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

A Life Dedicated to God

12 Therefore I exhort you, brothers, through the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may approve what is the good and well-pleasing and perfect will of God.

A Variety of Gifts in the Body of Christ

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone who is among you not to think more highly of yourself than what one ought to think, but to think sensibly[a], as God has apportioned a measure of faith to each one. For just as in one body we have many members, but all the members do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually[b] members of one another, but having different gifts according to the grace given to us: if it is prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if it is service, by service; if it is one who teaches, by teaching; if it is one who exhorts, by exhortation; one who gives, with sincerity; one who leads, with diligence; one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Living in Love

Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; be attached to what is good, 10 being devoted to one another in brotherly love, esteeming one another more highly in honor, 11 not lagging in diligence, being enthusiastic in spirit, serving the Lord, 12 rejoicing in hope, enduring in affliction, being devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, pursuing hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute,[c] bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Think the same thing toward one another; do not think arrogantly[d], but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own sight[e]. 17 Pay back no one evil for evil. Take thought for what is good in the sight of all people. 18 If it is possible on your part, be at peace with all people. 19 Do not take revenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,”[f] says the Lord. 20 But “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by[g] doing this, you will heap up coals of fire upon his head.”[h] 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 12:3 Literally “so as to be sensible”
  2. Romans 12:5 Literally “with respect to one”
  3. Romans 12:14 Some manuscripts have “who persecute you”
  4. Romans 12:16 Literally “think not the arrogant”
  5. Romans 12:16 Literally “in the sight of yourselves”
  6. Romans 12:19 A quotation from Deut 32:35
  7. Romans 12:20 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“doing”) which is understood as means
  8. Romans 12:20 A quotation from Prov 25:21–22