Romans 13:10

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Love does not do harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fullness of Torah.

Berean Standard Bible:

Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

American Standard Version:

Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: love therefore is the fulfilment of the law.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Love{G26} worketh{G2038} no{G3756} ill{G2556} to his neighbour{G4139}: therefore{G3767} love{G26} is the fulfilling{G4138} of the law{G3551}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Romans 13:8

  • Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Matthew 22:39

  • And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Matthew 22:40

  • On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

1 Corinthians 13:4

  • ¶ Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

1 Corinthians 13:7

  • Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

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Commentary for Romans 13:10

Romans 13:10, "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law," is a verse that encapsulates the Apostle Paul's teaching on the role of love in the Christian life, particularly in relation to the law. This verse is part of his letter to the Roman Christians, written around AD 57, during a time when the early church was grappling with questions of Jewish law and its relevance to Gentile believers.

In the broader context of Romans 13, Paul discusses the believer's obligation to secular authorities and the debt of love owed to one another. The historical context is significant because the early church was diverse, including both Jewish and Gentile Christians, who had differing views on the importance of the Mosaic Law.

The theme of Romans 13:10 is that love is the ultimate expression of God's law. Paul argues that love fulfills the law because it does not harm one's neighbor, which aligns with the spirit of the commandments. This concept reflects Jesus' teaching in the Gospels, particularly in Matthew 22:37-40, where He summarizes the law as loving God and one's neighbor. By emphasizing love as the fulfillment of the law, Paul is guiding the Roman Christians—and by extension, all believers—to live in a way that reflects the heart of God's commandments without being entangled in the legalistic observance of the Mosaic Law.

In summary, Romans 13:10 teaches that love, manifested in actions that do no harm to others, is the essence of fulfilling God's law. This verse underscores the New Testament's shift from adherence to the letter of the law to the spirit of the law, exemplified by love, which is central to Christian ethics and conduct.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: G26
    There are 727 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἀγάπη
    Transliteration: agápē
    Pronunciation: ag-ah'-pay
    Description: from ἀγαπάω; love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast:--(feast of) charity(-ably), dear, love.
  2. Strong's Number: G2038
    There are 37 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἐργάζομαι
    Transliteration: ergázomai
    Pronunciation: er-gad'-zom-ahee
    Description: middle voice from ἔργον; to toil (as a task, occupation, etc.), (by implication) effect, be engaged in or with, etc.:--commit, do, labor for, minister about, trade (by), work.
  3. Strong's Number: G3756
    There are 1328 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: οὐ
    Transliteration: ou
    Pronunciation: ookh
    Description: a primary word; the absolute negative (compare μή) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but. See also οὐ μή, μῆκος.
  4. Strong's Number: G2556
    There are 46 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: κακός
    Transliteration: kakós
    Pronunciation: kak-os'
    Description: apparently a primary word; worthless (intrinsically, such; whereas πονηρός properly refers to effects), i.e. (subjectively) depraved, or (objectively) injurious:--bad, evil, harm, ill, noisome, wicked.
  5. Strong's Number: G4139
    There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: πλησίον
    Transliteration: plēsíon
    Pronunciation: play-see'-on
    Description: neuter of a derivative of (near); (adverbially) close by; as noun, a neighbor, i.e. fellow (as man, countryman, Christian or friend):--near, neighbour.
  6. Strong's Number: G3767
    There are 519 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: οὖν
    Transliteration: oûn
    Pronunciation: oon
    Description: apparently a primary word; (adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly:--and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore.
  7. Strong's Number: G4138
    There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: πλήρωμα
    Transliteration: plḗrōma
    Pronunciation: play'-ro-mah
    Description: from πληρόω; repletion or completion, i.e. (subjectively) what fills (as contents, supplement, copiousness, multitude), or (objectively) what is filled (as container, performance, period):--which is put in to fill up, piece that filled up, fulfilling, full, fulness.
  8. Strong's Number: G3551
    There are 158 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: νόμος
    Transliteration: nómos
    Pronunciation: nom'-os
    Description: from a primary (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle):--law.