New Testament
Romans 12
Overview
With the great "therefore" of 12:1, Paul pivots from doctrine to its lived response: in view of God's mercies (chapters 1–11), believers are to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is their reasonable worship. Rather than being conformed to this age, they are to be transformed by the renewing of the mind so as to discern God's good, acceptable, and perfect will. He then applies this transformed mind to life in the body of Christ: each member, by the measure of faith God assigns, is to use their gift—prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, mercy—humbly and wholeheartedly, not thinking of themselves more highly than they ought. The chapter closes with a cascade of staccato exhortations on genuine love: hate evil, cling to good, outdo one another in honor, be fervent in spirit, rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, bless persecutors, weep with weepers, live in harmony, never repay evil for evil, leave vengeance to God, and "overcome evil with good."
1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
4For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
9Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
13Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
14Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.