SEV Biblia, Chapter 13:4
porque es ministro de Dios para tu bien. Mas si hicieres lo malo, teme; porque no sin causa trae el cuchillo; porque es ministro de Dios, vengador para castigo al que hace lo malo.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Romans 13:4
Verse 4. For he is the minister of God to thee for good] Here the apostle puts the character of the ruler in the strongest possible light. He is the minister of God-the office is by Divine appointment: the man who is worthy of the office will act in conformity to the will of God: and as the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears open to their cry, consequently the ruler will be the minister of God to them for good. He beareth not the sword in vain] His power is delegated to him for the defense and encouragement of the good, and the punishment of the wicked; and he has authority to punish capitally, when the law so requires: this the term sword leads us to infer.
For he is the minister of God, a revenger] qeou diakonov estin ekdikov, For he is God's vindictive minister, to execute wrath; eiv orghn, to inflict punishment upon the transgressors of the law; and this according to the statutes of that law; for God's civil ministers are never allowed to pronounce or inflict punishment according to their own minds or feeling, but according to the express declarations of the law.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. For he is the minister of God to thee for good , etc..] He is a minister of God's appointing and commissioning, that acts under him, and for him, is a kind of a vicegerent of his, and in some, sense represents him; and which is another reason why men ought to be subject to him; and especially since he is appointed for their good, natural, moral, civil, and spiritual, as Pareus observes: for natural good, for the protection of men's natural lives, which otherwise would be in continual danger from wicked men; for moral good, for the restraining of vice, and encouragement of virtue; profaneness abounds exceedingly, as the case is, but what would it do if there were no laws to forbid it, or civil magistrates to put them in execution? for civil good, for the preservation of men's properties, estates, rights, and liberties, which would be continually invaded, and made a prey of by others; and for spiritual and religious good, as many princes and magistrates have been; a sensible experience of which we have under the present government of these kingdoms, allowing us a liberty to worship God according to our consciences, none making us afraid, and is a reason why we should yield a cheerful subjection to it: but if thou do that which is evil, be afraid : of the punishment of such evil threatened by law, and to be inflicted by the civil magistrate; for he beareth not the sword in vain . The sword is an emblem of the power of life and death, the civil magistrate is invested with, and includes all sorts of punishment he has a right to inflict; and this power is not lodged in him in vain; he may and ought to make use of it at proper times, and upon proper persons: for he is the minister of God ; as is said before, he has his mission, commission, power and authority from him; and is a revenge to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil ; he is a defender of the laws, a vindicator of divine justice, an avenger of the wrongs of men; and his business is to inflict proper punishment, which is meant by wrath, upon delinquents.
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
θεου 2316 N-GSM γαρ 1063 CONJ διακονος 1249 N-NSM εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S σοι 4671 P-2DS εις 1519 PREP το 3588 T-ASN αγαθον 18 A-ASN εαν 1437 COND δε 1161 CONJ το 3588 T-ASN κακον 2556 A-ASN ποιης 4160 5725 V-PAS-2S φοβου 5399 5737 V-PNM-2S ου 3756 PRT-N γαρ 1063 CONJ εικη 1500 ADV την 3588 T-ASF μαχαιραν 3162 N-ASF φορει 5409 5719 V-PAI-3S θεου 2316 N-GSM γαρ 1063 CONJ διακονος 1249 N-NSM εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S εκδικος 1558 A-NSM εις 1519 PREP οργην 3709 N-ASF τω 3588 T-DSM το 3588 T-ASN κακον 2556 A-ASN πρασσοντι 4238 5723 V-PAP-DSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
4. Beareth (forei). Beareth and weareth. A frequentative form of ferw to bear.Sword (macairan). See on Apoc. vi. 4. Borne as the symbol of the magistrate's right to inflict capital punishment. Thus Ulpian: "They who rule whole provinces have the right of the sword (jus gladii)." The Emperor Trajan presented to a provincial governor, on starting for his province, a dagger, with the words, "For me. If I deserve it, in me."
Robertson's NT Word Studies
13:4 {A minister of God} (qeou diakonos). General sense of diakonos. Of course even Nero was God's minister "to thee (soi ethical dative) for good (eis to agaqon, for the good)." That is the ideal, the goal. {Beareth} (forei). Present active indicative of forew, old frequentative form of ferw, to bear, to wear. {But if thou do} (ean de poiis). Condition of third class, ean and present active subjunctive of poiew, "if thou continue to do." {Sword} (macairan). Symbol of authority as to-day policemen carry clubs or pistols. "The Emperor Trajan presented to a provincial governor on starting for his province, a dagger, with the words, '_For me_. If I deserve it, _in_ me'" (Vincent). {An avenger} (ekdikos). Old adjective from ek and dike (right), "outside of penalty," unjust, qen in later Greek "exacting penalty from one," in N.T. only here and #1Th 4:6.
