Category Archives: Chapter 13

Romans, Part 78

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And do this because we know the time…[1]  The words because we know are a way the NET translators translated the Greek word εἰδότες (a form of εἴδω; also, 2 Corinthians 5:11).  They translated it because you…know (Matthew 22:29; Mark 12:24; 1 Peter 5:9), when you did…know (Galatians 4:8), and we know (1 Thessalonians 1:4).  More often than not εἰδότες occurs in the New Testament as εἰδότες ὅτι; because is a legitimate translation of ὅτι.

Greek

 NET

References
εἰδότες ὅτι because they knew that Luke 8:53
εἰδότες ὅτι because they knew John 21:12
εἰδότες ὅτι knowing that Romans 5:3; 1 Corinthians 15:58
εἰδότες ὅτι we know that Romans 6:9; 2 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 2:16
εἰδότες ὅτι because we know that 2 Corinthians 1:7
εἰδότες ὅτι because we know 2 Corinthians 4:14
εἰδότες ὅτι because you know that Ephesians 6:8; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:24; Colossians 4:1; James 3:1
εἰδότες ὅτι because they know that Philippians 1:16
εἰδότες ὅτι you know that 1 Peter 1:18

So I question the wisdom of translating εἰδότες “as a causal adverbial participle” (NET note 11), adding because when ὅτι is not present.  But I question even more the wisdom of translating nothing, no Greek word at all, as do (NET note 10).  That one word shifts the focus of the text from the phenomenal revelation that love is the fulfillment of the law[2] to a list of works that I must do.  The verse continues, [because (ὅτι)] it is already the hour for us to awake from sleep.[3]

The word translated us is ὑμᾶς —you.  So Paul was very direct:  And this, he wrote highlighting and accentuating that love is the fulfillment of the law, knowing the time, because it is already the hour for you to awake from sleep… and one extraneous word turned my attention from God reconciling the world to himself in Christ, from the power of his resurrection, from the fruit of his Holy Spirit to my own puny efforts to do rules, to love like God in my own strength.

I’m not angry with the NET translators, I’m grateful.  Their footnotes, revealing their thought processes, have disabused me of my notion that Bible translators are something more than human beings doing the best they can—given their beliefs.  I didn’t even read the NET back when I had most of my difficulties.  I read the NASB and then the NIV.

NASB

NIV
Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now [a] salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.

Romans 13:11

 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

Romans 13:11

The NIV has no footnote here.  My NASB fell apart years ago, but it has the telltale italics.  Do in italics didn’t alert my Bible-believing heart to dig deeper, not like a footnote did (10): “Grk ‘and this,’ probably referring to the command to love (13:8-10); hence, ‘do’ is implied from the previous verses.”  Unless, of course, one believes that Paul and the Holy Spirit intended to accentuate the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise, as it pertains to the law, through faith rather than works (Matthew 5:17-20 NET):

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.  I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them.  I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law until everything takes place.  So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, Paul wrote believers in Rome, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.  The night has advanced toward dawn; the day is near.  So then we must lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the weapons of light.  Let us live decently as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in discord and jealousy.[4]

The Greek word translated darkness is σκότους (a form of σκότος).  Paul wrote believers in Ephesus, for you were at one time darkness (σκότος), but now you are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of the light – for the fruit (καρπὸς) of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.  Do not participate in the unfruitful (ἀκάρποις, a form of ἄκαρπος) deeds of darkness (σκότους, a form of σκότος), but rather expose them.  For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention.  But all things being exposed by the light are made evident.  For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says: “Awake, O sleeper!  Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!”[5]

To the Romans Paul stressed carousing and drunkenness…sexual immorality and sensuality…discord and jealousy as works of darkness.  The list stressed in Ephesians included sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed…vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting.[6]  But I don’t think I’m stretching his words at all to include 1) attempts to be righteous by obeying rules in one’s own strength, or 2) attempts to share credit for the fruit of the Spirit, among the unfruitful deeds of darkness.  For ignoring the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to God’s righteousness,[7] Paul summed up the righteousness of the Pharisees.  He wrote believers in Philippi, that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness – a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness.[8]

The Greek work translated light in the phrase weapons of light is φωτός (a form of φῶς).  Jesus is the light (John 1:6-9 NET):

A man came, sent from God, whose name was John.  He came as a witness to testify about the light (φωτός, a form of φῶς), so that everyone might believe through him.  He himself was not the light (φῶς), but he came to testify about the light (φωτός, a form of φῶς).  The true light (φῶς), who gives light (φωτίζει, a form of φωτίζω) to everyone, was coming into the world.

Instead, put on (ἐνδύσασθε, a form of ἐνδύω) the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to arouse its desires,[9] Paul concluded.  Here the new human is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:20, 21 NET):

I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.  So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  I do not set aside God’s grace, because if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing!

I’ll conclude this essay by quoting from four commentaries.  My purpose is to show the decline in enthusiasm for the power of God’s love as a function of time.  First, Matthew Henry (1662-1714):

Love intends and designs no ill to any body, is utterly against the doing of that which may turn to the prejudice, offence, or grief of any. It worketh no ill that is, it prohibits the working of any ill: more is implied than is expressed it not only worketh no ill, but it worketh all the good that may be, deviseth liberal things. For it is a sin not only to devise evil against thy neighbour, but to withhold good from those to whom it is due both are forbidden together, Proverbs 3:27-29. This proves that love is the fulfilling of the law, answers all the end of it for what else is that but to restrain us from evil-doing, and to constrain us to well-doing? Love is a living active principle of obedience to the whole law. The whole law is written in the heart, if the law of love be there.

Second, John Gill (1697-1771):

therefore love is the fulfilling of the law: so far as a man loves his neighbour, he acts agreeably to the law, and the particular precepts of it above mentioned: what the apostle says of love to the neighbour, the Jews frequently say of love to God; “he that loveth God (they sayF4) מקיים עשר אמירן, “hath fulfilled the decalogue”, both above and below.  And againF5, “there is no service like the love of God, R. Abba saith it is כללא דאורייתא, “the sum of the law”; for the ten words of the law הכא אתכלילו, “are herein comprehended”, or “fulfilled”:’ and elsewhereF6 they observe, “that כל התורה כלולה באהבה, “the whole law is comprehended”, or fulfilled “in love”.’

Third, Albert Barnes (1798-1870):

Therefore … – “Because” love does no harm to another, it is “therefore” the fulfilling of the Law, implying that all that the Law requires is to “love” others.

Is the fulfilling – Is the “completion,” or meets the requirements of the Law. The Law of God on this “head,” or in regard to our duty to our neighbor, requires us to do justice toward him, to observe truth, etc. “All” this will be met by “love;” and if people truly “loved” others, all the demands of the Law would be satisfied.

Of the law – Of the Law of Moses, but particularly the Ten Commandments.

Fourth, the Pulpit Commentary (1884):

From specific admonitions on this subject, the apostle passes naturally to the principle which, in these regards as well as others, should inspire all our dealings with our fellow-men. Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another (literally, the other, meaning the same as his neighbour) hath fulfilled law. νόμον here is anarthrous, denoting law in general, not the Mosaic Law in particular, though the instances of transgression that follow are from the Decalogue. The idea of the passage is but a carrying out of our Lord’s saying, Matthew 22:39, Matthew 22:40. We find it also in Galatians 5:14 more shortly expressed. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended (or, summed up) in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilling of law.

No one mentioned the fruit of the Spirit directly, that this is God’s love rather than ours.  But from Matthew Henry’s “more is implied than is expressed [love] not only worketh no ill, but it worketh all the good that may be” to the Pulpit Commentary’s assessment that love is a “principle which…should inspire all our dealings with our fellow-men,” confidence in the love that God has in us took a nose dive in about two centuries.  Listen to John (1 John 4:16, 17 NET):

And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has in (ἐν) us.  God is love, and the one who resides in love resides in God, and God resides in him [Table].  By this [e.g., God’s residence, his possession of us through the Holy Spirit] love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world.

Romans, Part 79

[1] Romans 13:11a (NET)

[2] Romans 13:10 (NET)

[3] Romans 13:11b (NET)

[4] Romans 13:11b-13 (NIV)

[5] Ephesians 5:8-14 (NET)

[6] Ephesians 5:3, 4 (NET)

[7] Romans 10:3 (NET)

[8] Philippians 3:8b, 9 (NET)

[9] Romans 13:14 (NET)

Romans, Part 77

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Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.[1]  Even the King James translators rendered it, Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.[2]  This has never quite meant what kings hoped, nor was it a call to political revolution.  The Greek word translated governing or higher is ὑπερεχούσαις (a form of ὑπερέχω).  More than that, I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,[3] Paul wrote believers in Philippi.  The phrase the far greater value is ὑπερέχον (another form of ὑπερέχω) in Greek.  Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.[4]  Here as more important is ὑπερέχοντας (another form of ὑπερέχω).  And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.[5]  Here that surpasses is ὑπερέχουσα (another form of ὑπερέχω).

Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, Peter wrote, whether to a king as supreme (ὑπερέχοντι, another form of ὑπερέχω) or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good.[6]  Peter’s writing was not as nuanced as Paul’s.  In my opinion the translators don’t help Peter here: for the Lord’s sake is διὰ τὸν κύριον.  The more literal translation is “through the Lord.”  Peter, through the Lord, led by the Holy Spirit did not behave as he wrote.  He behaved more like Paul wrote (Acts 5:27-29 NET):

When they had brought [Peter and the apostles], they stood them before the council, and the high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name.  Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood on us!”  But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people…

At the same time, however, Peter and the apostles did not think their loyalty to God exempted them from the wrath of the human authorities (Acts 5:40-42 NET):

…they [the human authorities] summoned the apostles and had them beaten.  Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them.  So they [Peter and the apostles] left the council rejoicing because they had been considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name [Table].  And every day both in the temple courts and from house to house, they [Peter and the apostles] did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus was the Christ.

For there is no authority except by God’s appointment, Paul continued, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God.[7]  I would think—οὐ γὰρ ἔστιν ἐξουσία εἰ μὴ ὑπὸ θεοῦ—is something more like, “for no authority exists if not under God,” and—αἱ δὲ οὖσαι ὑπὸ θεοῦ τεταγμέναι εἰσίν—“these moreover exist under God’s active ordering.”  This may seem difficult to believe at times but God is always doing more than we see.  Paul wrote believers in Ephesus (Ephesians 3:7-12 NET):

I became a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the exercise of his power.  To me – less than the least of all the saints – this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ and to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan – a secret that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things.  The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities (ἐξουσίαις, a form of ἐξουσία) in the heavenly realms (ἐπουρανίοις).  This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access to God because of Christ’s faithfulness.

I think this is a continuation of Paul’s treatise on Love…without hypocrisy because only the Holy Spirit can lead us here.  No rule-based belief system can tell anyone authoritatively in real time when to submit to the commands of human authorities and when to reverently decline, fully accepting the consequences imposed by the human authorities that have been instituted by God.  So the person who resists such authority, Paul continued, resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment…[8]  Though the human authorities of the moment are instituted and ordained by God I don’t think one can infer their goodness in any objective sense (Acts 1:6-8 NET):

So when they had gathered together, they began to ask him, “Lord, is this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” [Table]  He told them, “You are not permitted to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority (ἐξουσίᾳ, another form of ἐξουσία).  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth” [Table].

Paul wrote specifically about the Roman government.  Most in Israel who hoped for the Messiah hoped He would overthrow Roman rule, but Jesus said, My kingdom is not from this world.[9]  And before the Holy Spirit was given He said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The experts in the law and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat.  Therefore pay attention to what they tell you and do it.  But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they teach.  They tie up heavy loads, hard to carry, and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing even to lift a finger to move them.”[10]  Those called to resist specific commands of human authorities know what it means to be considered as sheep to be slaughtered (Romans 8:35-37 NET):

Who will separate us from the love of Christ?  Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?  As it is written, “For your sake we encounter death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”  No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us!

They also experience that complete victory through him who loved us.  But none of us is called to pugnacity.  Paul continued, (for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad).  Do you desire not to fear authority?  Do good and you will receive its commendation, for it is God’s servant for your good.[11]  The good we are to do is good relative to the human authorities understanding of good (when it does not conflict with God’s).  Paul specified: pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants devoted to governing.  Pay everyone what is owed: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.[12]  And the good the authorities do for us is a peaceful and quiet life (1 Timothy 2:1-4 NET):

First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people, even for kings and all who are in authority (ὑπεροχῇ, a form of ὑπεροχή), that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.  Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior, since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

But if you do wrong, Paul continued, be in fear, for it does not bear the sword in vain.  It is God’s servant to administer retribution on the wrongdoer.[13]  Again, I think this wrong is wrong as the human authorities perceive it.  I do not believe that God expects, or relies on, Gentile human authorities to punish all sins against his law.  Paul continued (Romans 13:5-10 NET):

Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath of the authorities but also because of your conscience.  For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants devoted to governing.  Pay everyone what is owed: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.  Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.  For the commandments, “Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet,” (and if there is any other commandment) are summed up in this, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Love does no wrong to a neighbor.  Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

So I have bookends distinguishing the beginning—Love…without hypocrisy—and the ending—love is the fulfillment of the law—of Paul’s definition, amplification or explanation of love in his letter to believers in Rome.  And this love is an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit.  I turn now to be subject (ὑποτασσέσθω, a form of ὑποτάσσω) and subjection (ὑποτάσσεσθαι, another form of ὑποτάσσω).

We are given one glimpse into Jesus as a child.  By age twelve he was a precocious spiritual prodigy. But when He realized how upset his parents were he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient (ὑποτασσόμενος, another form of ὑποτάσσω) to them.[14]  This behavior is not natural to the old human, because the outlook of the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit (ὑποτάσσεται, another form of ὑποτάσσω) to the law of God, nor is it able to do so.[15]  For the creation was subjected (ὑπετάγη, another form of ὑποτάσσω) to futility – not willingly but because of God who subjected (ὑποτάξαντα, another form of ὑποτάσσω) it – in hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.[16]  For ignoring the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit (ὑπετάγησαν, another form of ὑποτάσσω) to God’s righteousness.[17]

Jesus did not ignore the righteousness that comes from God.  He is the first new human (1 Corinthians 15:20-28 NET):

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man.  For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.  But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to him.  Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he has brought to an end all rule and all authority and power.  For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.  The last enemy to be eliminated is death.  For he has put everything in subjection (ὑπέταξεν, another form of ὑποτάσσω) under his feet.  But when it says “everything” has been put in subjection (ὑποτέτακται, another form of ὑποτάσσω), it is clear that this does not include the one who put everything in subjection (ὑποτάξαντος, another form of ὑποτάσσω) to him.  And when all things are subjected (ὑποταγῇ, another form of ὑποτάσσω) to him, then the Son himself will be subjected (ὑποταγήσεται, another form of ὑποτάσσω) to the one who subjected (ὑποτάξαντι, another form of ὑποτάσσω) everything to him, so that God may be all in all.

Paul encouraged us to submit (ὑποτάσσησθε, another form of ὑποτάσσω) to people like the household of Stephanus, that as the first converts of Achaia…devoted themselves to ministry for the saints, and to everyone who cooperates in the work and labors hard.[18]  He encouraged believers in Ephesus to be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting (Υποτασσόμενοι, another form of ὑποτάσσω) to one another out of reverence for Christ.[19]

Slaves are to be subject (ὑποτάσσεσθαι, another form of ὑποτάσσω) to their own masters in everything, Paul wrote Titus, to do what is wanted and not talk back, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, in order to bring credit to the teaching of God our Savior in everything.[20]  I benefited greatly from this encouragement during my most recent job change.  My employer subcontracted my work to another company and I was sent to that company also.  I was so grateful to have a job I failed to fully appreciate how I was foisted on the owner of the subcontracting company.  But over time my new employer’s attitude has moderated and he seems happy to have me as an employee.  I work hard when I am working.  I study the Bible when I am off.  And I am paid every two weeks regardless.

Married women are called to submit to one other human authority.  Paul wrote Titus to have older women teach younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, fulfilling their duties at home, kind, being subject (ὑποτασσομένας, another form of ὑποτάσσω) to their own husbands, so that the message of God may not be discredited.[21]  When men attempt to teach this it sounds like man-made rules for women to obey.  But this is not law.  Rather it is part of the loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, Holy-Spirit-controlled righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ produced in believing wives by the Holy Spirit.

Preach the Gospel
Peter wrote, wives, be subject (ὑποτασσόμεναι, another form of ὑποτάσσω) to your own husbands.  Then, even if some are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without a word by the way you live, when they see your pure and reverent conduct.[22]  This is an example to us all.  We have convinced a world of sinners that we want to impose arcane and archaic rules on them while the truth is: sinners have no share in our righteousness.  It is the gift of God by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ to all who believe.

A youth group in the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport wore these shirts.  I asked one of their leaders to pose for this photograph.

[1] Romans 13:1a (NET)

[2] Romans 13:1a (KJV)

[3] Philippians 3:8a (NET)

[4] Philippians 2:3 (NET)

[5] Philippians 4:7 (NET)

[6] 1 Peter 2:13, 14 (NET)

[7] Romans 13:1b (NET)

[8] Romans 13:2 (NET)

[9] John 18:36a (NET)

[10] Matthew 23:1-4 (NET)

[11] Romans 13:3, 4a (NET)

[12] Romans 13:6, 7 (NET)

[13] Romans 13:4b (NET)

[14] Luke 2:51a (NET)

[15] Romans 8:7 (NET)

[16] Romans 8:20, 21 (NET)

[17] Romans 10:3 (NET)

[18] From 1 Corinthians 16:15, 16 (NET)

[19] Ephesians 5:18b-21 (NET)

[20] Titus 2:9, 10 (NET)

[21] Titus 2:4, 5 (NET)

[22] 1 Peter 3:1, 2 (NET)