12:11 spirit (b-8) Or 'by the Spirit.' See Note at ch. 8.9. serving (c-10) The word means 'to serve as a bondman' douleuo . It is different from the words used for service in ver. 1 (which is from latreuo ), and for service in ver. 7 (which is from diakoneo ). See 1 Corinthians 4:1 . read more
The Conseceated Life. The Law of LoveThe doctrinal part of the Epistle being finished, St. Paul now turns to practical exhortation. God’s mercy, shown in the gospel set forth in the previous chapters, calls for the sacrifice of ourselves to do His will (Romans 12:1-2), by the humble and devoted use of God’s spiritual gifts (Romans 12:3-8), and in love (Romans 12:9-21).1-21. Paraphrase. ’(1) God’s redeeming love should be answered by the true sacrifice and spiritual ritual service of a life of... read more
(9-21) Now follow to the end of the chapter a number of general exhortations, not addressed to particular persons or classes, but to the Church at large. read more
(11) In business.—Rather, in zeal; the reference is to the spiritual and not to the practical life, as the English reader might suppose.Fervent.—In the literal and etymological sense boiling or seething. The temperament of the Christian is compared to water bubbling and boiling over the flame.In spirit—i.e., not “in the Holy Spirit,” but “in that part of you which is spirit.”Serving the Lord.—Some of the extant Græco-Latin codices, and others known to Origen and Jerome, read here by a slight... read more
The Living Sacrifice Romans 12:1 I. The Sacrifice God Requires. 'That ye present your bodies.' Our bodies, that is, the life of our bodies; for if we give our bodies as an offering, we give all that belongs to the body. The sacrifice God requires is that of the life. He demands a life devoted to Him. (a) The life may be given to business, but this must be given to Him, and so the employment of our hands and minds made holy. (b) The life may be given to science, but it must not be a... read more
Chapter 26CHRISTIAN DUTY: DETAILS OF PERSONAL CONDUCTRomans 12:8-21ST. PAUL has set before us the life of surrender, of the "giving over" of faculty to God, in one great preliminary aspect. The fair ideal (meant always for a watchful and hopeful realisation) has been held aloft. It is a life whose motive is the Lord’s "compassions"; whose law of freedom is His will; whose inmost aim is, without envy or interference towards our fellow servants, to "finish the work He hath given us to do." Now... read more
III. EXHORTATIONS AND THE CONCLUSION. Chapters 12-16. CHAPTER 12 1. The Body as a Willing Sacrifice. (Romans 12:1-2 .) 2. Service. (Romans 12:3-8 .) 3. The Daily Walk in Holiness. (Romans 12:9-21 .) Romans 12:1-2 . Grace calls for obedience. After God has made known the riches of His grace, the fulness of the Gospel, His Spirit shows how believers should walk in a world of sin and tribulation. The first thing is to present the body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. This... read more
12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; {r} serving the Lord;(r) This verse is well put, for it makes a distinction between Christian duties, and philosophical duties. read more
Practical Response in Believers Now Paul has completed his treatment of the subject of God's counsel in reference to salvation - counsel accomplished by a hand of mercy. What then is to be the proper effect of these upon His saints? The last five chapters give us the conduct that mercy, rightly valued, produces. Thus it is in its true place - coming after salvation, not before. It is unspeakably blessed to mark how this is introduced. The peremptory demand of law - "Thou shalt" - has no... read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Romans 12:11
It is natural for Christians to slack off in our diligence in serving the Lord when we have been Christians for some time. Apollos was a model of someone who maintained fervent diligence in his service (Acts 18:24-25; cf. Revelation 3:15-16), as was Paul. read more