to overawe and punish the wicked. It is, in a word, for the benefit of the community, and not for the aggrandizement of himself, that God has entrusted the supreme civil power to any man. If he should use this to wrong, rob, spoil, oppress, and persecute his subjects, he is not only a bad man, but also a bad prince. He infringes on the essential principles of law and equity. Should he persecute his obedient, loyal subjects, on any religious account, this is contrary to all law and right; and his doing so renders him unworthy of their confidence, and they must consider him not as a blessing but a plague. Yet, even in this case, though in our country it would be a breach of the constitution, which allows every man to worship God according to his conscience, the truly pious will not feel that even this would justify rebellion against the prince; they are to suffer patiently, and commend themselves and their cause to him that judgeth righteously. It is an awful thing to rebel, and the cases are extremely rare that can justify rebellion against the constituted authorities. See the doctrine on ver. 1. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power?] If thou wouldst not live in fear of the civil magistrate, live according to the laws; and thou mayest expect that he will rule according to the laws, and consequently instead of incurring blame thou wilt have praise. This is said on the supposition that the ruler is himself a good man: such the laws suppose him to be; and the apostle, on the general question of obedience and protection, assumes the point that the magistrate is such.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. For rulers are not a terror to good works , etc..] That is, to them that do good works in a civil sense; who behave well in the neighbourhoods, towns, cities, and countries where they dwell. The apostle seems to anticipate an objection made against governors, as if there was something very terrible and formidable in them; and which might be taken up from the last clause of the preceding verse; and which he removes by observing, that governors neither do, nor ought to inject terror into men that behave well, obey the laws, and keep a good decorum among their fellow subjects, not doing any injury to any man's person, property, and estate. The Jews have a saying, that a governor that injects more fear into the people, than is for the honour of God, shall be punished, and shall not see his son a disciple of a wise man. But to the evil ; to wicked men, who make no conscience of doing hurt to their fellow creatures, by abusing their persons, defrauding them of their substance, and by various illicit methods doing damage to them; to such, rulers are, and ought to be terrors; such are to be menaced, and threatened with inflicting upon them the penalty of the laws they break; and which ought to be inflicted on them by way of punishment to them, and for the terror of others. R. Chanina, the Sagan of the priests f242 , used to say, pray for the peace of the kingdom, for if there was no harwm , fear, (i.e. a magistrate to inject fear,) one man would devour another alive. Wilt thou not then be afraid of the power ? of the civil magistrate, in power and authority, to oppose him, to refuse subjection to him, to break the laws, which, according to his office, he is to put in execution. Do that which is good : in a civil sense, between man and man, by complying with the laws of the land, which are not contrary to the laws of God; for of doing good in a spiritual and religious sense he is no judge: and thou shalt have praise of the same ; shall be commended as a good neighbour, a good citizen, and a good commonwealth's man; an honest, quiet, peaceable man, that does not disturb the peace of civil society, but strengthens and increases it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - The grace of the gospel teaches us submission and quiet, where prid and the carnal mind only see causes for murmuring and discontent Whatever the persons in authority over us themselves may be, yet the just power they have, must be submitted to and obeyed. In the genera course of human affairs, rulers are not a terror to honest, quiet, an good subjects, but to evil-doers. Such is the power of sin an corruption, that many will be kept back from crimes only by the fear of punishment. Thou hast the benefit of the government, therefore do what thou canst to preserve it, and nothing to disturb it. This direct private persons to behave quietly and peaceably where God has set them 1Ti 2:1, 2. Christians must not use any trick or fraud. All smuggling dealing in contraband goods, withholding or evading duties, in rebellion against the express command of God. Thus honest neighbour are robbed, who will have to pay the more; and the crimes of smugglers and others who join with them, are abetted. It is painful that some professors of the gospel should countenance such dishonest practices The lesson here taught it becomes all Christians to learn and practise that the godly in the land will always be found the quiet and the peaceable in the land, whatever others are.
Greek Textus Receptus
οι 3588 T-NPM γαρ 1063 CONJ αρχοντες 758 N-NPM ουκ 3756 PRT-N εισιν 1526 5748 V-PXI-3P φοβος 5401 N-NSM των 3588 T-GPN αγαθων 18 A-GPN εργων 2041 N-GPN αλλα 235 CONJ των 3588 T-GPN κακων 2556 A-GPN θελεις 2309 5719 V-PAI-2S δε 1161 CONJ μη 3361 PRT-N φοβεισθαι 5399 5738 V-PNN την 3588 T-ASF εξουσιαν 1849 N-ASF το 3588 T-ASN αγαθον 18 A-ASN ποιει 4160 5720 V-PAM-2S και 2532 CONJ εξεις 2192 5692 V-FAI-2S επαινον 1868 N-ASM εξ 1537 PREP αυτης 846 P-GSF
Robertson's NT Word Studies
13:3 {A terror} (fobos). this meaning in #Isa 8:13. Paul does not approve all that rulers do, but he is speaking generally of the ideal before rulers. Nero was Emperor at this time. {From the same} (ex autes). "From it" (exousia, personified in verse #4).
