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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Romans 13:8 Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/romans/13-8.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/17/45_Rom_13_08.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Romans 13:8 - Love Fulfills the Law" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/romans/13-8.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/romans/13-8.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/romans/">Romans</a> > <a href="/romans/13.htm">Chapter 13</a> > Verse 8</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad8.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/romans/13-7.htm" title="Romans 13:7">◄</a> Romans 13:8 <a href="/romans/13-9.htm" title="Romans 13:9">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/romans/13.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/romans/13.htm">New International Version</a> Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. <a href="/nlt/romans/13.htm">New Living Translation</a> Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. <a href="/esv/romans/13.htm">English Standard Version</a> Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. <a href="/bsb/romans/13.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. <a href="/blb/romans/13.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one loving the other has fulfilled the Law. <a href="/kjv/romans/13.htm">King James Bible</a> Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. <a href="/nkjv/romans/13.htm">New King James Version</a> Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. <a href="/nasb_/romans/13.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law. <a href="/nasb/romans/13.htm">NASB 1995</a> Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. <a href="/nasb77/romans/13.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. <a href="/lsb/romans/13.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. <a href="/amp/romans/13.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Owe nothing to anyone except to love and seek the best for one another; for he who [unselfishly] loves his neighbor has fulfilled the [essence of the] law [relating to one’s fellowman]. <a href="/csb/romans/13.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. <a href="/hcsb/romans/13.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. <a href="/asv/romans/13.htm">American Standard Version</a> Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law. <a href="/cev/romans/13.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Let love be your only debt! If you love others, you have done all that the Law demands. <a href="/erv/romans/13.htm">English Revised Version</a> Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbour hath fulfilled the law. <a href="/gwt/romans/13.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Pay your debts as they come due. However, one debt you can never finish paying is the debt of love that you owe each other. The one who loves another person has fulfilled Moses' Teachings. <a href="/gnt/romans/13.htm">Good News Translation</a> Be under obligation to no one--the only obligation you have is to love one another. Whoever does this has obeyed the Law. <a href="/isv/romans/13.htm">International Standard Version</a> Do not owe anyone anything—except to love one another. For the one who loves another has fulfilled the Law. <a href="/msb/romans/13.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. <a href="/net/romans/13.htm">NET Bible</a> Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. <a href="/nheb/romans/13.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. <a href="/wbt/romans/13.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. <a href="/wey/romans/13.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> Owe nothing to any one except mutual love; for he who loves his fellow man has satisfied the demands of Law. <a href="/web/romans/13.htm">World English Bible</a> Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/romans/13.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> To no one owe anything, except to love one another; for he who is loving the other—he has fulfilled law, <a href="/blb/romans/13.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one loving the other has fulfilled the Law. <a href="/ylt/romans/13.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> To no one owe anything, except to love one another; for he who is loving the other -- law he hath fulfilled, <a href="/slt/romans/13.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Owe ye nothing to none, except to love one another: for he loving another has completed the law.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/romans/13.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Owe no man any thing, but to love one another. For he that loveth his neighbour, hath fulfilled the law. <a href="/cpdv/romans/13.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> You should owe nothing to anyone, except so as to love one another. For whoever loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. <a href="/nabre/romans/13.htm">New American Bible</a> Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. <a href="/nrsvce/romans/13.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/romans/13.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Owe no man anything, but love one another: for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law, <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/romans/13.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> Owe no person anything but to love one another, for whoever loves his neighbor fulfills The Written Law.<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/romans/13.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> Owe no one any thing, except to love one another; for he that loves another, has fulfilled the law. <a href="/godbey/romans/13.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> Owe no man anything, but to love one another with divine love: for the one loving another with divine love has fulfilled the law. <a href="/haweis/romans/13.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. <a href="/mace/romans/13.htm">Mace New Testament</a> Owe no man any thing, but mutual love: for he that <a href="/wey/romans/13.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> Owe nothing to any one except mutual love; for he who loves his fellow man has satisfied the demands of Law. <a href="/worrell/romans/13.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> Owe no one anything, but to love one another; for he that loves another has fulfilled the law. <a href="/worsley/romans/13.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> Owe no one any thing, but to love one another; for he that loveth others hath fulfilled the law: <a href="/parallel/romans/13-8.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KIZs4GUMn-g?start=3276" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/romans/13.htm">Love Fulfills the Law</a> 7Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due. 8<a href="/greek/3784.htm" title="3784: opheilete (V-PMA-2P) -- Or, its prolonged form opheileo probably from the base of ophelos; to owe; figuratively, to be under obligation; morally, to fail in duty.">Be indebted</a> <a href="/greek/3367.htm" title="3367: Mēdeni (Adj-DMS) -- No one, none, nothing. ">to no one,</a> <a href="/greek/3367.htm" title="3367: mēden (Adj-ANS) -- No one, none, nothing. "></a> <a href="/greek/1487.htm" title="1487: ei (Conj) -- If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.">except</a> <a href="/greek/3361.htm" title="3361: mē (Adv) -- Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether."></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: to (Art-ANS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/240.htm" title="240: allēlous (RecPro-AMP) -- One another, each other. Genitive plural from allos reduplicated; one another.">to one another</a> <a href="/greek/25.htm" title="25: agapan (V-PNA) -- To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love.">in love.</a> <a href="/greek/1063.htm" title="1063: gar (Conj) -- For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.">For</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">he who</a> <a href="/greek/25.htm" title="25: agapōn (V-PPA-NMS) -- To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love.">loves</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ton (Art-AMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">his</a> <a href="/greek/2087.htm" title="2087: heteron (Adj-AMS) -- (a) of two: another, a second, (b) other, different, (c) one's neighbor. Of uncertain affinity; other or different.">neighbor</a> <a href="/greek/4137.htm" title="4137: peplērōken (V-RIA-3S) -- From pleres; to make replete, i.e. to cram, level up, or to furnish, satisfy, execute, finish, verify, etc.">has fulfilled</a> <a href="/greek/3551.htm" title="3551: nomon (N-AMS) -- From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively.">the law.</a> 9The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/matthew/22-37.htm">Matthew 22:37-40</a> Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ / This is the first and greatest commandment. / And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ... <a href="/galatians/5-14.htm">Galatians 5:14</a> The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” <a href="/james/2-8.htm">James 2:8</a> If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. <a href="/1_john/4-7.htm">1 John 4:7-12</a> Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. / Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. / This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. ... <a href="/1_corinthians/13-4.htm">1 Corinthians 13:4-7</a> Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. / It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. / Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. ... <a href="/john/13-34.htm">John 13:34-35</a> A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. / By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” <a href="/1_john/3-11.htm">1 John 3:11</a> This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. <a href="/1_john/3-23.htm">1 John 3:23</a> And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us. <a href="/1_john/4-21.htm">1 John 4:21</a> And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well. <a href="/1_thessalonians/4-9.htm">1 Thessalonians 4:9</a> Now about brotherly love, you do not need anyone to write to you, because you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. <a href="/1_peter/1-22.htm">1 Peter 1:22</a> Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart. <a href="/leviticus/19-18.htm">Leviticus 19:18</a> Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. <a href="/deuteronomy/6-5.htm">Deuteronomy 6:5</a> And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. <a href="/proverbs/10-12.htm">Proverbs 10:12</a> Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions. <a href="/proverbs/13-10.htm">Proverbs 13:10</a> Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the law.Owe.<a href="/romans/13-7.htm">Romans 13:7</a> Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.<a href="/deuteronomy/24-14.htm">Deuteronomy 24:14,15</a> Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: … <a href="/proverbs/3-27.htm">Proverbs 3:27,28</a> Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it… for.<a href="/romans/13-10.htm">Romans 13:10</a> Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.<a href="/galatians/5-14.htm">Galatians 5:14</a> For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.<a href="/colossians/3-14.htm">Colossians 3:14</a> And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/romans/12-12.htm">Continuing</a> <a href="/romans/8-12.htm">Debt</a> <a href="/john/16-5.htm">Demands</a> <a href="/romans/13-1.htm">Except</a> <a href="/romans/11-14.htm">Fellow</a> <a href="/romans/8-4.htm">Fulfilled</a> <a href="/romans/11-4.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/romans/12-10.htm">Love</a> <a href="/john/14-21.htm">Loveth</a> <a href="/romans/2-15.htm">Mutual</a> <a href="/acts/7-27.htm">Neighbor</a> <a href="/acts/7-27.htm">Neighbour</a> <a href="/acts/4-16.htm">Outstanding</a> <a href="/romans/13-7.htm">Owe</a> <a href="/acts/27-38.htm">Satisfied</a> <a href="/romans/11-14.htm">Save</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/hebrews/7-23.htm">Continuing</a> <a href="/romans/15-27.htm">Debt</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/16-9.htm">Demands</a> <a href="/romans/14-14.htm">Except</a> <a href="/romans/13-9.htm">Fellow</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/15-54.htm">Fulfilled</a> <a href="/romans/14-23.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/romans/13-9.htm">Love</a> <a href="/revelation/1-5.htm">Loveth</a> <a href="/romans/14-19.htm">Mutual</a> <a href="/romans/13-9.htm">Neighbor</a> <a href="/romans/13-9.htm">Neighbour</a> <a href="/romans/16-7.htm">Outstanding</a> <a href="/romans/15-27.htm">Owe</a> <a href="/romans/15-24.htm">Satisfied</a> <a href="/romans/14-14.htm">Save</a><div class="vheading2">Romans 13</div>1. <a href="/romans/13-1.htm">Subjection, and many other duties, we owe to the authorities.</a> 8. <a href="/romans/13-8.htm">Love is the fulfillment of the law.</a> 11. <a href="/romans/13-11.htm">The acts of darkness are out of season in the time of the Gospel.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/romans/13.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/romans/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/romans/13.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>Be indebted to no one This phrase emphasizes the importance of living a life free from financial and moral obligations that could hinder one's ability to serve God and others. In the cultural context of the Roman Empire, debt was a common issue, often leading to slavery or imprisonment. The Bible frequently warns against the dangers of debt (<a href="/proverbs/22-7.htm">Proverbs 22:7</a>). This instruction aligns with the broader biblical principle of stewardship and living within one's means.except to one another in love The only debt that should remain outstanding is the perpetual obligation to love others. This reflects the teaching of Jesus in <a href="/john/13-34.htm">John 13:34-35</a>, where He commands His disciples to love one another as He has loved them. Love is seen as a continuous, never-ending duty, transcending all other obligations. This love is agape, a selfless, sacrificial love that seeks the best for others, reflecting the love of Christ.For he who loves his neighbor This phrase echoes the second greatest commandment as stated by Jesus in <a href="/matthew/22-39.htm">Matthew 22:39</a>, "Love your neighbor as yourself." The term "neighbor" extends beyond geographical or ethnic boundaries, encompassing all humanity. The parable of the Good Samaritan (<a href="/luke/10-25.htm">Luke 10:25-37</a>) illustrates this expansive definition, challenging cultural and social prejudices.has fulfilled the law Loving one's neighbor fulfills the moral requirements of the law, as love inherently seeks the good of others and thus naturally adheres to the commandments. This concept is rooted in the teachings of Jesus, who summarized the law and the prophets with the commandments to love God and love others (<a href="/matthew/22-37.htm">Matthew 22:37-40</a>). The Apostle Paul reiterates this in <a href="/galatians/5-14.htm">Galatians 5:14</a>, emphasizing that love is the essence of the law. This fulfillment is not about legalistic adherence but about embodying the spirit of the law through love, which is the ultimate expression of God's will.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/p/paul_the_apostle.htm">Paul the Apostle</a> The author of the Book of Romans, Paul was a key figure in the early Christian church, known for his missionary journeys and theological teachings. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_roman_church.htm">The Roman Church</a> The recipients of the letter, the Roman Christians were a diverse group of Jewish and Gentile believers living in the heart of the Roman Empire. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_law.htm">The Law</a> Refers to the Mosaic Law given to the Israelites, which includes moral, ceremonial, and civil commandments.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_debt_of_love.htm">The Debt of Love</a> Christians are called to live free from financial and moral debts, except for the perpetual obligation to love others. This love is not a one-time act but a continuous commitment. <a href="/topical/l/love_as_fulfillment_of_the_law.htm">Love as Fulfillment of the Law</a> Loving others is not just a moral duty but a fulfillment of God's law. This means that true obedience to God is expressed through genuine love for others. <a href="/topical/p/practical_love_in_action.htm">Practical Love in Action</a> Love should be active and practical, manifesting in acts of kindness, forgiveness, and service. It is not merely an emotion but a deliberate choice to seek the well-being of others. <a href="/topical/c/community_and_relationships.htm">Community and Relationships</a> The command to love one another fosters unity and harmony within the Christian community. It encourages believers to prioritize relationships and community well-being. <a href="/topical/r/reflecting_christ's_love.htm">Reflecting Christ's Love</a> As followers of Christ, believers are called to reflect His love in their interactions, serving as a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_romans_13.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Romans 13</a> <a href="/q/avoid_owing_anything_to_anyone.htm">Should we avoid owing anything to anyone?</a> <a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_flirting.htm">What does the Bible say about flirting?</a> <a href="/q/key_teachings_of_1_and_2_clement.htm">Should we avoid owing anything to anyone?</a> <a href="/q/should_churches_take_on_debt.htm">Is it wrong for churches to incur debt?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/romans/13.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(8) Owe no man anything.--The word for "owe" in this verse corresponds to that for "dues" in the last. The transition of the thought is something of this kind. When you have paid all your other debts, taxes, and customs, and reverence, and whatever else you may owe, there will still be one debt unpaid--the universal debt of love. Love must still remain the root and spring of all your actions. No other law is needed besides.Another.--Literally, the other--that is to say, his neighbour, the person with whom in any given instance he has to deal.We naturally compare with this passage <a href="/context/matthew/22-39.htm" title="And the second is like to it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.">Matthew 22:39-40</a>; <a href="/galatians/5-14.htm" title="For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; You shall love your neighbor as yourself.">Galatians 5:14</a>; <a href="/james/2-8.htm" title="If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well:">James 2:8</a>. It shows how thoroughly the spirit of the Founder of Christianity descended upon His followers, that the same teaching should appear with equal prominence in such opposite quarters. The focusing, as it were, of all morality in this brief compass is one of the great gifts of Christianity to the world. No doubt similar sayings existed before, and that by our Lord Himself was quoted from the Old Testament, but there it was in effect overlaid with ceremonial rules and regulations, and in other moralists it was put forward rather as a philosophical theorem than as a practical basis of morals. In Christianity it is taken as the lever which is to move the world; nor is it possible to find for human life, amid all the intricate mazes of conduct, any other principle that should be at once as simple, as powerful, and as profound.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/romans/13.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 8-10. - From specific admonitions on this subject, the apostle passes naturally to the principle which, in these regards as well as others, should inspire all our dealings with our fellow-men. Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another (literally, the other, meaning the same as his neighbour) hath fulfilled law. Νόμον here is anarthrous, denoting law in general, not the Mosaic Law in particular, though the instances of transgression that follow are from the Decalogue. The idea of the passage is but a carrying out of our Lord's saying, <a href="/matthew/22-39.htm">Matthew 22:39, 40</a>. We find it also in <a href="/galatians/5-14.htm">Galatians 5:14</a> more shortly expressed. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended (or, summed up) in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilling of law. <a href="/commentaries/romans/13-8.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>Be indebted ὀφείλετε (opheilete) Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3784.htm">Strong's 3784: </a> Or, its prolonged form opheileo probably from the base of ophelos; to owe; figuratively, to be under obligation; morally, to fail in duty. to no one, Μηδενὶ (Mēdeni) Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3367.htm">Strong's 3367: </a> No one, none, nothing. except εἰ (ei) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_1487.htm">Strong's 1487: </a> If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc. to one another ἀλλήλους (allēlous) Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_240.htm">Strong's 240: </a> One another, each other. Genitive plural from allos reduplicated; one another. [in] love, ἀγαπᾶν (agapan) Verb - Present Infinitive Active <a href="/greek/strongs_25.htm">Strong's 25: </a> To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love. for γὰρ (gar) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_1063.htm">Strong's 1063: </a> For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason. he who ὁ (ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. loves ἀγαπῶν (agapōn) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_25.htm">Strong's 25: </a> To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love. [his] τὸν (ton) Article - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. neighbor ἕτερον (heteron) Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2087.htm">Strong's 2087: </a> (a) of two: another, a second, (b) other, different, (c) one's neighbor. Of uncertain affinity; other or different. has fulfilled πεπλήρωκεν (peplērōken) Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4137.htm">Strong's 4137: </a> From pleres; to make replete, i.e. to cram, level up, or to furnish, satisfy, execute, finish, verify, etc. [the] Law. νόμον (nomon) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3551.htm">Strong's 3551: </a> From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/romans/13-8.htm">Romans 13:8 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/romans/13-8.htm">Romans 13:8 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/romans/13-8.htm">Romans 13:8 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/romans/13-8.htm">Romans 13:8 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/romans/13-8.htm">Romans 13:8 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/romans/13-8.htm">Romans 13:8 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/romans/13-8.htm">Romans 13:8 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/romans/13-8.htm">Romans 13:8 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/romans/13-8.htm">Romans 13:8 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/romans/13-8.htm">Romans 13:8 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/romans/13-8.htm">NT Letters: Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love (Rom. Ro) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/romans/13-7.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Romans 13:7"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Romans 13:7" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/romans/13-9.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Romans 13:9"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Romans 13:9" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>