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Selected Verse: Romans 13:8 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Ro 13:8 |
King James |
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Owe no man anything, but to love one another--"Acquit yourselves of all obligations except love, which is a debt that must remain ever due" [HODGE].
for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law--for the law itself is but love in manifold action, regarded as matter of duty. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Owe no man anything - Be not "in debt" to anyone. In the previous verse the apostle had been discoursing of the duty which we owe to magistrates. He had particularly enjoined on Christians to pay to "them" their just dues. From this command to discharge fully this obligation, the transition was natural to the subject of debts "in general," and to an injunction not to be indebted to "any one." This law is enjoined in this place:
(1) Because it is a part of our duty as good citizens; and,
(2) Because it is a part of that law which teaches us to love our neighbor, and to "do no injury to him," Rom 13:10.
The interpretation of this command is to be taken with this limitation, that we are not to be indebted to him so as to "injure" him, or to work "ill" to him.
This rule, together with the other rules of Christianity, would propose a remedy for all the evils of bad debts in the following manner.
(1) it would teach people to be "industrious," and this would commonly prevent the "necessity" of contracting debts.
(2) it would make them "frugal, economical," and "humble" in their views and manner of life.
(3) it would teach them to bring up their families in habits of industry. The Bible often enjoins that; see the note at Rom 12:11; compare Phi 4:8; Pro 24:30-34; Th1 4:11; Th2 3:10; Eph 4:25.
(4) Religion would produce sober, chastened views of the end of life, of the great design of living; and would take off the affections from the splendor, gaiety, and extravagances which lead often to the contraction of debts; Th1 5:6, Th1 5:8; Pe1 1:13; Pe1 4:7; Tit 2:12; Pe1 3:3, Pe1 3:5; Ti1 2:9.
(5) Religion would put a period to the "vices" and unlawful desires which now prompt people to contract debts.
(6) it would make them "honest" in paying them. It would make them conscientious, prompt, friends of truth, and disposed to keep their promises.
But to love one another - Love is a debt which "can" never be discharged. We should feel that we "owe" this to all people, and though by acts of kindness we may be constantly discharging it, yet we should feel that it can "never" be fully met while there is opportunity to do good.
For he that loveth ... - In what way this is done is stated in Rom 13:10. The law in relation to our neighbor is there said to be simply that we do no "ill" to him. Love to him would prompt to no injury. It would seek to do him good, and would thus fulfil all the purposes of justice and truth which we owe to him. In order to illustrate this, the apostle, in the next verse, runs over the laws of the Ten Commandments in relation to our neighbor, and shows that all those laws proceed on the principle that we are to "love" him, and that love would prompt to them all. |
The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
Owe
See (Lev 19:13); (Pro 22:7). |
Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Another (τὸν ἕτερον)
Lit., the other, or the different one, the word emphasizing more strongly the distinction between the two parties. Rev., his neighbor. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
From our duty to magistrates he passes on to general duties. To love one another - An eternal debt, which can never be sufficiently discharged; but yet if this be rightly performed, it discharges all the rest. For he that loveth another - As he ought. Hath fulfilled the whole law - Toward his neighbour. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another - In the preceding verses the apostle has been showing the duty, reverence, and obedience, which all Christians, from the highest to the lowest, owe to the civil magistrate; whether he be emperor, king, proconsul, or other state officer; here he shows them their duty to each other: but this is widely different from that which they owe to the civil government: to the first they owe subjection, reverence, obedience, and tribute; to the latter they owe nothing but mutual love, and those offices which necessarily spring from it. Therefore, the apostle says, Owe no man; as if he had said: Ye owe to your fellow brethren nothing but mutual love, and this is what the law of God requires, and in this the law is fulfilled. Ye are not bound in obedience to them as to the civil magistrate; for to him ye must needs be subject, not merely for fear of punishment, but for conscience sake: but to these ye are bound by love; and by that love especially which utterly prevents you from doing any thing by which a brother may sustain any kind of injury. |
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
13 Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.