---
title: Romans 13:4
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/romans-13-4/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/romans-13-4.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: Romans 13:4
testament: NT
section: Letters
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# Romans 13:4

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.

## NWT Wording of the Key Phrase

- NWT (2013 revision): "for it is God's minister to you for your good. But if you are doing what is bad, be in fear, for it is not without purpose that it bears the sword"

## JW Usage

Watchtower commentary takes Romans 13:4 as describing the authority of human governments under Jehovah's "relative authority" — they are placed in their positions by God for the maintenance of order. JW theology obeys human laws as long as they do not conflict with Jehovah's commands; the cosmic-neutrality doctrine means Witnesses do not vote, run for office, serve on juries, or perform military service, but they pay taxes and obey civil law.

## Protestant Usage

Verse 4 is decisive against cosmic neutrality. Paul says the civil authority is "God's minister" (NWT) — not Satan's agent. He says it "bears the sword" — wields legitimate coercive force — and is "an avenger to express wrath." If the government bears God's commission to enforce justice, then participating in justice (jury service, voting for righteous laws, lawful military service in defensive contexts) is participating in God's appointed minister at work. Paul himself appealed to Caesar (Acts 25:11) — using the civic machinery of Rome to protect his apostolic ministry. The Watchtower's blanket withdrawal from civic engagement reads against the verse's plain force: God's minister is not a satanic counterfeit but a divinely commissioned servant of justice.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [The Civic Cost of Cosmic Neutrality](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/cosmic-neutrality-civic-cost.md) — Jesus said 'my kingdom is not of this world' — not 'my followers must abandon the world' (John 18:36) [Practice]
- [The Career Extension of Blood-Guilt](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/blood-guilt-firearms-careers.md) — Romans 13:4 — God Appoints the Sword-Bearer [Practice]