The Bible — World English Bible

Romans 12

In brief

Romans 12 marks a turning point: after eleven chapters on what God has done in Christ, Paul says therefore: offer him your whole life. The believer refuses to be shaped by the world and lets himself be transformed from within. He holds his place with humility in the body of Christ, exercising his gifts. He loves without hypocrisy, shares, blesses those who hurt him and refuses vengeance. The chapter ends on a simple principle: do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The chapter in 5 parts

  1. v. 1-2Offer your life to God and be transformed
  2. v. 3-8One body, different gifts
  3. v. 9-13Love without hypocrisy
  4. v. 14-16Bless, share joy and tears, stay humble
  5. v. 17-21Do not repay evil for evil

1Therefore 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.

2Don’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.

3For I say through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.

4For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don’t have the same function,

5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another,

6having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us: if prophecy, let’s prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;

7or service, let’s give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching;

8or 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.

9Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good.

10In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another;

11not lagging in diligence; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

12rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer;

13contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality.

14Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse.

15Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.

16Be 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.

17Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men.

18If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.

19Don’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.”

20Therefore “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.”

21Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Key verses

Verse 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.

Paul calls for consecration that touches the body, the concrete daily life. The motive is not fear but the compassions of God already received. Worship is not limited to a Sunday moment.

Verse 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.

Two movements oppose each other: letting yourself be molded by ambient mentality, or being transformed by the renewal of your mind. The goal is to discern God's will, which means your thinking changes little by little.

Verse 4-5
For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don’t have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another,

The image of the body reminds you that no one is useless or self-sufficient. Each believer has a function, and all are members of one another. The humility of verse 3 and the unity of these verses go together.

Verse 18
If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.

Paul remains realistic: peace depends also on the other, but he asks each one to do his part, as much as possible. Living in peace does not mean accepting everything.

Verse 21
Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The chapter closes with instruction for difficult relationships. To answer evil with evil is already to be overcome. To answer with good is a victory.

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What the sermons say

Don't Be Shaped by the World: Influence It Without Losing YourselfSamuel Mabboux preaches on verse 2. The word 'conformed' means 'shaped': he invites you to refuse that the world becomes the mold of your thoughts and to stay salt and light where God placed you.Read the summary →Discerning the Will of God According to Romans 12:2Matthieu Gérault offers no recipe to know God's will, but a path: seek the Lord with all your heart, obey rather than negotiate and let the Spirit renew your thinking day by day.Read the summary →In Communion: We Need One AnotherMélanie Ehrismann starts with the image of the body to speak of unity. Each member is indispensable, no gift is without importance and the body works only if each accepts his place and that of the other.Read the summary →Your Uniqueness: A Gift of Christ to His ChurchStéphane Guillet turns the question around: rather than the gift you have, ask yourself what gift you are to the Church. Your uniqueness is not an obstacle to unity; it is part of it.Read the summary →Forgiveness Isn't Excusing: Three Steps to Set You FreeThe preacher distinguishes forgiveness from excuse, from forgetting and from reconciliation. Forgiveness can be given without resuming the relationship, which sheds light on how not to repay evil for evil.Read the summary →

Frequently asked questions about Romans 12

What does Romans 12:2 mean?

This verse asks you not to let yourself be shaped by the spirit of the present age, but to be transformed by the renewal of your mind. It is not about cutting yourself off from the world: transformation begins in the way you think. This is how the believer learns to discern what is good, pleasing and perfect in God's eyes.

What does it mean to offer your body as a living sacrifice?

In verse 1, Paul speaks of a life entirely given to God, day by day, as opposed to animal sacrifices that died. Your body means the concrete person: your time, your work, your relationships, your choices. Paul calls this reasonable worship, a sensible response to God's compassions.

What is the message of Romans 12?

The chapter shows what a life given to God looks like: a renewed mind, a humble and active place in the Church, sincere love, kindness to all, even those who hurt you. It sums up in the last verse: overcome evil with good.

Articles quoting Romans 12

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World English Bible translation — public domain.