Romans 12
Big idea: 'THEREFORE' carries eleven chapters into a room. The worship asked for is bodily and the sacrifice is living — a deliberate contradiction, since sacrifices died — and the renewal is located in the mind rather than the will. Then the first application of all that theology turns out to be modesty about yourself and usefulness to other people.
Chapter 12 ends with overcoming evil with good. Chapter 13 asks what that means where the state carries a sword.
12:1–8 — A living sacrifice
The appeal is grounded in 'THE MERCIES OF GOD' rather than in duty, and what is asked for is the body — which is the last thing an ancient philosophy would call the site of worship. 'LIVING SACRIFICE' is a contradiction in its own terms: the defining feature of a sacrifice was that it died.
1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. 2 Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God. 3 For I say through the grace that was given me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith. 4 For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don’t have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another, 6 having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us: if prophecy, let’s prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; 7 or service, let’s give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, to his exhorting; he who gives, let him do it with generosity; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
12:9–21 — Overcome evil with good
The sentences get short and stop connecting to each other — this reads like a list because it is one, and the first item governs the rest: love without hypocrisy, meaning love without acting. What follows alternates between the warm and the difficult without marking the transition.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good. 10 In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor prefer one another, 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, 12 rejoicing in hope, enduring in troubles, continuing steadfastly in prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, and given to hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own conceits. 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. 19 Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 21 Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).