Everyone translates a Semitic idiom (literally “every soul”). Paul’s viewpoint in these verses expresses the normal Jewish attitude toward government. State authorities (Phillips “civil authorities”; Moffatt “government authorities”; Revised Standard Version “governing authorities”) is more literally rendered by An American Translation* and the New American Bible as “the authorities that are over him” (see New English Bible “supreme authorities”). Recently some interpreters have taken authorities to indicate the invisible angelic powers that lie behind the visible state powers. It is true that the word is used elsewhere by Paul in such a sense, but his attitude toward angelic authority elsewhere intimates that he understands these powers to be more nearly demonic than working for good. Historically, scholars have understood this phrase as a reference to the state authorities of Paul’s day (specifically, the Roman government), and there is no valid reason for departing from this viewpoint.

Obligation as expressed by everyone must obey may be more naturally expressed as an imperative in some languages—for example, “all of you should obey” or “all of you obey.”

In many languages the state authorities are simply “the rulers,” “those that have the power,” or as in some languages, idiomatically, “those who have their hands on the stick.”

Without God’s permission (literally “except by God”; Revised Standard Version “except from God”) is rendered by An American Translation* as “without the permission of God.” The second clause of verse 1 may be translated as “no one has power to rule unless God permits him to have it” or “only if God permits a person to rule does he have such power.”

The last clause in this verse, the existing authorities…, though translated in a variety of ways, has essentially the same meaning in all modern translations. In some languages this clause may be translated as “if there is a ruler, then God is the one who has made him such,” “only God has given power to those who rule,” or “those who have power rule because God has made it so.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .