Romans 12 Geneva Bible (1599)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Original 16th-century spelling.
1 I Beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that yee giue vp your bodies a liuing sacrifice, holy, acceptable vnto God, which is your reasonable seruing of God.
1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.
2 And fashion not your selues like vnto this worlde, but bee yee changed by the renewing of your minde, that ye may prooue what that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God is.
2 Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.
3 For I say through the grace that is giuen vnto me, to euery one that is among you, that no man presume to vnderstande aboue that which is meete to vnderstand, but that he vnderstande according to sobrietie, as God hath dealt to euery man the measure of faith.
3 For I say through the grace that was given me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.
4 For as wee haue many members in one body, and all members haue not one office,
4 For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don’t have the same function,
5 So we being many are one body in Christ, and euery one, one anothers members.
5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another,
6 Seeing then that we haue gifts that are diuers, according to the grace that is giuen vnto vs, whether we haue prophecie, let vs prophecie according to the portion of faith:
6 having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us: if prophecy, let’s prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;
7 Or an office, let vs waite on the office: or he that teacheth, on teaching:
7 or service, let’s give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that distributeth, let him doe it with simplicitie: he that ruleth, with diligence: he that sheweth mercie, with cheerefulnesse.
8 or he who exhorts, to his exhorting; he who gives, let him do it with generosity; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let loue be without dissimulation. Abhorre that which is euill, and cleaue vnto that which is good.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good.
10 Be affectioned to loue one another with brotherly loue. In giuing honour, goe one before another,
10 In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor prefer one another,
11 Not slouthfull to do seruice: seruent in spirit seruing the Lord,
11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord,
12 Reioycing in hope, pacient in tribulation, continuing in prayer,
12 rejoicing in hope, enduring in troubles, continuing steadfastly in prayer,
13 Distributing vnto the necessities of the Saintes: giuing your selues to hospitalitie.
13 contributing to the needs of the saints, and given to hospitality.
14 Blesse them which persecute you: blesse, I say, and curse not.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse.
15 Reioyce with them that reioyce, and weepe with them that weepe.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.
16 Be of like affection one towardes another: be not hie minded: but make your selues equall to them of the lower sort: be not wise in your selues.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own conceits.
17 Recompence to no man euill for euill: procure things honest in the sight of all men.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men.
18 If it bee possible, as much as in you is, haue peace with all men.
18 If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.
19 Dearely beloued, auenge not your selues, but giue place vnto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine: I will repay, saith the Lord.
19 Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.”
20 Therefore, if thine enemie hunger, feede him: if he thirst, giue him drinke: for in so doing, thou shalt heape coales of fire on his head.
20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
21 Bee not ouercome of euill, but ouercome euill with goodnesse.
21 Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Cross references (21)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 1 Peter 2:5; Romans 6:13; Romans 6:19; Hebrews 13:15–16; Ephesians 4:1
- 2 1 Peter 1:14; Ephesians 4:22–24; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 3:10; 1 John 2:15–17
- 3 Galatians 6:3; Philippians 2:3–8; Proverbs 26:12; 1 Peter 5:5; Romans 12:16
- 4 1 Corinthians 12:27; 1 Corinthians 12:12–14; Ephesians 4:15–16; 1 Corinthians 12:4; Ephesians 4:4
- 5 1 Corinthians 12:20; 1 Corinthians 12:27–28; Ephesians 4:25; 1 Corinthians 10:17; Ephesians 5:30
- 6 1 Peter 4:10–11; 1 Corinthians 7:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28–31; 1 Corinthians 12:4–11; Romans 12:3
- 7 Acts 13:1; 2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Timothy 5:17; Ephesians 4:11; Psalm 34:11
- 8 2 Corinthians 9:7; 1 Timothy 5:17; 1 Timothy 3:4–5; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Acts 15:32
- 9 Psalm 34:14; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 Timothy 1:5; 1 John 3:18–20; 1 Peter 3:10–11
- 10 Philippians 2:3; John 13:34–35; Hebrews 13:1; 1 John 4:11; 1 Peter 3:8–9
- 11 Hebrews 6:10–11; Acts 18:25; Revelation 3:15–16; Proverbs 13:4; Colossians 3:22–24
- 12 Romans 15:13; Hebrews 10:36; Psalm 62:8; Romans 5:2–4; Philippians 4:6–7
- 13 Hebrews 13:16; 2 Corinthians 9:12; 1 John 3:17; Galatians 6:10; Hebrews 6:10
- 14 1 Peter 3:9; Matthew 5:44; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 Corinthians 4:12–13; Romans 12:21
- 15 1 Corinthians 12:26; Hebrews 13:3; Psalm 35:13–14; John 11:33–36; Job 30:25
- 16 1 Peter 3:8; Proverbs 3:7; James 3:13–17; Philippians 2:2–3; Romans 12:3
- 17 Proverbs 20:22; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 Peter 3:9; Matthew 5:39; 2 Corinthians 8:20–21
- 18 Hebrews 12:14; Matthew 5:9; Romans 14:19; 2 Corinthians 13:11; James 3:16–18
- 19 Deuteronomy 32:35; Hebrews 10:30; Proverbs 24:29; Proverbs 20:22; Romans 12:17
- 20 Proverbs 25:21–22; Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27; Exodus 23:4–5; 2 Kings 6:22
- 21 1 Peter 3:9; Luke 6:27–30; Proverbs 16:32
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
After discoursing at large upon the love of God toward man, and pointing out His unspeakable concern for us, and unutterable goodness, which cannot even be searched into, he next puts it forward with a view of persuading those who have received the benefit to exhibit a conversation worthy of the gift.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 11 (1889)
Why do we divide and tear to pieces the members of Christ, and raise up strife against our own body, and have reached such a height of madness as to forget that "we are members one of another?" Remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, how He said, "Woe to that man [by whom offences come]!
… pride, nor should we tempt God, but should feel humility in all things, and have ready to hand [this saying], "Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God." As also the apostle taught, saying, "Minding not high things, but consenting to things of low estate;" that we should neither be ensnared with riches, nor mundane glory, nor present fancy, but …
… this custom had it been forbidden by another whom she loved not as Ambrose, whom, out of regard for my salvation, she loved most dearly; and he loved her truly, on account of her most religious conversation, whereby, in good works so "fervent in spirit," she frequented the church; so that he would often, when he saw me, burst forth …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
When we do so as avenging ourselves: which Paul also forbidding, said "Avenge not yourselves, dearly beloved, but rather give place unto wrath." When we are contending for riches: yea, for this hath he also taken away, where he saith, "Why do ye not rather take wrong?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)