SEV Biblia, Chapter 13:12
La noche ha pasado, y ha llegado el día; echemos, pues, las obras de las tinieblas, y vistmonos las armas de la luz,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Romans 13:12
Verse 12. The night is far spent] If we understand this in reference to the heathen state of the Romans, it may be paraphrased thus: The night is far spent-heathenish darkness is nearly at an end. The day is at hand-the full manifestation of the Sun of righteousness, in the illumination of the whole Gentile world approaches rapidly. The manifestation of the Messiah is regularly termed by the ancient Jews wy yom, day, because previously to this all is night, Bereshith rabba sect. 91, fol. 89. Cast off the works of darkness-prepare to meet this rising light, and welcome its approach, by throwing aside superstition, impiety, and vice of every kind: and put on the armour of light-fully receive the heavenly teaching, by which your spirits will be as completely armed against the attacks of evil as your bodies could be by the best weapons and impenetrable armour. This sense seems most suitable to the following verses, where the vices of the Gentiles are particularly specified; and they are exhorted to abandon them, and to receive the Gospel of Christ. The common method of explanation is this: The night is far spent-our present imperfect life, full of afflictions, temptations, and trials, is almost run out; the day of eternal blessedness is at hand-is about to dawn on us in our glorious resurrection unto eternal life. 'Therefore, let us cast off-let us live as candidates for this eternal glory. But this sense cannot at all comport with what is said below, as the Gentiles are most evidently intended.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 12. The night is far spent , etc..] Not of Jewish darkness, which was gone, and was succeeded by the Gospel day; nor of former ignorance in Gentilism and unregeneracy, for that was past, and the true light shined; much less of security in the latter day, which was not yet come on; rather of persecution and distress for Christ's sake; but it is best of all to understand it of the present time of life; so it is called by the Jews f247 , hlyll hmwd hzh lw[h , this world is like to the night: and which, in the best of saints, is attended with imperfection and darkness, errors and mistakes, in principle and practice, in doctrine and conversation; however, it is far spent, and in a little time will be over: the day is at hand ; not the Gospel day, for that was already come; nor the day of grace, and spiritual light and comfort to their souls, for that also had taken place; nor the latter day glory, which then was at a distance; rather the approaching day of deliverance from present persecutions; but it is much better to understand it of the everlasting day of glory, which to particular persons was then, and now is at hand; a little while, and the night of darkness, affliction, and disconsolation will be over, and the day of glory will succeed, when there will be no more night, no more darkness, no more doubts, fears, and unbelief; but one continued series of light, joy, and comfort, and an uninterrupted communion with Father, Son, and Spirit; and which is another reason why the saints should not indulge themselves in sleep, but be active, since the halcyon days are at hand, as well as a reason why they should attend to the following exhortations: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness ; as the apostle had made use of the metaphors of night and day, and of sleep, and awaking out of sleep, and rising in the morning to business, so he continues the same; and here alludes to persons throwing off their bed clothes, and covering of the night, and putting on proper raiment for the day. By works of darkness are meant evil works, which are opposite to the light; to God, who is light itself; to Christ, the light of the world; to the word of God, both law and Gospel, which is a light to our paths; to both the light of nature, and the light of grace: and which spring from the darkness of the mind, and are encouraged to by the god of this world, and by his angels, the rulers of the darkness of it; and which are generally done in the dark, and are such as will not bear the light; and, if grace prevent not, will end in outer darkness, in blackness of darkness, reserved by the justice of God, as the punishment of them. Casting [them] off expresses a dislike of them, a displicency with them, and an abstinence from them. Some copies read, the armour of darkness, which agrees with what follows: and let us put on the armour of light ; the whole armour of God, the use of which lies in the exercise of grace, and discharge of duty; particularly good works are designed here, which though they are not the believer's clothing, his robe of justifying righteousness, they are both his ornament and his armour; by which he adorns the doctrine of Christ, and defends his own character and principles against the charges find calumnies of then: these being performed aright, spring from the light of grace in a regenerate man, and are such as will bear the light to be seen of men; and are the lights which are to shine before men, that they beholding them, may glorify God; so virtue was by Antisthenes f248 , called anafaireton oplon , armour which cannot be taken away: the allusion is thought to be to the bright and glittering armour of the Romans; the Alexandrian copy reads, the words of light.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 11-14 - Four things are here taught, as a Christian's directory for his day' work. When to awake; Now; and to awake out of the sleep of carna security, sloth, and negligence; out of the sleep of spiritual death and out of the sleep of spiritual deadness. Considering the time; busy time; a perilous time. Also the salvation nigh at hand. Let u mind our way, and mend our pace, we are nearer our journey's end. Als to make ourselves ready. The night is far spent, the day is at hand therefore it is time to dress ourselves. Observe what we must put off clothes worn in the night. Cast off the sinful works of darkness Observe what we must put on; how we should dress our souls. Put on the armour of light. A Christian must reckon himself undressed, if unarmed The graces of the Spirit are this armour, to secure the soul from Satan's temptations, and the assaults of this present evil world. Pu on Christ; that includes all. Put on righteousness of Christ, for justification. Put on the Spirit and grace of Christ, for sanctification. The Lord Jesus Christ must be put on as Lord to rul you as Jesus to save you; and in both, as Christ anointed and appointe by the Father to this ruling, saving work. And how to walk. When we ar up and ready, we are not to sit still, but to appear abroad; let u walk. Christianity teaches us how to walk so as to please God, who eve sees us. Walk honestly as in the day; avoiding the works of darkness Where there are riot and drunkenness, there usually are chambering an wantonness, and strife and envy. Solomon puts these all together, P 23:29-35. See what provision to make. Our great care must be to provid for our souls: but must we take no care about our bodies? Yes; but tw things are forbidden. Perplexing ourselves with anxious, encumberin care; and indulging ourselves in irregular desires. Natural wants ar to be answered, but evil appetites must be checked and denied. To as meat for our necessities, is our duty, we are taught to pray for dail bread; but to ask meat for our lusts, is provoking God, Ps 78:18 __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
η 3588 T-NSF νυξ 3571 N-NSF προεκοψεν 4298 5656 V-AAI-3S η 3588 T-NSF δε 1161 CONJ ημερα 2250 N-NSF ηγγικεν 1448 5758 V-RAI-3S αποθωμεθα 659 5643 V-2AMS-1P ουν 3767 CONJ τα 3588 T-APN εργα 2041 N-APN του 3588 T-GSN σκοτους 4655 N-GSN και 2532 CONJ ενδυσωμεθα 1746 5672 V-AMS-1P τα 3588 T-APN οπλα 3696 N-APN του 3588 T-GSN φωτος 5457 N-GSN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
12. Is far spent (proekoyen). The A.V. gives a variety of renderings to this verb. Luke ii. 52, increased; Gal. i. 14, profited; 2 Tim. iii. 9, proceed; 13, wax. The word originally means to beat forward or lengthen out by hammering. Hence to promote, and intransitively to go forward or proceed.Let us cast off (apoqwmeqa). As one puts off the garments of the night. For this use of the simple tiqhmi, see on giveth his life, John x. 11.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
13:12 {Is far spent} (proekopsen). First aorist active indicative of prokoptw, to cut forward, to advance, old word for making progress. See #Lu 2:52; Ga 1:14; 2Ti 2:16; 3:9. {Is at hand} (eggiken). Perfect active indicative, "has drawn nigh." Vivid picture for day-break. {Let us therefore cast off} (apoqwmeqa oun). Aorist middle subjunctive (volitive) of apotiqemi, to put off from oneself "the works of darkness" (ta erga tou skotous) as we do our night-clothes. {Let us put on} (endus"metha). Aorist middle subjunctive (volitive) of enduw, to put on. For this same contrast between putting off (apotiqemi and apekdu") and putting on (enduw) see #Col 3:8-12. {The armor of light} (ta hopla tou photos). The weapons of light, that belong to the light (to the day time). For the metaphor of the Christian armor see #1Th 5:8; 2Co 6:7; Ro 6:13; Eph 6:13ff.
