Book Epistle to the Romans Order in the Bible part 6 | Bible part New Testament Category Pauline epistles | |
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Romans 12 is the twelfth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is authored by Paul the Apostle, but written by an amanuensis, Tertius of Iconium, while Paul was in Corinth, in winter of AD 57-58. Paul wrote to the Roman Christians in order to give them a substantial resume of his theology.
Contents
Text
Structure
The New King James Version organises this chapter as follows:
Verse 1
New King James Version
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1).The first letter of Peter uses a similar expressions:
You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5).Paul speaks of "reasonable service (worship)", (Greek: τὴν λογικὴν λατρείαν, tēn logikēn latreian) in contrast to the Greek: λατρεια (latreia, worship) which formed part of the Jewish covenant with God (Romans 9:4). Lutheran theologian Johann Albrecht Bengel summarises the contrasts to which Paul refers:
The service [worship], λατρέια, of the Gentiles is unreasonable, ἄλογος, (cf. Romans 1:18-25), the confidence of the Jews is unreasonable, ἄλογος, Romans 2:3), but the Christian considers all things rightly, and collects [infers] his duty from the kindness of a merciful God. The epithet λογικὴν now corresponds to that verb, λογίζεσθαι, which is often used (Romans 3:28, 6:11 and 8:18).Verse 2
New King James Version
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.Verse 3
New King James Version
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.Verse 5
New King James Version
so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.Verses 9-21
Described by Moo as "Love and its manifestations", the section is proverbial in tone, the style is known as parenesis. Some verses echo the Old Testament, notably 16c, 19c, and 20, while others are reflections of Jesus' teachings (especially 14, 17, 18 and 21).
Love in Action
William Barclay suggests that in verses 9 to 13, "Paul presents his people with [twelve] telegraphic rules for everyday life".
Verses 17-21
These verses form a chiasm, bracketed by lines containing the word "evil" - v 17a and v 21. The next layer comprising v 17b-18 and v 20, deals with the way to treat non-Christians. The central portion is the prohibition of vengeance.
Vengeance is mine
Part of this verse - "I will repay" or in older translations "vengeance is mine" (Vengeance is mine, and recompense ESV) - is a quotation from Deuteronomy 32:35. Paul's instruction here is not to be vengeful. John Wycliffe and his colleagues translated as "not defending yourselves" (Romans 12:19
Verse 21
New King James Version
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.