Romans 12:15-21

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - Romans 12:18

RESENTMENT‘If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.’ Romans 12:18 Not with all Christians, you observe, but with all men. They were to act as leaven in the world, and to bring their Christian influence to bear upon it, until the whole be leavened. I. Christians are not to withdraw themselves altogether from the world, but to mix with it, that ‘others may take knowledge of them’ and see the ‘beauty of holiness’ and the peace and blessedness of Christianity. This... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 12:1-21

A Call To Make Real In The Church And In The World The Righteousness Which They Have Received (12:1-15:33). This section moves from the indicative to the imperative. Having outlined the ways of God in salvation: · in applying to His people the righteousness of Christ (Romans 3:24 to Romans 4:25), · in uniting them with Christ in His death and resurrection (Romans 6:1-11), · in making them righteous within by His Spirit (Romans 8:1-18), · and in having demonstrated God’s sovereign activity in... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 12:9-21

A Call To Fulfil The Law Of Christ And Of The Scriptures. The Working Out Of Love (12:9-21). Having dealt with what was necessary for the edifying and upbuilding of the body of Christ, Paul now turns to what is required of Christians as they live ‘in newness of life’ (Romans 6:3-4). In the terms of chapter 6 we are to be ‘slaves of righteousness’ (Romans 6:18). The injunctions appear in one sense to be a miscellany, but they cover various aspects of daily experience, and they present us with a... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 12:14-18

Commands To Love All (12:14-18). Having looked at the needs of believers, Paul now turns his attention to the need for those who have experienced the mercies of God to demonstrate love towards all men, including, of course, believers. These injunctions commence with the requirement that we love even our enemies who persecute us (Romans 12:14), and they end with the need to be seen as honourable in the sight of ‘all men’, and with a desire that believers might be at peace with ‘all men’. They... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 12:15

‘Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.’ The Christian should be an expert at getting alongside people in order to share with them their joys and sorrows. Thus he will share in people’s rejoicing, and will feel for the miserable in their misery. This is not an excuse for revelling, even though it was common practise to share in people’s joys by feasting with them. It is rather expressing the importance of entering into people’s feelings, whether cheerful or otherwise. The... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 12:16

‘Be of the same mind one towards another. Do not set your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Do not be wise-minded in your own conceits.’ These three injunctions place great emphasis on how we ‘think in our minds’. They describe an attitude of mind permanently taken up. The first is positive, the second negative then positive, the third negative, describing how we should think, and how we should not think. They would appear mainly to have behaviour within the... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 12:17-18

‘Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honourable in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as in you lies, be at peace with all men.’ We might summarise these injunctions as ‘seek to get on with people’. The first warns against retaliation. The second requires that we genuinely reveal ourselves as being honourable. The third calls on us to be at peace with all. ‘Render to no man evil for evil.’ The warning here is against retaliation (compare Colossians 3:13).... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 12:19

‘Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath (of God), for it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me, I will recompense, says the Lord.’ Paul advises the Christians in Rome, on the basis of Scripture, that they should leave vengeance in the hands of God, Who will surely recompense men for wrongdoing because He is the righteous Judge. They are not to avenge themselves, but to give place to ‘the wrath’. This is presumably the wrath mentioned in Romans 1:18 and is not therefore... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 12:20

“But if your enemy hungers, feed him, if he thirsts, give him to drink, for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” These words are based on Proverbs 25:21-22, and the first part is certainly indicative of the kind of response urged by Jesus towards our enemies. The idea is that we should not only give hospitality to those who love us, but also to those who hate us, and the thought is probably intended to be interpreted more widely as signifying that we should always do good in... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 12:21

‘Do not become overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’ If a Christian responds to evil by doing evil, he has been ‘overcome by evil’. It has brought him down to the level of the other person. He has been defeated. But if he responds by doing good then he overcomes evil. And not only does he then triumph over evil, he might also triumph over his enemy by bringing him to repentance. There are few who, having a kindness shown to them, do not respond by being ashamed. read more

Grupo de Marcas