What Does the Bible Say About Respecting Authority?

Hebrews 13:17 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Romans 13:1-6 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. ...

Romans 13:1-14 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. ...

Revelation 22:19 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

Revelation 22:18 ESV / 7 helpful votes

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book,

Acts 5:29 ESV / 7 helpful votes

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

1 Peter 2:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,

Proverbs 20:22 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.

1 John 4:18 ESV / 3 helpful votes

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

2 Peter 1:21 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 2:1-25 ESV / 3 helpful votes

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ...

Ephesians 3:5 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

Hebrews 9:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Colossians 2:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Colossians 1:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Ephesians 5:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,

Ephesians 1:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,

Romans 12:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 8:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 3:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 1:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Acts 17:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Acts 4:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 2:47 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 1:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

John 17:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

John 16:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

John 14:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

John 12:48 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

John 4:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Luke 20:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes

He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”

Matthew 28:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Matthew 28:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Matthew 16:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Amos 1:1-15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. And he said: “The Lord roars from Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the top of Carmel withers.” Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have threshed Gilead with threshing sledges of iron. So I will send a fire upon the house of Hazael, and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad. I will break the gate-bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitants from the Valley of Aven, and him who holds the scepter from Beth-eden; and the people of Syria shall go into exile to Kir,” says the Lord. ...

Proverbs 30:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Psalm 139:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 139:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

Exodus 22:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.

Genesis 1:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

42 Bible Verses about Respecting Authority

Hebrews 13:17 ESV / 20 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 13:1-6 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 13:1-14 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 22:19 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 22:18 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 5:29 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 20:22 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:18 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Peter 1:21 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:1-25 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 3:5 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 9:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 2:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 1:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 1:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 8:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 6:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 3:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 1:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 17:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 4:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 2:47 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 1:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 17:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 16:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 12:48 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 4:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 20:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 28:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 28:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 16:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Amos 1:1-15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 30:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 139:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 139:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 22:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 1:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Suggest a Verse

Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)