Romans 13:11
Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The text emphasizes that it's already the hour to wake up, not just that the time is coming. This means the urgency of salvation being nearer than when we first believed should prompt immediate action, shaking off spiritual slumber right now.
Paul is urging believers to live holy lives, not just out of love for others as he explained previously, but also because the end of the age is drawing near. He uses the powerful metaphor of waking from sleep to describe the urgent need for spiritual alertness, reminding them that their ultimate salvation is closer now than when they first believed. This encourages them to shed the "works of darkness" and embrace the "armor of light" as they anticipate Christ's return.
The apostle Paul isn't just reminding believers of a distant future event. He's urging them to grasp the critical importance of their present moment.
Paul uses two distinct words for 'time' here: 'chronos' (general time) and 'kairos' (a critical, opportune moment). He emphasizes that the current moment, the 'kairos,' is an urgent call to action. It's not just any time; it's the right time, a divinely appointed season for a specific response.
This 'kairos' is characterized by the dawning of the Gospel, the arrival of God's truth and light into the world. Just as the first light of dawn signals the end of night and the beginning of day, the coming of Christ has initiated a new era. This new era demands a change in behavior—an awakening from spiritual slumber.
The Christian life isn't a static waiting game. Paul reminds believers that their ultimate hope is not just coming, but actively approaching.
The core of Paul's argument is the accelerating nearness of salvation. He states, 'salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.' This isn't about diminishing the value of their initial faith, but about the continuous progression of time towards its fulfillment.
This salvation refers to the final, complete redemption—the resurrection, the resurrection of believers, and the full establishment of God's kingdom. As time marches on, this glorious event draws closer. This perspective is meant to be a powerful motivator for living a life fully awake and prepared, shedding the remnants of spiritual slumber.
Paul uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of the believer's spiritual state and the call to a transformed life.
The apostle employs the powerful metaphor of sleep and waking, night and day. 'Sleep' represents the state of spiritual insensibility, ignorance, and inactivity that characterized the world before the Gospel. The 'night' is the era of darkness, sin, and separation from God.
In contrast, the 'day' signifies the new reality brought by Christ – a time of light, truth, and active obedience. The 'awakening' is the transition from spiritual slumber to alert, purposeful living in Christ. It means shaking off lethargy, recognizing the dawning of God's kingdom, and actively participating in the 'works of light.' This isn't a passive state but an active, vigilant engagement with God's presence and purpose.
Understand the original words
kairos · Greek Noun
A specific period or epoch in God's redemptive timeline, often referring to the eschatological or decisive moment in history.
sōtēria · Greek Noun
The act of being delivered from the penalty, power, and ultimately the presence of sin; it is both a present reality and a future hope of final glorification.
hypnos · Greek Noun
A metaphor for spiritual lethargy, ignorance of God's truth, or moral inactivity; being spiritually asleep means lacking awareness of one's spiritual condition.
The early Christians, including Paul, held a strong belief that the 'salvation' they awaited – the full consummation of Christ's kingdom – was imminent. This expectation wasn't a passive hope but a dynamic motivator for holy living, urging them to 'wake up' to their duties and live in light of Christ's soon-coming presence.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
The foundational events of Christianity, leading to the disciples' initial understanding of salvation and their expectation of Jesus' imminent return.
c. AD 49-50
Paul's First Epistle to the Thessalonians
Paul addresses the early church's intense expectation of Christ's return, urging them to remain diligent and avoid idleness while waiting.
c. AD 50-52
Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians
Paul discusses spiritual gifts and the resurrection, further shaping the early church's understanding of future hope and present responsibilities.
c. AD 56-58— this verse
Paul writes Romans
Paul writes his most comprehensive theological work to the church in Rome, addressing matters of faith, righteousness, and the life of believers in light of God's plan.
This passage echoes the urgency of Romans 13:11 by likening believers to those awake in the day, contrasting them with those who sleep in the night, emphasizing readiness for Christ's return.
Philippians 4:5Paul here connects the imminent 'Lord's coming' with the idea of readiness and living righteously, similar to how Romans 13:11 calls believers to wakefulness because salvation is nearer.
Hebrews 10:25This verse encourages believers not to neglect meeting together, especially as they see the 'day' of the Lord approaching, which aligns with the call to wakefulness in Romans 13:11 due to the nearness of salvation.
2 Peter 3:17Peter warns believers to be on guard against falling away, reminding them that the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, reinforcing the theme of vigilance present in Romans 13:11's call to wake from spiritual sleep.
1 John 2:18John states that 'many antichrists have come,' indicating that the 'last hour' is already here, which resonates with Paul's sense of urgency in Romans 13:11 that their salvation is now nearer than when they first believed.
ellicottRomans 13:11: "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."
(11-14) The Apostle now gives a reason for enforcing this and other duties upon his readers. The end of the world itself is near. St. Paul, like the other Apostles (comp. 1Peter 4:7; Revelation 22:20, et al.), certainly believed that the Parusia, or Second Coming of Christ, was near at hand. This was in strict accordance with Mark 13:32, and resulted…
pulpitRomans 13:11: "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."
Verses 11-14. - There is now interposed among the particular admonitions a call to watchfulness, with a view to holiness in all relations of life, on the ground that the day is at hand. There can be little, if any, doubt that the apostle had in view the second coming of Christ, which he with others supposed might be close at hand, Our Lord had said t…
The text emphasizes that it's already the hour to wake up, not just that the time is coming. This means the urgency of salvation being nearer than when we first believed should prompt immediate action, shaking off spiritual slumber right now.
Paul is urging believers to live holy lives, not just out of love for others as he explained previously, but also because the end of the age is drawing near. He uses the powerful metaphor of waking from sleep to describe the urgent need for spiritual alertness, reminding them that their ultimate salvation is closer now than when they first believed. This encourages them to shed the "works of darkness" and embrace the "armor of light" as they anticipate Christ's return.
Paul is urging believers to live holy lives, not just out of love for others as he explained previously, but also because the end of the age is drawing near. He uses the powerful metaphor of waking from sleep to describe the urgent need for spiritual alertness, reminding them that their ultimate salvation is closer now than when they first believed. This encourages them to shed the "works of darkness" and embrace the "armor of light" as they anticipate Christ's return.
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c. AD 62
Destruction of Jerusalem
While not the final advent, the catastrophic fall of Jerusalem served as a significant fulfillment of prophecy and a reminder of impending divine judgment, reinforcing the urgency of spiritual preparedness.
"Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed." — The text emphasizes that it's already the hour to wake up, not just that the time is coming. This means the urgency of salvation being nearer than when we first believed should prompt immediate act…
