Romans 12:4-8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 12:8

Or he that exhorteth - Ὁ παρακαλων , The person who admonished and reprehended the unruly or disorderly; and who supported the weak and comforted the penitents, and those who were under heaviness through manifold temptations. He that giveth - He who distributeth the alms of the Church, with simplicity - being influenced by no partiality, but dividing to each according to the necessity of his case. He that ruleth - Ὁ προΐσταμενος , He that presides over a particular business;... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 12:4

Verse 4 4.For as in one body, etc. The very thing which he had previously said of limiting the wisdom of each according to the measure of faith, he now confirms by a reference to the vocation of the faithful; for we are called for this end, that we may unite together in one body, since Christ has ordained a fellowship and connection between the faithful similar to that which exists between the members of the human body; and as men could not of themselves come together into such an union, he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 12:6

Verse 6 6.Having gifts, etc. Paul speaks not now simply of cherishing among ourselves brotherly love, but commends humility, which is the best moderator of our whole life. Every one desires to have so much himself, so as not to need any help from others; but the bond of mutual communication is this, that no one has sufficient for himself, but is constrained to borrow from others. I admit, then that the society of the godly cannot exist, except when each one is content with his own measure, and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 12:8

Verse 8 8.Or he who gives, let him do so in simplicity, etc. From the former clauses we have clearly seen, that he teaches us here the legitimate use of God’s gifts. By the μεταδιδούντοις, the givers, of whom he speaks here, he did not understand those who gave of their own property, but the deacons, who presided in dispensing the public charities of the Church; and by the ἐλούντοις, those who showed mercy, he meant the widows, and other ministers, who were appointed to take care of the sick,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 12:3-5

Membership in Christ. The great principles laid down at the outset of this chapter have to be followed out into practice. Paul shows how consecration and renewal are to manifest themselves in actual life, and how the will of God is to be practically proved. In so doing—perhaps because he is writing to a Church, and not to an individual—he first treats of the obligations of social Christianity, and shows how members of a brotherhood ought to act in their association with one another, in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 12:3-8

Diversity and unity in the Church of Christ. The subject of union among the various branches of the Church of Christ is one to which much attention has of late years been turned. The efforts of the Evangelical Alliance have been largely directed to secure a more brotherly relationship and more hearty co-operation between the different denominations of Christians. Some Christians desire an organic union of all sections of the Church, but the passage before us indicates that there may be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 12:3-8

Christian humility. The life of Christian consecration is now set forth in its practical bearings. We have life in the Church, including its attitude towards those that are without ( Romans 12:1-21 .), and life in the state ( Romans 13:1-14 .). The life of members of the Church, as such, is set forth as controlled by two great vital principles: humility, as regards one's self; love, as regards others. Here the grace of humility is insisted on, as regulating each one's thoughts and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 12:4-5

For as in one body we have many members, but all the members have not the same office; so we, the many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another . The illustration of the body with its members to set forth the mutual dependence on each other of the several members of the Church with their several gifts and functions, and the importance of all for the well-being of the whole, is further carried out in 1 Corinthians 12:12 , seq. In Ephesians 1:22 and Ephesians 4:15 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 12:4-8

Churchmanship. Having seen what Christian individualism is meant to be in the preceding verses, we now enter upon the wider relation of Churchmanship. For the apostle is not here speaking of human nature in its social aspects, as we find it so powerfully expounded for us in Bishop Butler's 'Sermons upon Human Nature,' but in its Church aspect, the relation of the individual to the one body which has its organic existence "in Christ." The apostle would have us to believe that we are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 12:6-8

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, according to the proportion of our faith; or ministry, in our ministry; or he that teacheth, in his teaching; or he that exhorteth, in his exhortation; he that giveth, in simplicity; he that ruleth, with (literally, in) diligence; he that showeth mercy, with (literally, in) cheerfulness . The elliptical form of the original has been retained in the above translation, without the words interposed for... read more

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