{"id":6888,"date":"2016-06-24T21:02:59","date_gmt":"2016-06-24T15:02:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intelligent-torvalds.74-208-171-134.plesk.page\/?p=6888"},"modified":"2026-03-10T14:48:32","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T19:48:32","slug":"romans-part-78","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/?p=6888","title":{"rendered":"Romans, Part 78"},"content":{"rendered":"

And do this because we know the time<\/em>\u2026[1]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 The words because we know<\/em> are a way the NET translators translated the Greek word \u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u1f79\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 (a form of \u03b5\u1f34\u03b4\u03c9<\/a>; also, 2 Corinthians 5:11<\/a>).\u00a0 They translated it because you<\/em>\u2026know<\/em> (Matthew 22:29<\/a>; Mark 12:24<\/a>; 1 Peter 5:9<\/a>), when you did<\/em>\u2026know <\/em>(Galatians 4:8<\/a>), and we know<\/em> (1 Thessalonians 1:4<\/a>).\u00a0 More often than not \u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u1f79\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 occurs in the New Testament as \u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u1f79\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9<\/a>; because <\/em>is a legitimate translation of \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Greek<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

NET<\/td>\n\n

References<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u1f79\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9<\/td>\nbecause they knew<\/em> that<\/em><\/td>\nLuke 8:53<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u1f79\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9<\/td>\nbecause they knew<\/em><\/td>\nJohn 21:12<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u1f79\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9<\/td>\nknowing that<\/em><\/td>\nRomans 5:3<\/a>; 1 Corinthians 15:58<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u1f79\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9<\/td>\nwe know that<\/em><\/td>\nRomans 6:9<\/a>; 2 Corinthians 5:6<\/a>; Galatians 2:16<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u1f79\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9<\/td>\nbecause we know<\/em> that<\/em><\/td>\n2 Corinthians 1:7<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u1f79\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9<\/td>\nbecause we know<\/em><\/td>\n2 Corinthians 4:14<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u1f79\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9<\/td>\nbecause you know that<\/em><\/td>\nEphesians 6:8<\/a>; Ephesians 6:9<\/a>; Colossians 3:24<\/a>; Colossians 4:1<\/a>; James 3:1<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u1f79\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9<\/td>\nbecause they know that<\/em><\/td>\nPhilippians 1:16<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u1f79\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9<\/td>\nyou know that<\/em><\/td>\n1 Peter 1:18<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

So I question the wisdom of translating \u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u1f79\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u201cas a causal adverbial participle\u201d (NET note 11<\/a>), adding because<\/em> when \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9 is not present.\u00a0 But I question even more the wisdom of translating nothing, no Greek word at all, as do <\/em>(NET note 10<\/a>).\u00a0 That one word shifts the focus of the text from the phenomenal revelation that love is the fulfillment of the law<\/em>[2]<\/sup><\/a> to a list of works that I must do<\/em>.\u00a0 The verse continues, [because (\u1f45\u03c4\u03b9)] it is already the hour for us to awake from sleep<\/em>.[3]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

The word translated us <\/em>is \u1f51\u03bc\u1fb6\u03c2<\/a> \u2014you<\/em>. \u00a0So Paul was very direct:\u00a0 And this<\/em>, he wrote highlighting and accentuating that love is the fulfillment of the law<\/em>, knowing the time<\/em>, because it is already the hour for you<\/strong> to awake from sleep<\/em>\u2026 and one extraneous word turned my attention from God reconciling the world to himself in Christ<\/a><\/em>, from the power<\/a> of his resurrection<\/em>, from the fruit<\/a> of his Holy Spirit to my own puny efforts to do <\/em>rules, to love like God in my own strength.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not angry with\u00a0the NET translators, I\u2019m grateful.\u00a0 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\u2014given their beliefs.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t even read the NET back when I had most of my difficulties<\/a>.\u00a0 I read the NASB<\/a> and then the NIV<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

NASB<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

NIV<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Do<\/em>\u00a0this, knowing the time, that it is\u00a0already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now\u00a0[a] salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.<\/p>\n

Romans 13:11<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come\u00a0for you to wake up from your slumber,\u00a0because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.<\/p>\n

Romans 13:11<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The NIV has no footnote here.\u00a0 My NASB fell apart years ago, but it has the telltale italics.\u00a0 Do <\/em>in italics didn\u2019t alert my Bible-believing heart to dig deeper, not like a footnote did (10<\/a>): \u201cGrk \u2018<\/em>and this,\u2019 probably referring to the command to love (13:8-10); hence, \u2018do\u2019 is implied from the previous verses.\u201d\u00a0 Unless, of course, one believes that Paul and the Holy Spirit intended to accentuate the fulfillment of Jesus\u2019 promise, as it pertains to the law, through faith rather than works (Matthew 5:17-20 NET):<\/p>\n

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. \u00a0I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them. \u00a0I 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. \u00a0So 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. \u00a0For 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.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The hour has already come\u00a0for you to wake up from your slumber<\/em>,\u00a0Paul wrote believers in Rome, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed<\/em>.\u00a0 The night has advanced toward dawn; the day is near. \u00a0So then we must lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the weapons of light. \u00a0Let us live decently as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in discord and jealousy<\/em>.[4]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

The Greek word translated darkness <\/em>is \u03c3\u03ba\u1f79\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 (a form of \u03c3\u03ba\u03cc\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>).\u00a0 Paul wrote believers in Ephesus, for you were at one time darkness<\/em> (\u03c3\u03ba\u1f79\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2), but now you are light in the Lord. \u00a0Walk as children of the light \u2013 for the fruit<\/em> (\u03ba\u03b1\u03c1\u03c0\u1f78\u03c2<\/a>) of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth \u2013 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. \u00a0Do not participate in the unfruitful<\/em> (\u1f00\u03ba\u1f71\u03c1\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2, a form of \u1f04\u03ba\u03b1\u03c1\u03c0\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>) deeds of darkness<\/em> (\u03c3\u03ba\u1f79\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2, a form of \u03c3\u03ba\u03cc\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2), but rather expose them. \u00a0For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. \u00a0But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. \u00a0For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says: \u201cAwake, O sleeper!\u00a0 Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!\u201d<\/em>[5]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

To the Romans Paul stressed carousing and drunkenness\u2026sexual immorality and sensuality\u2026discord and jealousy<\/em> as works of darkness<\/em>.\u00a0 The list stressed in Ephesians included sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed<\/em>\u2026vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting<\/em>.[6]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 But I don\u2019t think I\u2019m stretching his words at all to include 1) attempts to be righteous by obeying rules in one\u2019s own strength, or 2) attempts to share credit for the fruit of the Spirit, among the unfruitful deeds of darkness<\/em>. \u00a0For ignoring the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to God\u2019s righteousness<\/em>,[7]<\/sup><\/a> Paul summed up the righteousness of the Pharisees.\u00a0 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\u2019s faithfulness \u2013 a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ\u2019s faithfulness<\/em>.[8]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

The Greek work translated light <\/em>in the phrase weapons of light<\/em> is \u03c6\u03c9\u03c4\u1f79\u03c2 (a form of \u03c6\u1ff6\u03c2<\/a>).\u00a0 Jesus is the light (John 1:6-9 NET):<\/p>\n

A man came, sent from God, whose name was John. \u00a0He came as a witness to testify about the light (\u03c6\u03c9\u03c4\u1f79\u03c2, a form of \u03c6\u1ff6\u03c2)<\/em>, so that everyone might believe through him. \u00a0He himself was not the light (\u03c6\u1ff6\u03c2)<\/em>, but he came to testify about the light (\u03c6\u03c9\u03c4\u1f79\u03c2, a form of \u03c6\u1ff6\u03c2)<\/em>. \u00a0The true light (\u03c6\u1ff6\u03c2)<\/em>, who gives light (\u03c6\u03c9\u03c4\u1f77\u03b6\u03b5\u03b9, a form of \u03c6\u03c9\u03c4\u03af\u03b6\u03c9<\/a>)<\/em> to everyone, was coming into the world.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Instead, put on<\/a><\/em> (\u1f10\u03bd\u03b4\u1f7b\u03c3\u03b1\u03c3\u03b8\u03b5, a form of \u1f10\u03bd\u03b4\u03cd\u03c9<\/a>) the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to arouse its desires<\/em>,[9]<\/sup><\/a> Paul concluded.\u00a0 Here the new human<\/a> is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ<\/em> (Galatians 2:20, 21 NET):<\/p>\n

I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. \u00a0So 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. \u00a0I do not set aside God\u2019s grace, because if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I\u2019ll conclude this essay by quoting from four commentaries.\u00a0 My purpose is to show the decline in enthusiasm for the power of God\u2019s love as a function of time.\u00a0 First, Matthew Henry<\/a> (1662-1714):<\/p>\n

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\u00a0worketh no ill\u00a0that 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,\u00a0Proverbs 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.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Second, John Gill<\/a> (1697-1771):<\/p>\n

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<\/sup>)\u00a0\u05de\u05e7\u05d9\u05d9\u05dd\u00a0\u05e2\u05e9\u05e8\u00a0\u05d0\u05de\u05d9\u05e8\u05df, “hath fulfilled the decalogue”, both above and below.\u00a0 And againF5<\/sup>, “there is no service like the love of God, R. Abba saith it is\u00a0\u05db\u05dc\u05dc\u05d0\u00a0\u05d3\u05d0\u05d5\u05e8\u05d9\u05d9\u05ea\u05d0, “the sum of the law”; for the ten words of the law\u00a0\u05d4\u05db\u05d0\u00a0\u05d0\u05ea\u05db\u05dc\u05d9\u05dc\u05d5, “are herein comprehended”, or “fulfilled”:’ and elsewhereF6<\/sup>\u00a0they observe, “that\u00a0\u05db\u05dc\u00a0\u05d4\u05ea\u05d5\u05e8\u05d4\u00a0\u05db\u05dc\u05d5\u05dc\u05d4\u00a0\u05d1\u05d0\u05d4\u05d1\u05d4, “the whole law is comprehended”, or fulfilled “in love”.’<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Third, Albert Barnes<\/a> (1798-1870):<\/p>\n

Therefore \u2026 –\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cBecause\u201d love does no harm to another, it is \u201ctherefore\u201d the fulfilling of the Law, implying that all that the Law requires is to \u201clove\u201d others.<\/em><\/p>\n

Is the fulfilling –\u00a0<\/strong>Is the \u201ccompletion,\u201d or meets the requirements of the Law. The Law of God on this \u201chead,\u201d or in regard to our duty to our neighbor, requires us to do justice toward him, to observe truth, etc. \u201cAll\u201d this will be met by \u201clove;\u201d and if people truly \u201cloved\u201d others, all the demands of the Law would be satisfied.<\/em><\/p>\n

Of the law –\u00a0<\/strong>Of the Law of Moses, but particularly the Ten Commandments.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Fourth, the Pulpit Commentary<\/a> (1884):<\/p>\n

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. <\/strong>Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another (literally,\u00a0the other,\u00a0meaning the same as\u00a0his neighbour) hath fulfilled law.\u00a0\u03bd\u03bf\u0301\u03bc\u03bf\u03bd\u00a0here 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,\u00a0Matthew 22:39,\u00a0Matthew 22:40. We find it also in\u00a0Galatians 5:14\u00a0more shortly expressed.\u00a0For 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\u00a0(or,\u00a0summed up)\u00a0in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilling of law.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

No one mentioned the fruit of the Spirit directly, that this is God\u2019s love rather than ours. \u00a0But from Matthew Henry\u2019s \u201cmore is implied than is expressed [love] not only worketh no ill, but it worketh all the good that may be\u201d to the Pulpit Commentary\u2019s assessment that love is a \u201cprinciple which\u2026should inspire all our dealings with our fellow-men,\u201d confidence in the<\/em> love that God has in us<\/em> took a nose dive in about two centuries.\u00a0 Listen to John (1 John 4:16, 17 NET):<\/p>\n

And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has in (\u1f10\u03bd<\/a>)<\/em> us. \u00a0God is love, and the one who resides in love resides in God, and God resides<\/a> in him [Table<\/a>]<\/em>. \u00a0By this [e.g., God\u2019s residence, his <\/em>possession of us through the Holy Spirit]<\/em> 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.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Romans, Part 79<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[1]<\/sup> Romans 13:11a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[2]<\/sup> Romans 13:10 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[3]<\/sup> Romans 13:11b (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[4]<\/sup> Romans 13:11b-13 (NIV)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[5]<\/sup> Ephesians 5:8-14 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[6]<\/sup> Ephesians 5:3, 4 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[7]<\/sup> Romans 10:3 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[8]<\/sup> Philippians 3:8b, 9 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[9]<\/sup> Romans 13:14 (NET)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

And do this because we know the time\u2026[1]\u00a0 The words because we know are a way the NET translators translated the Greek word \u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u1f79\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 (a form of \u03b5\u1f34\u03b4\u03c9; also, 2 Corinthians 5:11).\u00a0 They translated it because you\u2026know (Matthew 22:29; Mark … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3329,3116,2719],"tags":[3361,3357,760,3359,2880,3358,554,1046,3355,3356,3360],"class_list":["post-6888","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chapter-13","category-love","category-section-three","tag-1-john-416-17","tag-ephesians-58-14","tag-galatians-220-21","tag-john-16-9","tag-matthew-517-20","tag-philippians-38-9","tag-romans-103","tag-romans-1310","tag-romans-1311","tag-romans-1311-13","tag-romans-1314"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6888","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6888"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6888\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29193,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6888\/revisions\/29193"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6888"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6888"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6888"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}