Editing Epistle to the Romans (section)

===Transformation of believers (12–15:13)===
{{main|Romans 12|Romans 15}}

From chapter 12 through the first part of chapter 15, Paul outlines how [[the gospel]] transforms believers and the behaviour that results from such a transformation. This transformation is described as a "renewing of your mind" (12:2),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb20/rom/12/1/s_1058001|title=Romans 12 :: New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)|website=Blue Letter Bible}}</ref> a transformation that [[Douglas J. Moo]] characterizes as "the heart of the matter."<ref>Douglas J. Moo, ''The Epistle to the Romans (Eerdmans'', 1996), 748.</ref> It is a transformation so radical that it amounts to "a transfiguration of your brain," a "[[Metanoia (theology)|metanoia]]", a "mental revolution."<ref>Edward J Anton, ''Repentance: A Cosmic Shift of Mind and Heart'' (Discipleship Publications, 2005) 30.</ref>

Paul goes on to describe how believers should live. Christians are no longer under the law, that is, no longer bound by the law of Moses,<ref>[[Douglas J. Moo]], ''Romans: The NIV Application Commentary: From Biblical Text to Contemporary Life'' (Zondervan, 2000), 399.</ref> but under the grace of God (see [[Law and grace]]). Christians do not need to live under the law because to the extent that their minds have been renewed, they will know "almost instinctively" what God wants of them. The law then provides an "objective standard" for judging progress in the "lifelong process" of their mind's renewal.<ref>Douglas J. Moo, ''The Epistle to the Romans'' (Eerdmans, 1996), 756–758.</ref>

To the extent they have been set free from [[sin]] by renewed minds (Romans 6:18),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb20/rom/6/1/s_1052001|title=Romans 6 :: New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)|website=Blue Letter Bible}}</ref> believers are no longer bound to sin. Believers are free to live in obedience to God and love everybody. As Paul says in Romans 13:10, "love ({{lang|grc|ἀγάπη}}) worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of law".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/rom/13/1/s_1059001|title=Romans 13 :: King James Version (KJV)|website=Blue Letter Bible}}</ref>

==== Obedience to earthly powers (13:1–7) ====
The fragment in Romans 13:1–7 dealing with obedience to earthly powers is considered by some, for example [[James Kallas]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.swordandploughshare.com/main-blog/2010/9/30/romans-131-7-an-interpolation.html|title=Romans 13:1–7 an Interpolation? — The Sword and the Ploughshare|date=April 24, 2014|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424030124/http://www.swordandploughshare.com/main-blog/2010/9/30/romans-131-7-an-interpolation.html|archive-date=2014-04-24}}</ref> to be an [[Interpolation (manuscripts)|interpolation]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://hodos.org/romans/Paul%20and%20Empire%20-%20book%20report.htm |title=Review of the book ''Paul and Empire – Religion and Power in Roman Imperial Society'' (Edited by Richard A. Horsley) |access-date=2012-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420174100/http://hodos.org/romans/Paul%20and%20Empire%20-%20book%20report.htm |archive-date=2013-04-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (See also the [[Great Commandment]] and [[Christianity and politics]]). [[Paul Tillich]] accepts the historical authenticity of Romans 13:1–7, but claims it has been misinterpreted by churches with an anti-revolutionary bias:
{{blockquote|One of the many politico-theological abuses of biblical statements is the understanding of Paul's words [Romans 13:1–7] as justifying the anti-revolutionary bias of some churches, particularly the Lutheran. But neither these words nor any other New Testament statement deals with the methods of gaining political power. In Romans, Paul is addressing eschatological enthusiasts, not a revolutionary political movement.<ref>[[Paul Tillich]], ''Systematic Theology'', volume 3 ([[University of Chicago Press]]: 1963), p. 389.</ref>}}