Romans 12:21

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 12:21

Victory that blesses both the conqueror and the conquered. No chapter in the Bible is richer and more benign than this in practical exhortation. It breathes the spirit of the sermon on the mount, and the apostolic teaching has the advantage of the illustration and commentary furnished by the beneficent life and self-sacrificing death of the great Preacher. I. THE MOMENTOUS CONFLICT . "Be not overcome of evil." A man has been wronged by his neighbour. The feeling of injury begets... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Romans 12:21

Be not overcome of evil - Be not “vanquished” or “subdued” by injury received from others. Do not suffer your temper to be excited; your Christian principles to be abandoned; your mild, amiable, kind, and benevolent temper to be ruffled by any opposition or injury which you may experience. Maintain your Christian principles amidst all opposition, and thus show the power of the gospel. They are overcome by evil who suffer their temper to be excited, who become enraged and revengeful and who... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Romans 12:21

Romans 12:21. Be not overcome of evil As all are who avenge themselves; but Even if you see no present fruit, yet persevere; and overcome evil with good Conquer your enemies with kindness and patience, which is the most glorious victory, and a victory which may certainly be obtained, if you have the courage to adhere to that which, being good, is always in its own nature, on the whole, invincible, to whatever present disadvantage it may seem obnoxious. Blackwall, after having praised... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Romans 12:1-21

12:1-15:13 CHRISTIAN FAITH IN PRACTICEResponsibilities and relationships (12:1-21)For eleven chapters Paul has been explaining what God in his mercy has done, and will yet do, for repentant sinners. Now he reminds those who have experienced this mercy that the most fitting act of worship by which they can show their thanks is to offer themselves as living sacrifices to God. No longer are they to think and act like non-Christians. Their minds must be changed so that they see issues from a... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Romans 12:21

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.Here appears the real reason for extending kindness to enemies. If the child of God should retaliate in kind for all acts of enmity against himself, he would shortly find himself engaging in all kinds of shameful and wicked conduct. To prevent such an unwholesome development, the servant of the Lord must launch a counter-attack, returning good for evil, and deploying good actions against the evil actions of the enemy.Here in Romans 12:21 is... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Romans 12:21

21. Be not overcome of evil—for then you are the conquered party. but overcome evil with good—and then the victory is yours; you have subdued your enemy in the noblest sense. Note, (1) The redeeming mercy of God in Christ is, in the souls of believers, the living spring of all holy obedience ( :-). (2) As redemption under the Gospel is not by irrational victims, as under the law, but "by the precious blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1:18; 1 Peter 1:19), and, consequently, is not ritual but real, so... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Romans 12:3-21

B. Conduct within the church 12:3-21Every Christian has the same duty toward God, namely, dedication (Romans 12:1-2). Nevertheless the will of God for one Christian will differ from His will for another concerning life and ministry within the body of Christ (Romans 12:3-21). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Romans 12:9-21

2. The necessity of love 12:9-21Romans 12:9-13 deal with the importance of demonstrating love to fellow believers, and Romans 12:14-21 broaden this responsibility to include wider application to non-believers. Note the similarity with Jesus’ instructions in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)."From the thought of humility the idea of love naturally follows, for humility will necessarily express itself in affection for those around." [Note: Griffith Thomas, St. Paul’s Epistle . . ., p. 337.]... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Romans 12:21

Paul again concluded with a summary. Being overcome by evil means giving in to the temptation to pay back evil for evil. When people do wrong, they expect to receive evil from those they have wronged. When they receive kindness instead, their hard hearts often become softer. The best way to get rid of an enemy is to turn him or her into a friend. [Note: Bruce, p. 218.] There is a progression in Romans 12:9-21. Paul moved from the Christian’s duty to his fellow believers to action that would... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 12:1-21

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

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