Dedicated Service

12 Therefore (A)I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to (B)present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, [a]acceptable to God, which is your [b]spiritual service of worship. And do not (C)be conformed to (D)this [c]world, but be transformed by the (E)renewing of your mind, so that you may [d](F)prove what the will of God is, that which is good and [e]acceptable and perfect.

For through (G)the grace given to me I say to everyone among you (H)not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to (I)each a measure of faith. For (J)just as we have many parts in one body and all [f]the body’s parts do not have the same function, so we, (K)who are many, are (L)one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another. However, since we have gifts that (M)differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if (N)prophecy, [g]in proportion to one’s faith; if [h](O)service, in the act of serving; or the one who (P)teaches, in the act of teaching; or the one who [i](Q)exhorts, in the work of [j]exhortation; the one who gives, with [k](R)generosity; (S)the one who [l]is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with (T)cheerfulness.

[m](U)Love must be free of hypocrisy. (V)Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be (W)devoted to one another in brotherly love; [n]give preference to one another (X)in honor, 11 not lagging behind in diligence, (Y)fervent in spirit, (Z)serving the Lord; 12 (AA)rejoicing in hope, (AB)persevering in tribulation, (AC)devoted to prayer, 13 (AD)contributing to the needs of the [o]saints, [p](AE)practicing hospitality.

14 (AF)Bless those who persecute [q]you; bless and do not curse. 15 (AG)Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 (AH)Be of the same mind toward one another; (AI)do not be [r]haughty in mind, but [s]associate with the lowly. (AJ)Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 (AK)Never repay evil for evil to anyone. [t](AL)Respect what is right in the sight of all people. 18 If possible, (AM)so far as it depends on you, (AN)be at peace with all people. 19 (AO)Never take your own revenge, beloved, but [u]leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “(AP)Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 (AQ)But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in 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 pleasing
  2. Romans 12:1 I.e., in contrast to offering a literal sacrifice
  3. Romans 12:2 Or age
  4. Romans 12:2 Or discover
  5. Romans 12:2 Or pleasing
  6. Romans 12:4 Lit the parts
  7. Romans 12:6 Or in agreement with the faith
  8. Romans 12:7 Or office of service
  9. Romans 12:8 Or encourages
  10. Romans 12:8 Or encouragement
  11. Romans 12:8 Or sincere concern
  12. Romans 12:8 Or provides care
  13. Romans 12:9 Or Love has no
  14. Romans 12:10 Or outdo one another in showing honor
  15. Romans 12:13 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  16. Romans 12:13 Lit pursuing
  17. Romans 12:14 Two early mss do not contain you
  18. Romans 12:16 Or arrogant
  19. Romans 12:16 Or accommodate yourself to lowly things
  20. Romans 12:17 Lit Take thought for
  21. Romans 12:19 Lit give a place

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。

The New Life in Christ

12 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world[a] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.[b]

For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him. For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Marks of the True Christian

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly;[c] never be conceited. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it[d] to the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 No, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 12:2 Greek age
  2. Romans 12:2 Or what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God
  3. Romans 12:16 Or give yourselves to humble tasks
  4. Romans 12:19 Greek give place