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Romans Commentary Chapters 9-16  /  Romans 13:8 – 10 Love Fulfills the Law  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 3
The Apostolic Constitutions apply “owe nothing” to rendering “offerings, customs, honor, gifts, and taxes,” then say the only remaining debt is love; what view of God’s ordering of society and authority is assumed here, and how does that sit with modern Christian instincts toward political suspicion or disengagement?
Another way to ask: The Apostolic Constitutions say “owe nothing” means pay what you owe like taxes, honor, and gifts, and then your only lasting debt is love. What does this assume about God using society and authorities, and how does that fit with Christians today who distrust politics or stay away from it?

Direct Answer The transcript assumes governing authorities have a real, God-permitted role (“ministers of God” who punish ungodly behavior), so Christians should render what is due to them, while still holding love as the one never-ending obligation. This can confront modern instincts to treat government mainly with suspicion or to disengage entirely.

Support from Transcript:

  • The Apostolic Constitutions say, “Be subject to all royal power and dominion in things that are pleasing to God.”
  • They describe authorities as “the ministers of God and the punishers of the ungodly,” implying an ordering under God.
  • They command Christians to “Render to them all the fear that is due, together with all offerings, customs, honor, gifts, and taxes.”
  • They connect this to Romans 13:8: “For this is God’s command, that you owe nothing to anyone except the debt of love.”
  • Bercot emphasizes Paul’s context is “owing taxes and honor to the governing authorities,” not private financial policies.
Discussion Follow-ups How do you balance “be subject…in things that are pleasing to God” with modern fears about corruption? What would it look like to pay what is due while keeping love as the primary debt?

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