For this reason refers back to the grounds of obedience given in the previous verse. God’s wrath (see also Revised Standard Version, An American Translation*, Moffatt) is literally “the wrath,” but in light of verse 4 (and in light of the way in which Paul uses the word “wrath” elsewhere in this letter) it is better to take this as a specific reference to God’s wrath. However, the New English Bible appears to try to avoid this conclusion and to make the word refer to the retribution imposed by the authorities. In a sense both of these translations are legitimate. Christians are encouraged to obey the civil authorities so that they will not be punished by them, but Paul definitely looks upon the punishment handed out by the civil authorities as God’s wrath on people who do evil. This seems to be the primary focus in the present passage.

In the first part of this verse the authorities is supplied by the Good News Translation as the understood object of the verb obey (An American Translation* “obey them”); most translations do not supply an object to the verb. For Paul the Christian is obligated to obey the civil authorities, not only out of the fear of punishment but for the sake of his conscience towards God. But also as a matter of conscience is rendered in some languages as “but because your heart also tells you to” or “because in your heart you know it is what you should do.”

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 .