Romans 13 Footnotes

13:11-12 The “day is near” evokes the common biblical idea of the “Day of the Lord”—used in both testaments to refer to God’s appearance, often to judge as well as vindicate (e.g., Is 13:6,9; Jl 2:1-2,11,31-32; Am 5:18-20; 1Co 5:5; 1Th 5:2; 2Pt 3:10). Paul did not set a date for the “day” to arrive but instead asserted that soon God would assess all of their deeds (Rm 14:10). This is the time to live righteously in anticipation of the Lord’s return and judgment. By “nearer” Paul did not mean “at any moment,” since in chap. 11 he envisioned a long interlude until the end (e.g., 11:11-32).