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 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 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 even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don’t have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another, 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 service, let’s give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching; 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 love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good. 10 In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor prefer one another, 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, 12 rejoicing in hope, enduring in troubles, continuing steadfastly in prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, and given to hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. 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 Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. 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 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 Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans · World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
Romans 12 World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- "World English Bible" is a trademark of eBible.org; the text is shown unaltered.
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)