Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 13:13

"Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy." — Romans 13:13 (ASV)

Let us walk. To walk is an expression denoting to live; let us live, or conduct ourselves, etc.

Honestly. The word used here means, rather, in a decent or becoming manner; in a manner appropriate to those who are the children of light.

As in the day. This means as if all our actions were seen and known. People by day, or in open light, live decently; their foul and wicked deeds are done in the night. The apostle exhorts Christians to live as if all their conduct were seen, and they had nothing they wished to conceal.

In rioting. This refers to revelling; denoting the licentious conduct, the noisy and obstreperous mirth, and the scenes of disorder and sensuality, which attend luxurious living.

Drunkenness. Rioting and drunkenness constitute the first class of sins from which he wished to keep them. It is scarcely necessary to add that these were common crimes among the heathen.

In chambering. This refers to "Lewd, immodest behavior." (Webster.) The Greek word includes illicit indulgences of all kinds, adultery, etc. The words chambering and wantonness constitute the second class of crimes from which the apostle exhorts Christians to abstain. It is not necessary to say that these were common crimes among the heathen. See Barnes on Romans 1; also see Barnes on Ephesians 5:12.

It is not possible, nor would it be proper, to describe the scenes of licentious indulgence of which all pagans are guilty. As Christians were to be a peculiar people, therefore, the apostle enjoins on them purity and holiness of life.

Not in strife. Strife and envying are the third class of sins against which the apostle exhorts them. The word strife means contention, disputes, litigations. The exhortation is that they should live in peace.

Envying. In Greek, this is Zeal. It denotes any intense, vehement, fervid passion. It is suitably rendered here as envying. These vices are properly introduced in connection with the others, as they usually accompany each other. Quarrels and contentions come from scenes of drunkenness and debauchery. If it were not for such scenes, there would be little contention, and the world would be comparatively at peace.