“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 do this, understanding the present time. The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. — Kairos (the critical moment) calls for knowledge (oida, knowing). Hypnos (sleep) metaphorically describes spiritual lethargy in anticipation of the eschaton. Sōtēria (salvation) is nearer (enguteron) now than when you pisteuō (believed first)—not the initial salvation but the consummate salvation at Christ's return. Time urgency justifies the ethical exhortations.
Church Fathers on Romans 13:11
Since he had given them what commands were fitting, he again thrusts them on to the performance of good works, in consideration of what was pressing upon them. For the time of judgment, he means, is at the doors. So too he wrote to the Corinthians also, “The remaining time is short. ” 1 Corinthians 7:29 And to the Hebrews again, “For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” Hebrews 10:37 But in those cases it was to cheer those in trouble,…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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