Romans 12

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:

• In Greek:
  • Codex Vaticanus (AD 325–350)
  • Codex Sinaiticus (330–360)
  • Codex Alexandrinus (400–440)
• In Gothic language
  • Codex Carolinus (6th/7th century; extant verses 1–5, 17–21)
• In Latin
  • Codex Carolinus (6th/7th century; extant verses 1–5, 17–21)

• Romans 12:19 = Deuteronomy 32:35
• Romans 12:20 = Proverbs 25:21,22

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.[3]

The first letter of Peter uses a similar expressions:

You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5).

Paul speaks of "reasonable service (worship)", (Greek: τὴν λογικὴν λατρείαν, tēn logikēn latreian) in contrast to the Greek: λατρεια (latreia, worship) which formed part of the Jewish covenant with God (Romans 9:4). Lutheran theologian Johann Albrecht Bengel summarises the contrasts to which Paul refers:

The service [worship], λατρέια, of the Gentiles is unreasonable, ἄλογος, (cf. Romans 1:18–25), the confidence of the Jews is unreasonable, ἄλογος, Romans 2:3), but the Christian considers all things rightly, and collects [infers] his duty from the kindness of a merciful God. The epithet λογικὴν now corresponds to that verb, λογίζεσθαι, which is often used (Romans 3:28, 6:11 and 8:18).[4]

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.[5]

• "Be conformed": translated from Ancient Greek: συσχηματίζεσθε, syschēmatizesthe;[6] "to become like-shaped";[7] same word as 1 Peter 1:14.[8] The verb is based on the Greek noun schema, indicating a "form" that is external rather than internal, which occurs in 1 Corinthians 7:31 ("the fashion of this world") and Philippians 2:8 ("in fashion as a man").[8]
• "To this world": The "world" here is in the sense of "age"[9] Same phrase as in Matthew 12:32; Luke 16:8; 1 Corinthians 1:20; 1 Corinthians 2:6; 1 Corinthians 2:8; 1 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 1:21; 1 Timothy 6:17; 2 Timothy 4:10; Titus 2:12.[8]
• "Be transformed": translated from Greek μεταμορφοῦσθε, metamorphousthe[6] having a root verb metamorphóō (the root of the English terms "metamorphosis" and "metamorphize"; from metá, "change after being with" and morphóō, "changing form in keeping with inner reality") meaning "transformed after being with"; "transfigured",[10] occurring 4 times in the New Testament,[11] including in Matthew 17:2, Mark 9:2 (“was transfigured”, applied to Jesus), this verse, and 2 Corinthians 3:18 (“are changed”).[8]

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.[13]

• "Through the grace given to me": translated from Greek διὰ τῆς χάριτος τῆς δοθείσης μοι, dia tēs charitos tēs dotheisēs moi;[14] "by means of (in virtue of) the divine grace bestowed on me"; which characterizes Paul's apostleship (1 Corinthians 15:10; cf. Romans 15:15; 1 Corinthians 3:10; Ephesians 3:7–8).[7]

so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.[15]

• "In Christ": that is, "by virtue of the union with Christ" (cf. Romans 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17).[8]

These verses form a chiasm, bracketed by lines containing the word "evil" – verse 17a and verse 21. The next layer comprising verses 17b–18 and verse 20, deals with the way to treat non-Christians. The central portion is the prohibition of vengeance.[16]

Part of this verse – "I will repay" or in older translations "vengeance is mine" (Vengeance is mine, and recompense ESV) – is a quotation from Deuteronomy 32:35. Paul's instruction here is not to be vengeful. John Wycliffe and his colleagues translated as "not defending yourselves" (Romans 12:19 WYC)

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.[18]

This verse is a comprehensive summary of Romans 12:19-20, that is, "be not carried away to revenge and retaliation (verse 19) by evil which is committed against you, but overcome the evil by the good which you show to your enemy (verse 20), put to shame by your noble spirit, ceases to act malignantly against you and becomes your friend".[7]