活的祭物

12 所以弟兄们,我藉着神的各样怜悯劝你们,要把自己的身体献上,做为圣洁、蒙神喜悦的活祭;这是你们理所当然的[a]事奉。 不要效法这世代,要藉着理性的更新而改变,使你们可以分辨什么是神的旨意——那美善、可喜悦、完美的旨意。

成为一体

我藉着所赐给我的恩典,对你们中间的每个人说:不要自视过高,过于所当看的,而要照着神所分给每个人信心的尺度,清醒地看自己。 正如我们一个身体有很多部分[b],而且各部分都有不同的功用; 照样,我们这许多人,在基督里是一个身体,而且各个部分都彼此相属。 照着所赐给我们的恩典,我们各有不同的恩赐:

如果是做先知传道[c]的恩赐[d],就按照信心的程度用它[e]
如果是服事的,就用在服事上;
如果是教导的,就用在教导上;
如果是劝勉的,就用在劝勉上;
分享的,要慷慨;
带领[f]的,要殷勤;
怜悯人的,要甘心乐意。

基督徒的行为规范

爱,不要虚假;要厌弃恶、持守善; 10 要以弟兄之情彼此相爱,以尊敬之心彼此谦让, 11 殷勤而不懒惰,灵里时时火热,常常服事主。 12 在盼望中要欢喜,在患难里要忍耐,在祷告上要恒切。 13 要分担圣徒的缺乏;尽力款待客旅。 14 要祝福那些逼迫你们的人;要祝福,不要诅咒。 15 要与快乐的人一同快乐;与哀哭的人一同哀哭。 16 要彼此同心;不要心高气傲,而要俯就卑微[g]的人;不要自以为聪明。 17 不要对任何人以恶报恶;要敬重所有的人看为美善的事; 18 如果有可能,尽量在你们的事上与所有的人和睦。 19 各位蒙爱的人哪,不要自己报复,宁可给神的震怒留地步,因为经上记着:“主说:报应在我,我将回报。”[h] 20 不但如此,

“如果你的敌人[i]饿了,就给他吃;
如果他渴了,就给他喝;
因为你这样做,就是把炭火堆在他的头上。”[j]

21 不要被恶所胜,反要以善胜恶。

Footnotes

  1. 罗马书 12:1 理所当然的——或译作“灵里的”。
  2. 罗马书 12:4 部分——或译作“肢体”。
  3. 罗马书 12:6 做先知传道——原文直译“说预言”。
  4. 罗马书 12:6 恩赐——辅助词语。
  5. 罗马书 12:6 用它——辅助词语。
  6. 罗马书 12:8 带领——或译作“管理”。
  7. 罗马书 12:16 卑微——或译作“谦卑”。
  8. 罗马书 12:19 《申命记》32:35。
  9. 罗马书 12:20 敌人——或译作“反对者”。
  10. 罗马书 12:20 《箴言》25:21-22。

Give Your Lives to God

12 So I beg you, brothers and sisters, because of the great mercy God has shown us, offer your lives[a] as a living sacrifice to him—an offering that is only for God and pleasing to him. Considering what he has done, it is only right that you should worship him in this way. Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.

God has given me a special gift, and that is why I have something to say to each one of you. Don’t think that you are better than you really are. You must see yourself just as you are. Decide what you are by the faith God has given each of us. Each one of us has one body, and that body has many parts. These parts don’t all do the same thing. In the same way, we are many people, but in Christ we are all one body. We are the parts of that body, and each part belongs to all the others.

We all have different gifts. Each gift came because of the grace God gave us. Whoever has the gift of prophecy should use that gift in a way that fits the kind of faith they have. Whoever has the gift of serving should serve. Whoever has the gift of teaching should teach. Whoever has the gift of comforting others should do that. Whoever has the gift of giving to help others should give generously. Whoever has the gift of leading should work hard at it. Whoever has the gift of showing kindness to others should do it gladly.

Your love must be real. Hate what is evil. Do only what is good. 10 Love each other in a way that makes you feel close like brothers and sisters. And give each other more honor than you give yourself. 11 As you serve the Lord, work hard and don’t be lazy. Be excited about serving him! 12 Be happy because of the hope you have. Be patient when you have troubles. Pray all the time. 13 Share with God’s people who need help. Look for people who need help and welcome them into your homes.

14 Wish only good for those who treat you badly. Ask God to bless them, not curse them. 15 When others are happy, you should be happy with them. And when others are sad, you should be sad too. 16 Live together in peace with each other. Don’t be proud, but be willing to be friends with people who are not important to others. Don’t think of yourself as smarter than everyone else.

17 If someone does you wrong, don’t try to pay them back by hurting them. Try to do what everyone thinks is right. 18 Do the best you can to live in peace with everyone. 19 My friends, don’t try to punish anyone who does wrong to you. Wait for God to punish them with his anger. In the Scriptures the Lord says,

“I am the one who punishes;
    I will pay people back.”(A)

20 But you should do this:

“If you have enemies who are hungry,
    give them something to eat.
If you have enemies who are thirsty,
    give them something to drink.
In doing this you will make them feel ashamed.[b](B)

21 Don’t let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 12:1 lives Literally, “bodies.” Paul is using the language of Old Testament animal sacrifice to express the idea of a complete giving of oneself to God.
  2. Romans 12:20 you will make them feel ashamed Literally, “you will pour burning coals on their head.” People in Old Testament times often put ashes on their heads to show that they were sad or sorry.

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you,(A) brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,(B) holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform(C) to the pattern of this world,(D) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.(E) Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is(F)—his good, pleasing(G) and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

For by the grace given me(H) I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,(I) so in Christ we, though many, form one body,(J) and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts,(K) according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying,(L) then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith;(M) if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;(N) if it is to encourage, then give encouragement;(O) if it is giving, then give generously;(P) if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love in Action

Love must be sincere.(Q) Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.(R) 10 Be devoted to one another in love.(S) Honor one another above yourselves.(T) 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,(U) serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope,(V) patient in affliction,(W) faithful in prayer.(X) 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.(Y) Practice hospitality.(Z)

14 Bless those who persecute you;(AA) bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.(AB) 16 Live in harmony with one another.(AC) Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.(AD)

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.(AE) Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.(AF) 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.(AG) 19 Do not take revenge,(AH) my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d](AI) says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[e](AJ)

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 12:6 Or the
  2. Romans 12:8 Or to provide for others
  3. Romans 12:16 Or willing to do menial work
  4. Romans 12:19 Deut. 32:35
  5. Romans 12:20 Prov. 25:21,22