Romans 13:12

ἡ νύξ προέκοψεν : the true day dawns only when Christ appears; at present it is night, though a night that has run much of its course. ἀποθώμεθα οὖν τὰ ἔργα τοῦ σκότους. Things that can only be done in the dark that cannot bear the light of day are therefore to be put away by the Christian. For ἀποθώμεσα (properly of dress) cf. James 1:21; James 1:1. Pet. Romans 2:1; Hebrews 12:1. τὰ ὅπλα τοῦ φωτός : for τὰ ὅπλα see on chap. Romans 6:13, Ephesians 6:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:8. The idea is that the Christian's life is not a sleep, but a battle. τὰ ὅπλα τοῦ φωτός does not mean “shining armour”; but (on the analogy of τὰ ἔργα τοῦ σκότους) such armour as one can wear when the great day dawns, and we would appear on the Lord's side in the fight. An allusion to the last great battle against the armies of anti-Christ is too remote, and at variance with Paul's use of the figure elsewhere.