Neville Goddard on Romans 13:3-4 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read Romans 13 in context

Scripture Focus

3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

4For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Romans 13:3-4

Biblical Context

Rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do good and you will be praised, for they are ministers of God for your good.

Neville's Inner Vision

The passage invites you to recognize the rulers as outer symbols of your inner order; the true ruler is the I AM within you. Your consciousness is the ground from which all authority arises, and when you identify with good, you align with a minister of God who brings protective order through inner discipline. Fear of power stems from imagining power as separate from you; shift that by realizing you are the governor of your life. The external 'sword' is the discipline of thought and choice, not a threat to your being. So long as you maintain the conviction that law and justice begin in your mind, your actions reflect the quality of your inner governor. Persist in imagining good as your natural activity, and the world will align with that reality, yielding confidence rather than threat. The 'revenger' is merely the natural correction of thought; choose evil and you awaken inner restraint, choose good and you experience resultant praise in your life.

Practice This Now

Close your eyes and assume the I AM as the ruler within you. State, 'I am governed by good,' and feel the calm, steady power of that inner government.