In Galatians 6:2 Paul speaks of fulfilling “the law of Christ,” by which he means the spirit and manner of “loving your neighbor as yourself” (13:9). It is this which is the subject of Romans 12 and 13. If grace is the gospel reduced to one word, then agapē is the law reduced to a word (13:9). In chapter 12 Paul spoke of “the law of Christ” as sincere and practical expressions of agapē both inside and outside the church. Another expression of agapē is an affirmation of and submission to governments (13:1–7). Some commentators, noting the abrupt transition at 13:1 and the switch from the second to third person in 13:1–7, regard this section as a departure from Paul’s teaching on agapē and an independent unit of thought. But, in fact, the instruction here is very much a part of the design si…