Chapter 12 – One God Translation

Romans

   12 So I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your whole selves[972] as a sacrifice which is living, holy and pleasing to God. This is your service for the Gospel-word. [973] 2 Do not be conformed to this present age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern the will of God — what is good, well-pleasing and perfect.
    3 For through the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think sensibly, as God has given to each of you a measure of faith. 4 For just as there are many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Messiah, and we all belong to one another. 6 We each have different gifts according to the grace given to us: If it is prophecy, then use that gift according to the proportion of your faith. 7 If it is service, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is exhortation, then exhort; if it is giving, then do it generously; if it is leadership, then lead diligently; if it is showing mercy, then do it cheerfully.
    9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love, honoring each other above yourselves. 11 Do not lack diligence; be enthusiastic in spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; persevere in trials; persist in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; practice hospitality.
    14 Bless those who persecute you; bless them, and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in peace with each other. Do not be haughty, but associate with people of low status. Do not be wise in your own eyes. 17 Do not repay evil for evil to anyone. Consider what is right in the sight of all people. 18 If possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with everyone. 19 Do not avenge yourselves,[974] beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God,[975] because it is written, “Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Instead, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. In doing this you will be piling coals of fire on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans

[972]

“Bodies” in the Greek here stands for the whole person, the self. In Heb. 10:5-10 Jesus carried out the will of God by offering himself as a sacrificial person. Christians “have been sanctified through the offering of the body [the person] of Jesus Messiah once for all” (Heb. 10:10). In the same way the calendar of Israel — annual holy days, new moons and weekly Sabbath — which was only a shadow, was replaced by the person of Jesus (Col. 2:16-17).

[973]

“The word” in the NT is shorthand for the Gospel of the Kingdom, Jesus’ own Gospel (Heb. 2:3; Lk. 8:11-12; Mt. 13:19).

[974]

Paul sees the state as a tool of vengeance in 13:4, but he never imagined that believers assume that role. NT believers are not part of the present political world-system. They are resident aliens, and should not be fighting in the wars of this world-system. Satan’s kingdoms become the Kingdom of God only at the future seventh trumpet which signals the arrival of Messiah to rule with the saints (Rev. 11:15-18). Jesus did not attempt to interfere with politics at his first coming.

[975]

God will see that justice is ultimately done and Ps. 149 shows that the saints will in the future be involved in executing that justice. But they should not do this now (cp. Lk. 19:27; Rev. 2:26-27; Dan. 7:27).