A Living Sacrifice

12 (A)I appeal to you therefore, brothers,[a] by the mercies of God, (B)to present your bodies (C)as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.[b] (D)Do not be conformed to this world,[c] but be transformed by (E)the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may (F)discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.[d]

Gifts of Grace

For (G)by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you (H)not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, (I)each according to (J)the measure of faith that God has assigned. For (K)as in one body we have many members,[e] and the members do not all have the same function, so we, (L)though many, (M)are one body in Christ, and individually (N)members one of another. (O)Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if (P)prophecy, (Q)in proportion to our faith; if (R)service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; (S)the one who leads,[f] with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with (T)cheerfulness.

Marks of the True Christian

(U)Let love be genuine. (V)Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 (W)Love one another with brotherly affection. (X)Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, (Y)be fervent in spirit,[g] (Z)serve the Lord. 12 (AA)Rejoice in hope, (AB)be patient in tribulation, (AC)be constant in prayer. 13 (AD)Contribute to the needs of the saints and (AE)seek to show hospitality.

14 (AF)Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 (AG)Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 (AH)Live in harmony with one another. (AI)Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.[h] (AJ)Never be wise in your own sight. 17 (AK)Repay no one evil for evil, but (AL)give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, (AM)live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, (AN)never avenge yourselves, but leave it[i] to the wrath of God, for it is written, (AO)“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, (AP)“if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 12:1 Or brothers and sisters
  2. Romans 12:1 Or your rational service
  3. Romans 12:2 Greek age
  4. Romans 12:2 Or what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God
  5. Romans 12:4 Greek parts; also verse 5
  6. Romans 12:8 Or gives aid
  7. Romans 12:11 Or fervent in the Spirit
  8. Romans 12:16 Or give yourselves to humble tasks
  9. Romans 12:19 Greek give place

12 I appeal to you, therefore, Achim b’Moshiach, through the rachamei Hashem (mercies of G-d), to present your geviyah (BERESHIS 47:18), all of your being as a korban chai (living sacrifice), kadosh (holy) and acceptable to Hashem (BERESHIS 8:21), which is your spiritual avodas kodesh service.

Stop allowing yourself to be conformed to the Olam Hazeh, but be transformed by your hitkhadshut (regeneration, renewal) of your mind, so that you may ascertain what is the ratzon Hashem (the will of G-d), what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of G-d.

For I say to all who are among you through the chesed (unmerited favor, grace) given to me, that you should avoid a false sense of superiority in your thinking; rather exercise shlitah atzmi (self-control), thinking with seichel, as G-d has measured to each a measure of emunah.

For just as in one body we have many members (natural capacities), and all the members do not have the same function,

So we all are one body in Moshiach, and are individually members one of another

Having matanot (gifts) which differ in accordance with the chesed (unmerited favor, grace) given to us. If we speak for G-d as nevi’im (prophets), it should be in proportion to the emunah given to us.

If we offer particular acts of avodas kodesh service, it should be used in serving. One who functions as a rabbinic moreh should be active in teaching.

One who imparts chizzuk (strengthening, encouragement) should be active in that avodas kodesh ministry. One who makes tzedakah (contributions) should do so with nedivut (generosity). The one in manhigut (leadership), with diligence. The one in bikkur cholim (visiting the sick) and gemilut chasadim (benevolence), with simcha.

Let ahavah (agape) be without tzevi’ut (hypocrisy). Hate what is haRah, be devoted to what is tov.

10 Show mishpochah (family) affection to one another in ahavah shel achvah (brotherly love). Be first in esteeming one another, in showing mutual respect.

11 Be zealous without negligence; with bren (fervor, hitlahavut) be burning with the Ruach Hakodesh. With avodas kodesh serve Hashem.

12 Have simcha in tikvah. Have zitzfleisch in tzoros. Keep davening tefillos.

13 With a spirit of koinonia, keep the pushke full for the needs of the Kadoshim. Aspire to hachnosas orchim.

14 Say a bracha on those who bring redifah (persecution) on you, let it be a bracha and not a kelalah (curse).

15 Join in simcha with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

16 Think with a (spiritual) consensus in achdus harmony among yourselves. Do not cherish the thoughts of the ba’al gaavah (haughty person), but associate with the anavim ("humble," YESHAYAH 29:19), with the lowly am ha’aretz; do not be chachamim (wise ones) in your own estimation [1:22].

17 Repay no one ra’a (evil) for ra’a (evil). Take into consideration what is haTov in the sight of everyone and do that. [MISHLE 3:4 TARGUM HASHIVIM]

18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live in shalom with everyone.

19 Do not take your own revenge, beloved, but give opportunity for G-d’s Charon Af (burning wrath), for it is written, LI NAKAM V’SHILEM ("Vengeance is mine and recompense, repayment‖I am He who will repay, says Hashem" DEVARIM 32:35).

20 "But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head" MISHLE 25:21-22.

21 Do not be overcome by what is ra’a, but overcome haRah with haTov.