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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Bengel Commentary - Romans 13:11 - 13:11
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Rom 13:11. Καὶ τοῦτο, and this) supply do, those things, which are laid down from ch. Rom 12:1-2, and especially from Rom 13:8.-καιρὸν) the time [opportunity, season] abounding in grace, ch. Rom 5:6., Rom 3:26; 2Co 6:2.-ὥρα, the hour) viz. it is. This word marks a short period of time. We take account of the hour for [with a view to] rising.-ἤδη, already) without delay; presently after there occurs νῦν, at the present time [now].-ἐξ ὕπνου, out of sleep) The morning dawns, when man receives faith, and then sleep is shaken off. He must therefore rise, walk and do his work, lest sleep should again steal over him. The exhortations of the Gospel always aim at HIGHER AND HIGHER DEGREES of perfection, [something farther beyond], and presuppose the oldness of the condition in which we now are, compared with those newer things, which ought to follow, and which correspond to the nearness of salvation.-ἡμῶν) construed with ἐγγὺς, which is included in ἐγγύτερον, rather than with σωτηρία; for in other passages it is always called either the salvation of God, or salvation absolutely, not our salvation, [which Engl. Vers. wrongly gives]; comp. on this nearness of salvation, Gal 3:3; Gal 5:7. In both places the apostle supposes, that the course of the Christian, once begun, thereupon proceeds onward continually, and comes nearer and nearer to the goal. Paul had long ago written both his epistles to the Thessalonians; therefore when he wrote of the nearness of salvation, he wrote considerately [for he here, after having had such a time meanwhile to consider, repeats his statement], comp. 1Th 4:15, note. Observe also: he says elsewhere, that we are near to salvation, Heb 6:9 : but here, that salvation, as if it were a day, is near to us. He who has begun well ought not to flag, when he is near the goal, but to make progress [deficere, proficere: not to recede, but proceed].-ἡ σωτηρία) Salvation to be consummated at the coming of Christ, which is the goal of hope, ch. Rom 8:24, and the end of faith, 1Pe 1:9. The making mention of salvation is repeated from ch. 5 and 8. [Moreover from that whole discussion, this exhortation is deduced, which is the shorter, in proportion as that was the longer.-V. g.]-ἤ ὃτε ἐπιστεύσαμεν) than at the time, when we began to believe at the first, and entered upon the path described, ch. 1-4; so, πιστέυειν, to take up faith, [to accept it, to become believers] Act 4:4; Act 4:32, and in many other places. [He, who has once begun well, from time to time approaches either nearer to salvation, or salvation, as it is said here, comes nearer to him. He has no need to feel great anxiety, excepting the eagerness of expectation.-V. g.]