Robertson Word Pictures - Romans 13:7 - 13:7

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Robertson Word Pictures - Romans 13:7 - 13:7


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

Dues (opheilas). Debts, from opheilō, to owe. Often so in the papyri, though not in Greek authors. In N.T. only here, Mat 18:32; 1Co 7:3. Paying debts needs emphasis today, even for ministers.

To whom tribute is due (tōi ton phoron). We must supply a participle with the article tōi like apaitounti (“to the one asking tribute”). So with the other words (to whom custom, tōi to telos apaitounti; to whom fear, tōi ton phobon apaitounti; to whom honour, tōi tēn timēn apaitounti). Phoros is the tribute paid to a subject nation (Luk 20:22), while telos is tax for support of civil government (Mat 17:25).