New Living Translation
Romans 12:8
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 12:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
- New International Version (NIV)if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
- English Standard Version (ESV)the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
- New King James Version (NKJV)he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Context of Romans 12:8
6In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If 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. 9Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
Read all of Romans 12Romans 12:8 word by word
εἴτε ὁ παρακαλῶν ἐν τῇ παρακλήσει, ὁ μεταδιδοὺς ἐν ἁπλότητι, ὁ προϊστάμενος ἐν σπουδῇ, ὁ ἐλεῶν ἐν ἱλαρότητι.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Orεἴτεeite · whetherG1535
- he that exhortethὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- he that exhortethπαρακαλέωparakaleō · to plead/comfortG3870
- onἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- exhortationπαράκλησιςparaklēsis · encouragementG3874
- he that givethμεταδίδωμιmetadidōmi · to shareG3330
- simplicityἁπλότηςhaplotēs · opennessG572
- he that rulethπροΐστημιproistēmi · to set beforeG4291
- diligenceσπουδήspoudē · diligenceG4710
- he that sheweth mercyἐλεέωeleeō · to have mercyG1653
- cheerfulnessἱλαρότηςhilarotēs · cheerfulnessG2432
Cross-references for Romans 12:8
- Acts 13:15After the usual readings from the books of Moses and the prophets, those in charge of the service sent them this message: “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, come and give it.”
- Acts 15:32Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets, spoke at length to the believers, encouraging and strengthening their faith.
- Acts 20:2While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece,
- 1 Corinthians 14:3But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:3So you can see we were not preaching with any deceit or impure motives or trickery.
- 1 Timothy 4:13Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.
- Hebrews 10:25And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
- Hebrews 13:22I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, to pay attention to what I have written in this brief exhortation.
- Romans 12:13When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
- Deuteronomy 15:8Instead, be generous and lend them whatever they need.
- Job 31:16“Have I refused to help the poor, or crushed the hopes of widows?
- Psalms 112:9They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor.
- Proverbs 22:9Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.
- Ecclesiastes 11:1Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you.
- Isaiah 32:5In that day ungodly fools will not be heroes. Scoundrels will not be respected.
- Isaiah 58:7Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.
Commentaries on Romans 12:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Or he that exhorteth - ̔ , The person who admonished and reprehended the unruly or disorderly; and who supported the weak and comforted the penitents, and those who were under heaviness through manifold temptations. He that giveth - He who distributeth the alms of the Church, with simplicity - being influenced by no partiality, but dividing to each according to the necessity of his case. He that ruleth - ̔ ̈́, He that presides over a particular business…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8He that exhorteth - This word properly denotes one who urges to the practical duties of religion, in distinction from one who teaches its doctrines. One who presents the warnings and the promises of God to excite men to the discharge of their duty. It is clear that there were persons who were recognised as engaging especially in this duty, and who were known by this appellation, as distinguished from prophets and teachers. How long this was continued…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3-8Verses 3-8 Pride is a sin in us by nature; we need to be cautioned and armed against it. All the saints make up one body in Christ, who is the Head of the body, and the common Centre of their unity. In the spiritual body, some are fitted for and called to one sort of work; others for another sort of work. We are to do all the good we can, one to another, and for the common benefit. If we duly thought about the powers we have, and how far we fail properly…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8give generously: See also 2 Corinthians 8:2; 9:11, 13.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-86-8. Having then gifts differing according to the grace given to us--Here, let it be observed, all the gifts of believers alike are viewed as communications of mere grace. whether--we have the gift of prophecy--that is, of inspired teaching (as in Ac 15:32). Anyone speaking with divine authority--whether with reference to the past, the present, or the future--was termed a prophet (Ex 7:1). let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith--rather, "of…Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 12:8
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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