Section 13:11–14

Live the right way

In this section, Paul used several metaphors to encourage the Roman believers to live properly. He said they should live decent lives in the present time as they waited for their final salvation to arrive. He compared them to people sleeping at night, and said the time had arrived for them to wake up. He also said they should stop following behavior that belongs to the darkness and which only satisfies their sinful nature. Instead they should put on the qualities of the Lord Jesus Christ like putting on clothing. He described those qualities as “the armor of light.”

Here are other possible headings for this section:

Live/Walk in the light and power of God
-or-
Be active in your faith and serve God through his power

Paragraph 13:11–14

13:11a

And do this, understanding the occasion: The Greek is more literally “And this, knowing the time.” There are several ways to interpret the Greek words:

(1) The words “and this” imply do, a command to love your neighbor (13:8–10) or possibly all the commands of 12:1–13:10, and “knowing the time” indicates why believers should love their neighbors. For example:

And do this because you know the time (New American Bible, Revised Edition)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Living Translation (2004), NET Bible, New Century Version)

(2) The words “and this” introduce a new topic: “knowing the time.” For example:

Besides this you know what hour it is (Revised Standard Version)

(English Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible)

(3) The words “and this” do not contribute to the meaning and can be omitted. For example:

You know what sort of times we live in (Contemporary English Version)

(God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because that seems to fit the context best. The scholars do not discuss why one interpretation is better than the other.

And do this: Here the word this refers to what Paul said in 13:8–10. In many languages the word “that” would be more clear. For example:

do that

understanding the occasion: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as occasion refers to a period of time, often a time when it is right for something to happen or be done. Paul explained part of what should happen in 13:11b, and 13:11c–12a explain parts of what the current situation is like. Here are other ways to translate this Greek word:

the kind of time it is
-or-
what kind of era/age it is

13:11b

The hour has come: The Greek is more literally “the hour already.” It indicates that it was presently the time for believers in Rome to “wake up” from their “sleep,” that is, to be doing things that God wants them to do. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

it is already the hour (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
the time is now
-or-
It is now time (New Century Version)

hour: The Greek word here refers to the time when something happens. Here are other ways to translate this word:

moment (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
time (Good News Translation)

for you to wake up from your slumber: This is a figure of speech that refers to stop being unaware or lazy. In some languages a literal translation will have this figurative meaning. In other languages a literal translation would refer only to actually waking from sleep. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Translate literally and explain its meaning in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

This is a figure of speech that refers to stop being unaware or lazy.

• Add the word “like” in your translation. For example:

for you to be ⌊like⌋ ⌊someone⌋ waking up from your slumber

• Explain its meaning in your translation. For example:

for you to wake from your slumber, ⌊that is, stop being lazy about serving God!⌋

• Translate without the figure of speech. For example:

for you to stop being lazy about serving God

You may then want to indicate the literal words in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

Literally: for you to wake from sleep.

13:11c

for: Here this word introduces an explanation why believers are to “wake up from…slumber” (13:11b).

our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed: Paul spoke of salvation as something that can be near or far. In some languages it is not natural to talk in that way. If that is true in your language, speak of the day of salvation approaching. For example:

⌊the day of⌋ our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed

our salvation is nearer now: God saves us when we first believe. The final part of what he has done for us will happen at the great judgment day. While the rest of the world will be condemned, we will receive a blessing, the result of our salvation. The time for that to happen is always getting closer. For example:

⌊the final part of⌋ God saving us is nearer to us
-or-
the time in the future when God will finish His setting us free is nearer

salvation: This word refers to being rescued from something harmful or dangerous. In Scripture it generally refers to rescue ahead of time from God’s anger at the final judgment. See the above examples. Also see how you translated this word in 1:16.

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