A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you(A) to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,(B) holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.[a] Do not be conformed(C) to this age,(D) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,(E) so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will(F) of God.

Many Gifts but One Body

For by the grace(G) given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think.(H) Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith(I) to each one. Now as we have many parts in one body,(J) and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many(K) are one body in Christ(L) and individually members of one another. According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts:(M) If prophecy,(N) use it according to the proportion of one’s[b] faith; if service,(O) use it in service; if teaching,(P) in teaching; if exhorting,(Q) in exhortation; giving, with generosity;(R) leading,(S) with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.(T)

Christian Ethics

Let love be without hypocrisy.(U) Detest evil;(V) cling to what is good. 10 Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters.(W) Take the lead in honoring one another.(X) 11 Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit;[c](Y) serve the Lord.(Z) 12 Rejoice in hope;(AA) be patient in affliction;(AB) be persistent in prayer.(AC) 13 Share with the saints in their needs;(AD) pursue hospitality.(AE) 14 Bless those who persecute you;(AF) bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice;(AG) weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another.(AH) Do not be proud;(AI) instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.(AJ) 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.(AK) Give careful thought to do what is honorable(AL) in everyone’s eyes. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.(AM) 19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay,[d](AN) says the Lord. 20 But

If your enemy is hungry, feed him.(AO)
If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
For in so doing
you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.[e](AP)

21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

Footnotes

  1. 12:1 Or your reasonable service
  2. 12:6 Or the, also in v. 19
  3. 12:11 Or in spirit
  4. 12:19 Dt 32:35
  5. 12:20 Pr 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