Commentary of the Book of the Romans
By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins
Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible
Bible Study Romans 12: 1-21
Text:
A Living and Holy Sacrifice
12 Therefore I exhort you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—living, holy, and pleasing to God, which is your [a]spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this [b]world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may approve what the will of God is, that which is good and pleasing and [c]perfect.
3 For through the grace given to me I say to each one among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound thinking, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another, 6 but having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: whether prophecy, [d]in agreement with the faith; 7 or [e]service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with [f]generosity; he who [g]leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy—by abhorring what is evil, clinging to what is good, 10 being devoted to one another in brotherly love, [h]giving preference to one another in honor, 11 not lagging behind in diligence, being fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in affliction, being devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the [i]saints, pursuing hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute [j]you; bless, and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep, 16 by being of the same mind toward one another, not being haughty in mind, but [k]associating with the humble. Do not be wise in your own mind. 17 Never paying back evil for evil to anyone, [l]respecting what is good in the sight of all men, 18 if possible, so far as it depends on you, being at peace with all men, 19 never taking your own revenge, beloved—instead [m]leave room for the wrath of God. For it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Verse by verse commentary:
Verse 1: “Therefore I exhort you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—living, holy, and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
Romans 12 marks a shift in Paul's letter, moving from theological exposition to practical application. The shift is signaled by the preceding doxology and the opening verses of chapter 12.
Motivated by God's Mercy:
The phrase "Mercies of God" refers to a love for the poor and needy, and support for those unable to provide for themselves in a fallen world. The doctrine of grace, detailed in chapters 3–11, naturally leads to a life characterized by gratitude.
The Sacrifice of Self:
"Present your bodies" is language signifying submission to the Lord. It contrasts with the Old Covenant sacrifices, where God accepted the sacrifice of dead animals for unintentional sin, but not for intentional sin—the offender had to face the consequences of rebellion.
Christ's ultimate sacrifice renders the Old Testament sacrifices obsolete.
For those in Christ, the only acceptable worship is the complete offering of themselves to the Lord.
"Bodies" means the whole person as an embodied individual.
Under God's control, the believer's body, though not yet fully redeemed, must be yielded to Him as an instrument of righteousness.
Spiritual Service:
In light of the abundant "spiritual riches" believers enjoy solely through God's mercy, it logically follows that they owe God their absolute highest form of service.
Verse 2: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may approve what the will of God is, that which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
A Christian's perspective and worldview must be radically transformed. This renewal comes through understanding the gospel, the Holy Spirit's power, and focusing on eternal concerns, rather than conforming to the fleeting trends of this world. This sanctifying renewal is essential for the Christian to develop the sensitivity needed to "discern" and follow God's will in every circumstance.
Verse 3: “For through the grace given to me I say to each one among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound thinking, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”
Paul urges us to cultivate "sound thinking" and cautions against self-promotion within Christian communities. Believers face the constant risk of exaggerating their own gifts, character, and abilities. Therefore, we must strive for an accurate self-assessment, understanding our place in relation to others within the church body.
Verse 4: “For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,”
God has sovereignly designed the body of Christ to possess a unified diversity, much like the way a natural body functions.
Verse 5: “so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another,”
The body has numerous members, suggesting a vast array of spiritual gifts. Paul's lists of these gifts were likely incomplete, as he continually introduced new ones not mentioned in prior passages when discussing the gifts of the Spirit.
Verse 6: “but having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: whether prophecy, in agreement with the faith;”
Spiritual gifts are entirely undeserved and unmerited. The Holy Spirit sovereignly chooses the gift itself, the specific manner in which it is used, and the resulting spiritual effects, all independent of personal merit. The term "prophecy" means "speaking forth" and does not inherently involve predicting the future or other mystical or supernatural elements. While some prophets in the book of Acts did foretell future events, others simply delivered God's truth to encourage and strengthen their listeners. The phrase “in agreement with the faith” refers to the entirety of “the faith,” which is the full, revealed message or body of Christian doctrine. Therefore, a preacher must ensure they proclaim the same message that was originally delivered by the apostles.
Verse 7: “or service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;”
The spiritual gift of “service” is derived from the same Greek root as the words "deacon" and "deaconess," signifying those who serve others. Similar to the gift of "helps" mentioned in 1 Corinthians, this gift encompasses a wide scope of practical assistance. The gift of “teaching” involves the distinct ability to clearly interpret, systematize, clarify, and explain the truth of God.
Verse 8: “or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with generosity; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
The text describes several spiritual gifts mentioned in Romans 12:
Exhortation: This gift allows a believer to effectively urge others toward obedience to God's truth. It can be used for negative purposes like admonishing sin, or positively for encouraging, comforting, and strengthening those who are struggling.
Giving: This involves the sacrificial sharing of one's resources and self to address the needs of others.
Leading/Administration: Literally meaning "standing before," this gift is also called "administrations" in 1 Corinthians and refers to the ability to guide, similar to steering a ship.
Showing Mercy: This gift is characterized by actively showing sympathy and sensitivity to those in sorrow and suffering. Individuals with this gift have both the willingness and the resources to help alleviate afflictions.
Cheerfulness is essential to the gift of mercy, ensuring that the help provided is a genuine aid and not a discouraging expression of commiseration with those who are hurting. The gift of mercy frequently accompanies the gift of exhortation.
Verse 9: “Let love be without hypocrisy—by abhorring what is evil, clinging to what is good,”
In ancient Greek drama, the term hypokrites referred to an actor who wore a mask. For a Christian, genuine loving behavior should be an authentic expression of goodwill, not a pretense or "wearing a mask."
Verse 10: “being devoted to one another in brotherly love, giving preference to one another in honor,”
We are called to have a deep, family-like love for our fellow Christians, which is described as being "devoted to one another in brotherly love." This devotion is not dependent on personal feelings or how attractive we find someone. Furthermore, we should demonstrate sincere appreciation and admiration for believers by prioritizing them, which is the meaning of "giving preference to one another in honor."
Verse 11: “not lagging behind in diligence, being fervent in spirit, serving the Lord,”
In the Christian life, any endeavor worth pursuing should be approached with enthusiasm and diligence. Sloth and indifference are detrimental, not only because they hinder good works but also because they allow evil to flourish. The injunction to be "fervent in spirit" means, literally, "to boil in spirit." This implies having the necessary passion to generate sufficient, productive energy, while maintaining enough control to prevent one from becoming reckless or excessive.
Verse 12: “rejoicing in hope, persevering in affliction, being devoted to prayer,”
A believer's experience should be marked by "rejoicing in hope." Even when current circumstances don't justify joy—and may, in fact, be difficult—the believer looks ahead, projecting themselves into the more favorable future promised by hope. Furthermore, a core commitment of the Christian life is "being devoted to prayer," signifying a life characterized by consistent prayer.
Verse 13: “contributing to the needs of the saints, pursuing hospitality.”
We are called to share the basic necessities of life with fellow believers who are in need, as God expects us to share what He has given us with "the saints." Furthermore, we should actively "pursue hospitality," which means seeking out other Christians to extend fellowship to. For example, a person in your neighborhood or church might be introverted and hesitant but still desire Christian company; we are to look for them and offer our fellowship.
Verse 14: “Bless those who persecute you; bless, and do not curse.”
The command to "Bless those who persecute you" may seem unnecessary for believers. One might assume a believer would never persecute another—but is that a safe assumption? It is certainly challenging to bless someone who is actively harming you! Nevertheless, we are instructed to bless others and "curse not."
Verse 15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep,”
We are called to share fully in the emotional experiences of our fellow believers: "Rejoice with those who rejoice" and "Weep with those who weep."
Verse 16: “by being of the same mind toward one another, not being haughty in mind, but associating with the humble. Do not be wise in your own mind.”
Christians should maintain impartiality, reflected in the phrase, "being of the same mind toward one another." This also means avoiding arrogance ("not being haughty in mind") and the self-seeking pride that accompanies it. Furthermore, believers should steer clear of conceit or feelings of superiority toward fellow Christians, aligning with the instruction "Do not be wise in your own mind."
Verse 17: “Never paying back evil for evil to anyone, respecting what is good in the sight of all men,”
Believers should anticipate facing evil from the world, but they must refrain from retaliation, as the instruction is to "never pay back evil for evil to anyone." It is also essential to "respect what is good in the sight of all men," as nothing damages the cause of Christ more than a Christian who is dishonest. Non-Christians are less concerned with a believer's theological stance—such as views on premillennialism, election, or free will—than they are with practical integrity. They want to know if you are truthful, pay your honest debts, and are a person upon whom others can depend.
Verse 18: “if possible, so far as it depends on you, being at peace with all men,”
Do your best to live peaceably with all people, as the Bible suggests with the phrase, "if possible." You are not required to be agreeable with everyone, and you must recognize that some individuals will simply not want to reconcile or maintain peace.
Verse 19: “never taking your own revenge, beloved—instead leave room for the wrath of God. For it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.”
Because believers trust in God's perfect judgment to rectify all injustices, they are freed from the compulsion for revenge. The Christian is therefore released from the desire to "get even." And, if the believer does act in revenge, he may cut off God’s desire to repay because there will be no room for Him to act. His repayment will be far worse than your feeble efforts.
Verse 20: ““But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
The expression "heap burning coals on his head" references an ancient Egyptian tradition where a sign of public repentance involved carrying a pan of hot coals. These coals symbolized the intense, burning pain of shame and guilt. When believers act lovingly toward their enemies, this gesture should evoke a similar sense of shame and animosity in those who harbor hate. This sense of contrition, or at least public shame, can potentially lead to conversion or a modification of malicious behavior.
Verse 21: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
The core message is to conquer evil with good, rather than allowing evil to overcome you. When navigating this world and its "satanic system," believers cannot engage in a direct fight using the world's tactics of hate and revenge. To do so is to invite defeat. Instead, God has provided the "good"—the Holy Spirit—as the believer's means of overcoming.
The strategy is to "walk in the Spirit":
"Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).
"If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25).
