Romans 13:11-12
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This verse isn't just about the end times being near; it highlights that our salvation is closer now than when we first started believing. This implies that the Christian journey is a process of moving toward something, and every day brings us further along that path into God's unfolding purposes.
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 night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is urging believers to live holy lives, and here he emphasizes the urgency of this call by pointing to the imminent return of Christ. He explains that because salvation is so close, they must "wake up" from spiritual slumber and abandon the "works of darkness." The idea is that their ultimate redemption and full participation in God's kingdom is nearer now than when they first put their faith in Christ.
Paul urges believers to 'know the time' and recognize that 'the hour has come.' What makes this moment so critical, and how does it differ from other times?
Paul uses two distinct Greek words for 'time' here, highlighting different aspects of the urgency.
'Knowing the Time'
The first word, 'time' (Greek: kairos), refers to a specific, opportune, and critical season. It’s not just any time, but a moment pregnant with significance, a unique window of opportunity.
'The Hour Has Come'
The second word, 'hour' (Greek: hora), points to a shorter, more immediate period. It emphasizes that the moment for action is not in the distant future, but right now.
Together, these words create a powerful call to immediate attention. Believers are reminded that they are living in a unique era of God's plan, and the specific moment for decisive action—living out their faith fully—has arrived. This isn't a vague suggestion for future improvement; it's an urgent command for the present.
Paul makes a startling claim: 'salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.' How can salvation, which is a future event, become 'nearer' over time?
This concept hinges on our perspective of time and God's unfolding plan.
Progress Toward the Goal
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When believers first came to faith, their salvation was a future hope. They were at the starting line. Now, as they live out their Christian lives, every passing moment brings them closer to the ultimate realization of that salvation—Christ's return and the full redemption of all things.
A Dynamic Reality
Salvation isn't static; it's a dynamic reality that progresses toward its completion. While the act of salvation itself is a decisive event at conversion, its full manifestation is still to come. The 'nearer' aspect highlights that the journey towards that final consummation is actively underway. Each day lived in faith is a day closer to being fully with Christ, free from sin and its effects.
This perspective should fuel a sense of urgency and hope, motivating believers to live actively in anticipation of their ultimate destiny.
Paul uses the powerful metaphor of waking from sleep. What does this spiritual slumber represent, and what does it mean to 'awake' in the context of Christian living?
The imagery of sleep and waking is central to Paul's exhortation.
The Sleep of Darkness
'Sleep' here represents a state of spiritual insensitivity, inactivity, and ignorance, much like the spiritual darkness of the world before Christ. It's a torpor that dulls one's awareness of God's presence, His will, and the urgency of the times.
The Awakening to Light
To 'awake' means to rouse oneself from this spiritual lethargy. It signifies becoming alert, active, and fully engaged with the reality of God's presence and His coming kingdom. This awakening is tied to the 'light' of the Gospel, which dispels the darkness and calls believers to a life of holiness and readiness.
This waking isn't a passive event but an active response to the dawn of God's revelation, urging believers to shed the 'works of darkness' and embrace the 'armor of light' as they live in anticipation of Christ's return.
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.
nyx · Greek Noun
Metaphorically represents the present evil age, characterized by ignorance of God, sin, and spiritual blindness.
hēmera · Greek Noun
Metaphorically refers to the light of Christ's kingdom, the dawn of the new age, and the presence of God's truth.
ergon skotous · Greek Noun
Evil deeds, practices, or conduct that belong to the realm of darkness and are contrary to the character of God.
hoplon · Greek Noun
Equipment or defensive/offensive gear used by a soldier; in a spiritual sense, it represents the virtues or divine resources provided by God to protect and equip the believer.
The early Christians lived with a vibrant, immediate expectation of Christ's return, a perspective that deeply shaped their understanding of duty and daily life. This sense of imminence, while perhaps softened by time, remained a powerful motivator for living holy lives.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
The central event of Christianity, leading to the disciples' expectation of Jesus' imminent return.
c. AD 49
First Epistle to the Thessalonians
Paul addresses the early church's intense expectation of Christ's imminent return, offering instruction and correction.
c. AD 50-52
Second Epistle to the Thessalonians
Paul further clarifies the timing of Christ's return, warning against restlessness and speculation about 'the day of the Lord'.
c. AD 57— this verse
Letter to the Romans
Paul writes this foundational theological letter, likely from Corinth, to the church in Rome.
c. AD 62
Epistle to the Ephesians
Paul uses imagery of spiritual warfare and 'putting on the armor of God', resonating with themes of readiness and vigilance.
c. AD 62-64
First Epistle to the Corinthians
Paul addresses various issues in the Corinthian church, including the resurrection and the nature of spiritual gifts.
This passage uses the same 'awake from sleep' imagery, urging believers to be alert and sober as the 'day of the Lord' approaches, mirroring Romans 13:11's call to wakefulness due to salvation's nearness.
Philippians 4:5This verse links the believer's mindset to the nearness of Christ's return ('the Lord is near'), reinforcing the idea in Romans 13:11 that the proximity of salvation should impact present conduct.
1 Peter 4:7Peter echoes Paul's sentiment, stating 'the end of all things is at hand,' and calls for clear thinking and self-control, directly correlating with the urgency to 'wake up' and live righteously as salvation draws closer.
Matthew 25:13Jesus' parable of the ten virgins emphasizes 'keep awake,' highlighting the critical importance of readiness for an imminent event, much like Paul's exhortation in Romans 13:11 to shake off spiritual slumber because salvation is nearer now.
Ephesians 5:14This verse directly calls out to the sleeping ('Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead') and links this awakening to the illuminating power of Christ, which resonates with Romans 13:11's theme of waking up as the 'day' of salvation dawns.
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…
This verse isn't just about the end times being near; it highlights that our salvation is closer now than when we first started believing. This implies that the Christian journey is a process of moving toward something, and every day brings us further along that path into God's unfolding purposes.
Paul is urging believers to live holy lives, and here he emphasizes the urgency of this call by pointing to the imminent return of Christ. He explains that because salvation is so close, they must "wake up" from spiritual slumber and abandon the "works of darkness." The idea is that their ultimate redemption and full participation in God's kingdom is nearer now than when they first put their faith in Christ.
Paul is urging believers to live holy lives, and here he emphasizes the urgency of this call by pointing to the imminent return of Christ. He explains that because salvation is so close, they must "wake up" from spiritual slumber and abandon the "works of darkness." The idea is that their ultimate redemption and full participation in God's kingdom is nearer now than when they first put their faith in Christ.
"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 night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and…" — This verse isn't just about the end times being near; it highlights that our salvation is closer now than when we first started believing. This implies that the Christian journey is a process of mo…
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Last reviewed October 2026
