"Vengeance is Mine," saith the LORD. 
Romans 12

Romans 13 cannot be properly interpreted without a proper understanding of the chapter which precedes it.

The Text of Romans 12:17-21

Cross-References to other texts on vengeance

John Calvin's comments on Romans 12:17-21

Are "The Powers that Be" Good or Evil?

Paul commands his readers to "be subject" to "the powers that be."

Some people have advanced the theory that we only need to be subject to "the powers that be" if they are Godly, "legitimate" rulers. That is, only if rulers are Christian Reconstructionists in a State that takes the form of a Godly "civil magistrate" as it might be drawn up by R.J. Rushdoony. If it's not a Godly Magistrate, then Paul's readers are free to resist it, according to this theory.. This is an interpretation which has not at all been thought through.

Romans 12:14-13:7 Let's assume that Paul wrote his letter to the Romans in the year 57 AD.
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

Luke 21:12
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for My Name's sake.

Matthew 5:10-12, 44
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

 Was Paul commanding the Romans to bless those persecuting them in AD 57, or was Paul telling the Romans to bless persecutors only if the persecutors were Christian Reconstructionist persecutors?

Would it be fair to say that an imperial persecutor was also a "terror" to Christians in AD 57?
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. •
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.  
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
The theme of Romans 12:14 - 13:7 is
being subject to EVIL.
Romans 12 echoes Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.
"Resist not evil." (Matthew 5:39)
If a pagan soldier from the occupation army orders you to carry his provisions for one mile, carry them for two (Matthew 5:41).
There were no chapter breaks in Paul's original letter.
Paul says in Romans 12,"Overcome EVIL with good..." (turn the page to Romans 13),"...even the most demonic entity on the planet."

Compare also 1 Peter 2:13-23
Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as if [Strong's #5613] to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish [Strong's # 878] men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully [αδικως - Strong's #95].
 
We honor them "as if" they were honorable,
even though they are "fools"
who treat people wrongfully [lit., "without justice"].
 
20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22
“Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
 
Christ suffered at the hands of Pontius Pilate. It was a sin for the State to torture and murder Jesus. But we are to follow His steps and submit to EVIL.
 
Consider 1 Peter 2:18
Slaves, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked.

Wycliffe translates:

18 Servants, be ye subject in all dread to lords, not only to good and to mild, but also to tyrants.

Is it acceptable for slavemasters to be "wicked" "tyrants"?
Is it acceptable to be a slavemaster?
Was it acceptable for Christians over the last few hundred years to abolish slavery entirely? (There have been many Christians who thought abolitionists were nuts; even sinful.)

Christians should abolish the State entirely, by calling politicians, bureaucrats, and executioners [e.g., the Marines] to repentance.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.  
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Was Paul telling Christians in AD 57 that if they were persecuted they COULD avenge themselves if their persecutors were not Christian Reconstructionist persecutors?
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.  
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.  
13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher exousiai. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Click that link to discover that "the powers" Paul was telling his readers to submit to were evil and demonic.

Jesus told Pilate that he would have no "authority" to murder the sinless Jesus unless it had been given to him by God (John 19:11). Of course, Pilate had no morally legitimate "authority" to order Jesus to be tortured to death. In Romans 13, Paul is telling his readers to "be subject" to illegitimate, demonic "authority."
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.  
3 For 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:  
4 For 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. When Bible-believing Christians in AD 57 heard the word "sword," what came to their mind? A godly "Civil Magistrate" of the kind R.J. Rushdoony would blueprint out if he had the unlimited power to do so?

Take an afternoon out and read every occurrence of the word "sword" in the Bible. "I don't think that word means what you think it means." Consider Isaiah 13:15

Everyone who is found will be thrust through,
And everyone who is captured will fall by the sword.

This is not an orderly, dispassionate, rational, codified statutory legal process in action against a solitary, individual "defendant."
This is the irrational and violent mass chaos of war and conquest. Read about Isaiah 13 here:

Unlucky 13 -- How to Read Romans 13
Romans 13, Revelation 13 and Isaiah 13 and why the State does not want you to read them together.

"The Sword" is massive, violent, organized evil: the conquering empire.
"The Sword" is evil.
Romans 13 says God "ordains" evil.
Read more verses on "the Sword" here: God Ordains Evil
  The word "minister" in verse 4 is the Greek διάκονος, deakonos, from which we derive our English word "deacon," also translated "minister" or "servant."

Can "deacons" be evil?

Thesis 49: The State As Sanctified “Servant” / “Deacon” / ”Minister”

"The State" is God's "ordained" Deacon. See the essay linked above, God Ordains Evil
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.  
6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.  The word "minister" in verse 6 is the Greek "λειτουργός" leitourgos, from which we derive the English word "liturgy."

"The sword" sheds blood.
Priests shed blood.
War was an international liturgy

Isaiah 34:6

6 The sword of the Lord is filled with blood,
It is made overflowing with fatness,
With the blood of lambs and goats,
With the fat of the kidneys of rams.
For the Lord has a sacrifice in Bozrah,
And a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

Jeremiah 18:21 

21 Therefore deliver up their children to the famine,
And pour out their blood
By the force of the sword;
Let their wives become widows
And bereaved of their children.
Let their men be put to death,
Their young men be slain
By the sword in battle.

Read more about "Holy War"
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. "Tribute" is not a civic good. It is a curse.

 “The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.”
Proverbs 12:24

Pay it anyway. Even if the State uses your money to torture your fellow Christians.

We are not to resist "persecutors" in Romans 12, nor are we to resist those who invade our nation and enslave us, milking us for tribute (money) or for labor (Matthew 5:41) in Romans 13. Persecutors (ch. 12) and tax-levyers (ch. 13) are the same evil people.

If we obey God's Commandments, He will not put us under tribute, which is to say God will not ordain evil to curse us.

The Christian in AD 57, familiar with the Scriptures (the Old Testament), would see Paul in Romans 13 discussing the largest entity of evil on the planet.

God "Ordains" Evil

We are to "be subject" to the evil God ordains.