活的祭物

12 所以弟兄們,我藉著神的各樣憐憫勸你們,要把自己的身體獻上,做為聖潔、蒙神喜悅的活祭;這是你們理所當然的[a]事奉。 不要效法這世代,要藉著理性的更新而改變,使你們可以分辨什麼是神的旨意——那美善、可喜悅、完美的旨意。

成為一體

我藉著所賜給我的恩典,對你們中間的每個人說:不要自視過高,過於所當看的,而要照著神所分給每個人信心的尺度,清醒地看自己。 正如我們一個身體有很多部分[b],而且各部分都有不同的功用; 照樣,我們這許多人,在基督裡是一個身體,而且各個部分都彼此相屬。 照著所賜給我們的恩典,我們各有不同的恩賜:

如果是做先知傳道[c]的恩賜[d],就按照信心的程度用它[e]
如果是服事的,就用在服事上;
如果是教導的,就用在教導上;
如果是勸勉的,就用在勸勉上;
分享的,要慷慨;
帶領[f]的,要殷勤;
憐憫人的,要甘心樂意。

基督徒的行為規範

愛,不要虛假;要厭棄惡、持守善; 10 要以弟兄之情彼此相愛,以尊敬之心彼此謙讓, 11 殷勤而不懶惰,靈裡時時火熱,常常服事主。 12 在盼望中要歡喜,在患難裡要忍耐,在禱告上要恆切。 13 要分擔聖徒的缺乏;盡力款待客旅。 14 要祝福那些逼迫你們的人;要祝福,不要詛咒。 15 要與快樂的人一同快樂;與哀哭的人一同哀哭。 16 要彼此同心;不要心高氣傲,而要俯就卑微[g]的人;不要自以為聰明。 17 不要對任何人以惡報惡;要敬重所有的人看為美善的事; 18 如果有可能,盡量在你們的事上與所有的人和睦。 19 各位蒙愛的人哪,不要自己報復,寧可給神的震怒留地步,因為經上記著:「主說:報應在我,我將回報。」[h] 20 不但如此,

「如果你的敵人[i]餓了,就給他吃;
如果他渴了,就給他喝;
因為你這樣做,就是把炭火堆在他的頭上。」[j]

21 不要被惡所勝,反要以善勝惡。

Footnotes

  1. 羅馬書 12:1 理所當然的——或譯作「靈裡的」。
  2. 羅馬書 12:4 部分——或譯作「肢體」。
  3. 羅馬書 12:6 做先知傳道——原文直譯「說預言」。
  4. 羅馬書 12:6 恩賜——輔助詞語。
  5. 羅馬書 12:6 用它——輔助詞語。
  6. 羅馬書 12:8 帶領——或譯作「管理」。
  7. 羅馬書 12:16 卑微——或譯作「謙卑」。
  8. 羅馬書 12:19 《申命記》32:35。
  9. 羅馬書 12:20 敵人——或譯作「反對者」。
  10. 羅馬書 12:20 《箴言》25:21-22。

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

Dedicate Your Lives to God

12 I therefore urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God, for this is the reasonable way for you to worship.[a] Do not be conformed to this world, but continuously be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may be able to determine what God’s will is—what is proper,[b] pleasing, and perfect.

For by the grace given to me I ask every one of you not to think of yourself more highly than you should think, rather to think of yourself with sober judgment on the measure of faith that God has assigned each of you. For we have many parts in one body, but these parts do not all have the same function. In the same way, even though we are many people, we are one body in the Messiah[c] and individual parts connected to each other. We have different gifts based on the grace that was given to us. So if your gift is prophecy, use your gift[d] in proportion to your faith. If your gift is serving, devote yourself to serving others.[e] If it is teaching, devote yourself to teaching others.[f] If it is encouraging, devote yourself to encouraging others.[g] If it is sharing, share generously.[h] If it is leading, lead enthusiastically.[i] If it is helping, help cheerfully.[j]

Your love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to each other with mutual affection. Excel at showing respect for each other. 11 Never be lazy in showing such devotion. Be on fire with the Spirit. Serve the Lord.[k] 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in trouble, and persistent in prayer. 13 Supply the needs of the saints. Extend hospitality to strangers.

14 Bless those who persecute you. Keep on blessing them, and never curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who are rejoicing. Cry with those who are crying. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Do not be arrogant, but associate with humble people. Do not think that you are wiser than you really are.

17 Do not pay anyone back evil for evil, but[l] focus your thoughts on what is right in the sight of all people. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live in peace with all people. 19 Do not take revenge, dear friends, but leave room for God’s[m] wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me. I will pay them back, declares the Lord.”[n] 20 But “if your enemy is hungry, feed him. For if he is thirsty, give him a drink. If you do this, you will pile burning coals on his head.”[o] 21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 12:1 Lit. to God, your reasonable worship
  2. Romans 12:2 Or good
  3. Romans 12:5 Or Christ
  4. Romans 12:6 Lit. If prophecy
  5. Romans 12:7 Lit. If serving, in serving
  6. Romans 12:7 Lit. If teaching, in teaching
  7. Romans 12:8 Lit. If encouraging, in encouragement
  8. Romans 12:8 Lit. The one who shares, with generosity
  9. Romans 12:8 Lit. The one who leads, with enthusiasm
  10. Romans 12:8 Lit. The one who helps, with cheerfulness
  11. Romans 12:11 Other mss. read the time
  12. Romans 12:17 The Gk. lacks but
  13. Romans 12:19 The Gk. lacks God’s
  14. Romans 12:19 Cf. Deut 32:35; MT source citation reads Lord
  15. Romans 12:20 Cf. Prov 25:21-22