11 And G2532 that, G5124 knowing G1492 the time, G2540 that G3754 now G2235 it is high time G5610 to awake G2248 G1453 out of G1537 sleep: G5258 for G1063 now G3568 is our G2257 salvation G4991 nearer G1452 than G2228 when G3753 we believed. G4100
Ye G5210 are G2075 all G3956 the children G5207 of light, G5457 and G2532 the children G5207 of the day: G2250 we are G2070 not G3756 of the night, G3571 nor G3761 of darkness. G4655 Therefore G686 G3767 let us G2518 not G3361 sleep, G2518 as G5613 G2532 do others; G3062 but G235 let us watch G1127 and G2532 be sober. G3525 For G1063 they that sleep G2518 sleep G2518 in the night; G3571 and G2532 they that be drunken G3182 are drunken G3184 in the night. G3571 But G1161 let G3525 us, G2249 who are G5607 of the day, G2250 be sober, G3525 putting on G1746 the breastplate G2382 of faith G4102 and G2532 love; G26 and G2532 for an helmet, G4030 the hope G1680 of salvation. G4991
But G1161 of G4012 the times G5550 and G2532 the seasons, G2540 brethren, G80 ye have G2192 no G3756 need G5532 that I write G1125 unto you. G5213 For G1063 yourselves G846 know G1492 perfectly G199 that G3754 the day G2250 of the Lord G2962 so G3779 cometh G2064 as G5613 a thief G2812 in G1722 the night. G3571 For G1063 when G3752 they shall say, G3004 Peace G1515 and G2532 safety; G803 then G5119 sudden G160 destruction G3639 cometh upon G2186 them, G846 as G5618 travail G5604 upon G1722 a woman with child; G1064 G2192 and G2532 they shall G1628 not G3364 escape. G1628
But G1161 this G5124 I say, G5346 brethren, G80 the time G2540 is short: G4958 it remaineth, G2076 G3063 that G2443 both G2532 they that have G2192 wives G1135 be G5600 as though G5613 they had G2192 none; G3361 And G2532 they that weep, G2799 as G5613 though they wept G2799 not; G3361 and G2532 they that rejoice, G5463 as G5613 though they rejoiced G5463 not; G3361 and G2532 they that buy, G59 as G5613 though they possessed G2722 not; G3361 And G2532 they that use G5530 this G5127 world, G2889 as G5613 not G3361 abusing G2710 it: for G1063 the fashion G4976 of this G5129 world G2889 passeth away. G3855
Watch ye G1127 therefore: G3767 for G1063 ye know G1492 not G3756 when G4219 the master G2962 of the house G3614 cometh, G2064 at even, G3796 or G2228 at midnight, G3317 or G2228 at the cockcrowing, G219 or G2228 in the morning: G4404 Lest G3361 coming G2064 suddenly G1810 he find G2147 you G5209 sleeping. G2518 And G1161 what G3739 I say G3004 unto you G5213 I say G3004 unto all, G3956 Watch. G1127
Nevertheless G1161 we, G4328 according to G2596 his G846 promise, G1862 look for G4328 new G2537 heavens G3772 and G2532 a new G2537 earth, G1093 wherein G1722 G3739 dwelleth G2730 righteousness. G1343 Wherefore, G1352 beloved, G27 seeing that ye look for G4328 such things, G5023 be diligent G4704 that ye may be found G2147 of him G846 in G1722 peace, G1515 without spot, G784 and G2532 blameless. G298 And G2532 account G2233 that the longsuffering G3115 of our G2257 Lord G2962 is salvation; G4991 even as G2531 our G2257 beloved G27 brother G80 Paul G3972 also G2532 according to G2596 the wisdom G4678 given G1325 unto him G846 hath written G1125 unto you; G5213
And G2532 he cometh G2064 unto G4314 the disciples, G3101 and G2532 findeth G2147 them G846 asleep, G2518 and G2532 saith G3004 unto Peter, G4074 What, G3779 could ye G2480 not G3756 watch G1127 with G3326 me G1700 one G3391 hour? G5610 Watch G1127 and G2532 pray, G4336 that G3363 ye enter G1525 not G3363 into G1519 temptation: G3986 the spirit G4151 indeed G3303 is willing, G4289 but G1161 the flesh G4561 is weak. G772
While G1161 the bridegroom G3566 tarried, G5549 they all G3956 slumbered G3573 and G2532 slept. G2518 And G1161 at midnight G3319 G3571 there was a cry G2906 made, G1096 Behold, G2400 the bridegroom G3566 cometh; G2064 go ye out G1831 to G1519 meet G529 him. G846 Then G5119 all G3956 those G1565 virgins G3933 arose, G1453 and G2532 trimmed G2885 their G846 lamps. G2985
Watch G1127 therefore: G3767 for G3754 ye know G1492 not G3756 what G4169 hour G5610 your G5216 Lord G2962 doth come. G2064 But G1161 know G1097 this, G1565 that G3754 if G1487 the goodman of the house G3617 had known G1492 in what G4169 watch G5438 the thief G2812 would come, G2064 he would G302 have watched, G1127 and G2532 would G302 not G3756 have suffered G1439 his G846 house G3614 to be broken up. G1358 Therefore G1223 G5124 be G1096 ye G5210 also G2532 ready: G2092 for G3754 in such G3739 an hour G5610 as ye think G1380 not G3756 the Son G5207 of man G444 cometh. G2064
The burden H4853 of Dumah. H1746 He calleth H7121 to me out of Seir, H8165 Watchman, H8104 what of the night? H3915 Watchman, H8104 what of the night? H3915 The watchman H8104 said, H559 The morning H1242 cometh, H857 and also the night: H3915 if ye will enquire, H1158 enquire H1158 ye: return, H7725 come. H857
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Romans 13
Commentary on Romans 13 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 13
Ro 13:1-14. Same Subject Continued—Political and Social Relations—Motives.
1, 2. Let every soul—every man of you
be subject unto the higher powers—or, "submit himself to the authorities that are above him."
For there is no power—"no authority"
but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God—"have been ordained of God."
2. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power—"So that he that setteth himself against the authority."
resisteth the ordinance of God; and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation—or, "condemnation," according to the old sense of that word; that is, not from the magistrate, but from God, whose authority in the magistrate's is resisted.
3, 4. For rulers are not a terror to good works—"to the good work," as the true reading appears to be
but to the evil.
4. he beareth not the sword in vain—that is, the symbol of the magistrate's authority to punish.
5. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath—for fear of the magistrate's vengeance.
but also for conscience' sake—from reverence for God's authority. It is of Magistracy in general, considered as a divine ordinance, that this is spoken: and the statement applies equally to all forms of government, from an unchecked despotism—such as flourished when this was written, under the Emperor Nero—to a pure democracy. The inalienable right of all subjects to endeavor to alter or improve the form of government under which they live is left untouched here. But since Christians were constantly charged with turning the world upside down, and since there certainly were elements enough in Christianity of moral and social revolution to give plausibility to the charge, and tempt noble spirits, crushed under misgovernment, to take redress into their own hands, it was of special importance that the pacific, submissive, loyal spirit of those Christians who resided at the great seat of political power, should furnish a visible refutation of this charge.
6, 7. For, for this cause pay ye—rather, "ye pay"
tribute also—that is, "This is the reason why ye pay the contributions requisite for maintaining the civil government."
for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing—"to this very thing."
7. Render therefore to all their dues—From magistrates the apostle now comes to other officials, and from them to men related to us by whatever tie.
tribute—land tax.
custom—mercantile tax.
fear—reverence for superiors.
honour—the respect due to persons of distinction.
8. Owe no man anything, but to love one another—"Acquit yourselves of all obligations except love, which is a debt that must remain ever due" [Hodge].
for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law—for the law itself is but love in manifold action, regarded as matter of duty.
9. For this, &c.—better thus: "For the [commandments], Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and whatever other commandment [there may be], it is summed up," &c. (The clause, "Thou shalt not bear false witness," is wanting in all the most ancient manuscripts). The apostle refers here only to the second table of the law, as love to our neighbor is what he is treating of.
10. Love worketh no ill to his—or, "one's"
neighbour; therefore, &c.—As love, from its very nature, studies and delights to please its objects, its very existence is an effectual security against our wilfully injuring him. Next follow some general motives to the faithful discharge of all these duties.
11. And that—rather, "And this [do]"
knowing the time, that now it is high time—literally, "the hour has already come."
to awake out of sleep—of stupid, fatal indifference to eternal things.
for now is our salvation—rather, "the salvation," or simply "salvation."
nearer than when we—first
believed—This is in the line of all our Lord's teaching, which represents the decisive day of Christ's second appearing as at hand, to keep believers ever in the attitude of wakeful expectancy, but without reference to the chronological nearness or distance of that event.
12. The night—of evil
is far spent, the day—of consummated triumph over it
is at hand: let us therefore cast off—as a dress
the works of darkness—all works holding of the kingdom and period of darkness, with which, as followers of the risen Saviour, our connection has been dissolved.
and let us put on the armour of light—described at length in Eph 6:11-18.
13. Let us walk honestly—"becomingly," "seemingly"
as in the day—"Men choose the night for their revels, but our night is past, for we are all the children of the light and of the day (1Th 5:5): let us therefore only do what is fit to be exposed to the light of such a day."
not in rioting and drunkenness—varied forms of intemperance; denoting revels in general, usually ending in intoxication.
not in chambering and wantonness—varied forms of impurity; the one pointing to definite acts, the other more general.
not in strife and envying—varied forms of that venomous feeling between man and man which reverses the law of love.
14. But—to sum up all in one word.
put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ—in such wise that Christ only may be seen in you (see 2Co 3:3; Ga 3:27; Eph 4:24).
and make no provision—"take no forethought."
for the flesh, to fulfil the lust thereof—"Direct none of your attention to the cravings of your corrupt nature, how you may provide for their gratification."
Note, (1) How gloriously adapted is Christianity for human society in all conditions! As it makes war directly against no specific forms of government, so it directly recommends none. While its holy and benign principles secure the ultimate abolition of all iniquitous government, the reverence which it teaches for magistracy, under whatever form, as a divine institution, secures the loyalty and peaceableness of its disciples, amid all the turbulence and distractions of civil society, and makes it the highest interest of all states to welcome it within their pale, as in this as well as every other sense—"the salt of the earth, the light of the world" (Ro 13:1-5). (2) Christianity is the grand specific for the purification and elevation of all the social relations; inspiring a readiness to discharge all obligations, and most of all, implanting in its disciples that love which secures all men against injury from them, inasmuch as it is the fulfilling of the law (Ro 13:6-10). (3) The rapid march of the kingdom of God, the advanced stage of it at which we have arrived, and the ever-nearing approach of the perfect day—nearer to every believer the longer he lives—should quicken all the children of light to redeem the time, and, seeing that they look for such things, to be diligent, that they may be found of Him in peace, without spot and blameless (2Pe 3:14). (4) In virtue of "the expulsive power of a new and more powerful affection," the great secret of persevering holiness in all manner of conversation will be found to be "Christ IN US, the hope of glory" (Col 1:27), and Christ ON US, as the character in which alone we shall be able to shine before men (2Co 3:8) (Ro 13:14).