New Living Translation
Romans 12:13
13When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
Romans 12:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
- New International Version (NIV)Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
- New King James Version (NKJV)distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
Context of Romans 12:13
11Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. 14Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.
Read all of Romans 12Romans 12:13 word by word
ταῖς χρείαις τῶν ἁγίων κοινωνοῦντες, τὴν φιλοξενίαν διώκοντες·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Romans 12:13
- Romans 12:8If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
- Romans 15:25But before I come, I must go to Jerusalem to take a gift to the believers there.
- Psalms 41:1Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.
- Acts 4:35and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.
- Acts 9:36There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor.
- Acts 10:4Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel. And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering!
- Acts 20:34You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me.
- 1 Corinthians 16:1Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia.
- 2 Corinthians 8:1Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia.
- 2 Corinthians 9:1I really don’t need to write to you about this ministry of giving for the believers in Jerusalem.
- Galatians 6:10Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
- Philemon 1:7Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.
- Hebrews 6:10For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.
- Hebrews 13:16And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.
- 1 John 3:17If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?
- Genesis 18:2He looked up and noticed three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran to meet them and welcomed them, bowing low to the ground.
Commentaries on Romans 12:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Distributing to the necessity of saints - Relieve your poor brethren according to the power which God has given you. Do good unto all men, but especially to them which are of the household of faith. Instead of , necessities, some ancient MSS. have , memorials; distributing to the memorials of the saints, which some interpret as referring to saints that were absent; as if he had said: Do not forget those in other Churches who have a claim on your bounty…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Distributing - The word used here denotes having things in “common” ͂ koinōnountesIt means that they should be communicative, or should regard their property as so far common as to supply the needs of others. In the earliest times of the church, Christians had all things in common (Notes, Acts 2:44), and felt themselves bound to meet all the needs of their brethren. One of the most striking effects of Christianity was to loosen their grasp on property…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-16Verses 9-16 The professed love of Christians to each other should be sincere, free from deceit, and unmeaning and deceitful compliments. Depending on Divine grace, they must detest and dread all evil, and love and delight in whatever is kind and useful. We must not only do that which is good, but we must cleave to it. All our duty towards one another is summed up in one word, love. This denotes the love of parents to their children; which is more tender…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13Share with the saints who are in need: The verb Paul uses is related to the Greek word koinōnia, which means “sharing” or “fellowship.” When fellow believers have needs, Christians should do more than give material help. They should also share life together, showing care, relationship, and mutual support that go beyond gifts alone.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. given to hospitality--that is, the entertainment of strangers. In times of persecution, and before the general institution of houses of entertainment, the importance of this precept would be at once felt. In the East, where such houses are still rare, this duty is regarded as of the most sacred character [Hodge].Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 12:13
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Romans 12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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