Romans 12

== Romans 12:1 ==
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 
Paul here makes a plea to his fellow Christians at Rome contingent on the information he just finished presenting about the power and majesty and wisdom of God. Going back to chapters 6-8 wherein Paul speaks of the war of the flesh and soul, he presents a case based on the mercies of God toward the Gentiles that they should present their bodies a living (continual) sacrifice to God. This is about bringing the flesh into subjection to the spirit, that part that is made in the image of God. In so doing we bring a sacrifice that is holy (sanctified) and acceptable to God. This is contrary to what the Israelites brought the majority of the time, which was sacrifices that they killed, that while sometimes matched the letter of the law, were often a "sacrifice that sin may abound" kind of thing. 
A final note about the final phrase. Paul says that this sacrifice is reasonable service. It is a direct, logical consequent of the mercy God has shown us (and to not do so means you are selfish and illogical). More to the point, it is the word λατρείαν (latreian from latreuo) which a general word meaning "service", and is a noun. It is notthe specific word προσκυνήσει (proskunesei from proskuneo) which means "to worship", and is a verb. Those who come to this verse to substantiate the "all life is worship" doctrine have ripped the concept completely out of context as the word worship is used throughout scripture, have committed eisegesis at its worst, and have no idea what they are talking about. 
== Romans 12:2 ==
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 
I've heard many times a general application of this verse, and that's fine, but seeking to draw a general application first often means we don't understand the verse fully. In context, this verse is a conclusion to the full context of Paul's letter, the argument between what the Judaizers were teaching and what the gospel actually taught. Judaism was passing away, nearing its end. It was in its last days. Yet the Jews did not understand this and so they tried to get Gentiles to become proselytes under the Law of Moses before they became Christians. We see this throughout the NT up until the destruction of Jerusalem. 
Paul's conclusion here is that the Gentiles were not to worry about Jew or Gentile labels. They were not to conform themselves to this "age" (aionos), which is translated "world" in the KJV. They were not to conform themselves to the foolish thinking akin to that of the Israelites that was based in zeal, that was fascinated with genetic heritage and all things physical, but was not according to knowledge. Instead, they were to be transformed by the renewing (making new again, the new creature of Romans 6)of their minds which is done by the power of the gospel (Romans 1:16). 
In being transformed by the gospel, living their lives for God, they proved and accomplished what was said in verse 1. That which follows are some basic examples of what reasonable service looks like. 
== Romans 12:3 ==
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 
Paul wrote through his office in terms of humility. He isn't an apostle because of anything he had done (and those who knew his story knew just how true this is), but because God bestowed favor on him. In writing this way, he provides an example to all of the Christians at Rome not to think more of themselves than they ought. 
They, like Paul, are Christians by the grace of God, not by their own merit. Therefore, they are to reason logically according to what God has given to all man as a measure of faith. That measuring rod is the gospel. 
So Paul is writing to the Christians at Rome to measure themselves according to the gospel, not by any human standard, which tends to lead humans to puffed up views of themselves. It's also important to understand that here Paul is defining the gospel as more than just the death burial and resurrection of Christ, for there is more that we must measure ourselves by than that. The gospel is the entirety of the NT and it is the mirror by which we judge ourselves. 
== Romans 12:4-5 ==
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 
In reasoning logically from the gospel, Christians come to realize that there are many Christians that are all a part of the same organism. Not all of them have the same function, but all the members of the 
organism are required for it to function properly. In that way, all members of the organism are united as a single entity. It is for this reason that Christians should not think more highly of themself than what the gospel teaches them to think. 
Paul addresses this again in 1 Corinthians. His message here stems from the arrogance and focus of the Jews who thought they were better than everyone else. This idea arose because they did not understand their purpose for being called out of the world to be God's chosen people. Many people the world over still do not. The Christians, the new Israel, was being warned not to make the same mistake. 
== Romans 12:6-8 ==
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.' 
Again Paul writes things that are echoed in 1 Cor. and other letters that he writes. God gives different gifts to different people. Whatever God gives to the individual, let that individual use that gift to the utmost without being jealous of the gifts others had been given. All are necessary for the proper functioning of the church. 
Prophecy - those who could speak the message from God being revealed at that time needed to be in control (1 Cor 14 speaks more to this) and not prophesy more than their hearers could endure based on their level of faith. 
The word for proportion is analogos from which we get our word "analogous", which I believe is a more powerful way to view this. The other gifts were similar in point, that they were not to go beyond the gift given to them, but to use the gift without failing and with wisdom,to lift up the body. Note that there are rulers in the church and they are to rule with diligence. Paul addressed this in Acts 20:28f. 
To those who don't think elders have authority in the sense of ruling, you need to address this verse.
== Romans 12:9 ==
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 
The concept of dissimulation is that of insincerity. Their love was to be a sincere love. Then Paul writes parallel to what he writes to the Thessalonians. Abstain/abhor evil in every form. This is a good parallel passage to show that the KJV rendering isn't teaching to abstain from things that even appear to be evil to some (though it is not in reality).
Cling to that which is good. The word cleave is a very powerful word that carries with it the idea of holding onto something as hard as you can and let nothing pull you apart from it. 
== Romans 12:10 ==
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 
Christians are to exhibit the spiritual fruits to all men, but especially to one another. People can identify individuals as Christians by their love, especially by their love for one another. Christians prefer one another in things honorable and just. This isn't just about preferring the company of fellow Christians, though. The 
word preferring comes from a word that has to do with ministering to another, of seeking their highest good, to essentially think of others before yourself. 
== Romans 12:11 ==
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 
Part of that reasonable service is about how the world sees Christians. A person who is slothful in their job is not a good example to those around them who are not Christians and does not open doors to talk about Christ. This idea of fervor of spirit is high energy. When people look at a Christian living as Paul speaks of here, they see a person who is diligent, intense, focused on working as efficiently as possible to accomplish whatever task they are set to accomplish. Through this, others will see Christ, see the love and power in their life and will want to know more. Service to God comes through seeking and saving the lost and setting the example for the rest of the world at the workplace is a large part of that. 
== Romans 12:12-18 ==
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.' 
These things listed are basic parts of Christian service and require no real explanation. Within the context of the current persecution at the hands of the Jews, these things are more poignant to the rest of the context of the letter. Paul was a constant champion of the idea of unity. He wrote often of the unity in mind, of Christians speaking the same thing, of thinking the same thing. This is ONLY possible if we all conform to the gospel, but it is possible. Part of this is throwing off the things of men, the traditions which cannot be supported in scripture. Don't worry about physical riches, about men who seem personally powerful and charismatic. The Christian life is one of humility, honesty, peace, and love.
If one ever reaches the limit of their capacity for peace and feels like they have no choice but to lash out in violence, that person should first tell the other whom they are about to do violence to "I love you" and then see if they still feel like lashing out. 
== Romans 12:19-21 ==
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.' 
Again, we must keep this in the context of who Paul is talking to and about before we draw personal application. The Jews persecuted the Christians. The Jews were on the brink of receiving God's vengeance for that. Paul just got done writing about the Gentiles provoking the Jews to jealousy in a good way, to want what God had taken from the Jews (as a whole) and given to the Gentiles (in large part) through membership in the church, that of being the children of God. His chosen people. To render service to God, the church at Rome was to repay this persecution with kindness, to repay the evil they received at the hands of their Jewish oppressors with only goodness and thereby overcome it. Returning evil for evil only makes one evil. What effect would the Gentile Christians have on their Jewish oppressors if they constantly treated them the way that Paul writes of here? How many more souls did they save before the fall of Jerusalem and Judaism because they carried out this reasonable service to God? 
In Truth and Love.
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Category:Apocalyptic