Romans 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.

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}.

Besides all this, you know at what point of history we stand; so it is high time for you to rouse yourselves from sleep; for the final deliverance is nearer than when we first came to trust.

And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

And this, knowing the season, that already it is time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when wefirstbelieved.

Commentary

Context

Romans 13:11 appears towards the end of a section in Paul's letter to the Roman believers that emphasizes Christian responsibility and conduct. Following an exhortation to submit to governing authorities (Romans 13:1-7) and a profound reminder that love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:8-10), Paul shifts the focus to the urgency of living out these principles in light of the approaching "day." This verse serves as a powerful call to spiritual vigilance, grounding ethical behavior in an awareness of God's unfolding timeline.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Urgency and Awareness: The phrase "knowing the time" highlights a critical awareness among believers about the present spiritual season. It is presented as "high time to awake out of sleep," a strong metaphor for shaking off spiritual lethargy, complacency, or moral indifference. This isn't just about being busy, but being spiritually alert and actively living out one's faith.
  • Eschatological Hope and Nearness of Salvation: The core motivation for this awakening is that "our salvation is nearer than when we believed." This "salvation" does not refer to the initial act of justification by faith (which they already possessed), but rather to the ultimate consummation of their redemption, often associated with the Second Coming of Christ, the resurrection of believers, and their final glorification. It emphasizes that the promised future is continually drawing closer.
  • Call to Action and Righteous Living: Implicit in the call to "awake out of sleep" is the command to live in a manner consistent with their identity in Christ and the dawning of God's new age. This spiritual awakening leads directly into the subsequent verses (Romans 13:12-14), which detail the practical implications of shedding the "works of darkness" and putting on the "armor of light."

Linguistic Insights

  • The Greek word for "time" here is kairos (καιρός), which denotes an opportune or appointed time, a strategic moment, rather than merely chronological time (chronos). This suggests that the present era is a crucial period for believers to act with purpose.
  • "Salvation" (Greek: soteria, σωτηρία) in this context specifically points to the future, completed aspect of salvation – the final deliverance, glorification, and full redemption of the believer. It is the ultimate realization of what was begun at conversion.

Practical Application

Romans 13:11 serves as a timeless reminder for believers to avoid spiritual slumber and live with intentionality. It encourages us to:

  • Be Vigilant: Recognize the spiritual climate and live with an awareness of God's unfolding plan. This means being alert to opportunities for righteousness and resisting temptations to spiritual apathy.
  • Live Purposefully: The nearness of our ultimate salvation should not lead to idleness, but to greater diligence in living out our faith. It motivates us to shed behaviors associated with darkness and embrace a life of light and love, as described in Ephesians 5:14.
  • Find Hope in the Future: The verse offers profound hope that our ultimate redemption is not a distant, uncertain hope, but a present reality that is continually drawing closer. This truth should inspire perseverance and joy in our Christian walk, even amid trials.
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Cross-References

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:5 (36 votes)

    Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:8 (36 votes)

    But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

  • 1 Peter 4:7 (35 votes)

    ¶ But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

  • Ephesians 5:14 (31 votes)

    Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

  • Mark 13:35 (27 votes)

    Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

  • Mark 13:37 (27 votes)

    And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:34 (26 votes)

    Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak [this] to your shame.