Some commentators see vss 11-14 of Romans 13 as a hasty transition into chapter 14, but I don't see them that way. I see them as a fitting conclusion to the discussion Paul began in 12:1,2. In the context, Paul has been calling us to be transformed in all of our relationships in both the church and the world - with brothers, strangers, enemies and civil government. He sums up all of our duties to our fellow men in the one commandment to "Love your neighbor as yourself." He doesn't transition out of this context. He repeats the moral imperative, "do this," but he adds, "do this, understanding the present time", namely, that "the hour has come for you to wake up..." In these few verses, Paul gives to us the frame of mind which we must possess if we are to keep the world from squeezing us into its mold and to live godly lives in Christ Jesus. We often say to someone who seems to not understand what is going on, "Wake up, and smell the coffee!" This is Paul's version of that. As Lenski says, "the alarm clock is ringing..."
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Pastor Bruce Ray has been senior pastor of Juanita Community Church in Kirkland, Washington since 1976. He also serves as a Police, Fire & EMS chaplain. Books include Withhold Not Correction and Celebrating the Sabbath (both published by P&R Publishing). He is a member of the...
