Commentaries:
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Romans 13:8-14
Self-restraint and obedience to God's law is realized in outgoing concern for others that exceeds and rules over our own self-interest. Even lawful acts may on occasion cause other brethren to stumble or be made weak. Self-control provides the ability to resist what may cause pain to others. Thus, we exercise self-control for others, as well as for ourselves.
Martin G. Collins
Self-Control
Romans 13:11-13
Spiritually, darkness is brought on by sin. Darkness gratifies the sinful nature, lulls a person to sleep spiritually, and provides a cover for evil. But his darkness is so thick, man cannot find his way around it, through it, or out of it. The solution to this dilemma will come at "daybreak," "in the morning," "when the day dawns." Even as nothing can prevent the coming of dawn, neither can anything prevent the coming of Christ!
John W. Ritenbaugh
God's Promises Are Sure!Related Topics: Darkness | Darkness and Light | Darkness as a Metaphor for Evil | Darkness as a Metaphor for Sin | Jesus Christ's Return | Sin | Sin as Darkness | Spiritual Darkness
Romans 13:11-14
Paul is using the day/night metaphor here, but he switches them, and the night is far spent. The night is this period of time that we are living in—in the darkness of Satan's rule over the earth, under the governance of men, deceived by all the false religions, and so forth. But the teaching is exactly the same as John 9:4: that there is only so much time to get prepared for the Kingdom of God. We only have so much time to get prepared for the Sabbath. There is a powerful lesson here in regard to the preparation day.
It is reasonably clear that God has allotted six thousand-year days for man, and one thousand-year day for Himself. That time will be a rest for His Creation. We are near the end of the sixth thousand-year period, and the "day" is coming when no work can be done. For us, it will be, "That's all she wrote."
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Fourth Commandment (Part 5)Related Topics: Day/ Night Metaphor | Man's Six-Thousand Year Rule | Preparation Day | Sabbath | Sabbath as Symbol of God's Millennial Kingdom | Satan's RuleOther Forerunner Commentary entries containing Romans 13:11:
Leviticus 23:15-16
2 Kings 4:31
Psalm 90:12
Jeremiah 11:7-8
Malachi 4:5
Luke 21:34-36
Acts 11:19-21
Hebrews 10:22
Revelation 3:20
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What Does Romans 13:11 Mean?
Paul employs a day/night metaphor, with the night representing this period of living under Satan's rule, the governance of men, and deception by false religions. As in John 9:4, only limited time remains to prepare for the Kingdom of God, just as one prepares for the Sabbath. God has allotted six thousand-year days for man and one thousand-year day of rest for Himself. Nearing the end of the sixth period, a day is coming when no work can be done. Spiritually, darkness comes through sin, which lulls a person to sleep and covers evil so thickly that escape is impossible. The solution arrives at daybreak; just as nothing prevents the dawn, nothing can prevent the coming of Christ.