From Submission to Love: Understanding the Motivations in Romans 13:1-10

This paper studies Rom 13:1-10, analyzing the inner connection between Paul’s exhortation to submit to governing authorities and his admonition to love one another. It addresses interpretative and exegetical issues, including possible textual interpolations and the meanings of key terms. The analysis demonstrates that Paul’s argument hinges on the incrementum (αὔξησις) of underlying rationales, moving from general and external incentives to personal and internal motivations. This study highlights that the coherence of the passage relies on understanding both its imperatives and motivations, ultimately suggesting a deeper moral imperative.