He writes to the Romans, with an apparent reference to the death penalty, that the magistrate who holds authority «does not bear the sword in vain; for he is the servant of God to execute His wrath on the wrongdoer» (Romans 13:4). (firstthings.com)
In carrying a weapon to defeat a nation's enemies, a soldier «does not bear the sword in vain» but he is «a servant of God... who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer» (Romans 13:4). (religion.blogs.cnn.com)
The government, as Paul said, does not bear the sword in vain. (redeeminggod.com)