Tyndale Open Study NotesRomans 12

This section of Romans explains the moral and ethical demands of the gospel. God’s gift of salvation in Christ calls for a response from believers.

God not only forgives sin. He also wants to transform how people live.

Much of what Paul teaches here about the moral duties of believers also appears in his other letters. However, Paul also addresses issues that were especially important for the church in Rome. One key issue was the disagreement between people who were weak in faith and people who were strong in faith(14:1–15:13).

• Your bodies refers to the whole person as they live in the world, not only the physical body.

• on account of God’s mercy: This refers to everything Paul explained in chapters 1–11.

• which is your spiritual service of worship (or which is your reasonable service): This phrase has at least three possible meanings:

  1. Our sacrifices are reasonable considering all of God’s acts of mercy.

  2. Our sacrifices are spiritual, not the offering of an animal but of ourselves in spiritual service.

  3. Our sacrifices are intelligent, offered with full awareness of God’s goodness to us.

this world (literally this age): Many Jewish people understood history as divided into two ages. One age is the present age, marked by sin and death. The other age is the age of salvation, when God puts things right.

Early Christians adopted this way of thinking. They understood the coming of Christ as the beginning of the new age of salvation.

However, the new age did not replace the old age right away. The old way of thinking and living continues. It still tempts believers, even those who want their lives to match the values of the new age.

according to the measure of faith God has given you: This phrase can also be translated by the standard of our God-given faith.

Paul may be referring to the amount of faith God has given to each person. He may also be referring to the shared Christian faith that all believers hold together.

In either case, Christians should judge themselves honestly by this measure. They should not become proud about the abilities God has given them.

so in Christ we who are many are one body: Paul compares the human body to the church, which he calls the body of Christ. He also uses this comparison in 1 Corinthians 12. This picture helps explain both unity and diversity in the church. Many parts belong to one body, and each part has an important role. Ancient writers also used this same comparison to describe how communities work together (compare Livy, History 2.32; Epictetus, Discourses 2.10.4–5).

• The ability to prophesy was one of the most important gifts in the New Testament (see also 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11). Prophets in the book of Acts often predicted the future (see Acts 11:28; 21:10–12). But their main role was to share God's message with Christians (1 Corinthians 12:3, 24–25, 29–30; see also 1 Corinthians 14:1–40).

• in proportion to his faith: The word proportion (Greek analogia) comes from mathematics and logic. It refers to a proper relationship between things, amounts, or ideas.

  Paul uses this phrase to remind prophets to speak in a way that matches faith. This may refer to the amount of faith God has given to the prophet. It may also refer to the shared Christian faith held by all believers (see study note on Romans 12:3).

  This passage later became the basis for the theological phrase the analogy of faith. This phrase means that any one part of Scripture should be understood in a way that agrees with the teaching of all of Scripture.

teaching: The gift of teaching is listed third among the gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:28 and fifth in Ephesians 4:11. Prophets speak to the community with a message they receive directly from God. Teachers, however, instruct the church by carefully studying the word of God and explaining it to others.

give generously: See also 2 Corinthians 8:2; 9:11, 13.

The many instructions in these verses are not arranged in a strict or orderly pattern. The main theme, stated at the beginning, is sincere love.

Paul explains how believers should show love to people inside the church (12:10, 13, 15–16). He also explains how they should show love to people outside the church (12:14, 17–21).

brotherly love: This phrase describes the love that exists within a family. Christians are to love one another with the same care, loyalty, and commitment found in a healthy family.

keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord: This means a deep commitment to God that motivates a person to serve faithfully and actively. Christians should eagerly serve the Lord by caring for and supporting others within the church.

The three commands in this verse are closely connected. When believers rejoice in confident hope, they are able to remain patient during trouble.

Continual prayer is essential for maintaining this attitude when facing the difficulties of life (see also 8:24–27).

Share 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.

The instructions in this verse closely match two teachings of Jesus (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27–28). Paul does not present these commands as direct quotations. However, he is almost certainly referring to the words of Christ.

These teachings may have been so well known that Paul did not need to name their source. Many ideas in Romans 12–13 closely reflect the teaching of Jesus.

• All three instructions in this verse use the Greek word phroneō, which means “to think.” Paul emphasizes the importance of right Christian thinking in relationships with other believers.

• Live in harmony: Literally think the same things. This means to share a common attitude and purpose, not to have identical opinions.

• Do not be conceited: Literally do not think arrogant things. This means not viewing oneself as better than others.

If it is possible on your part: Paul understands that efforts to live at peace with others do not always succeed. Sometimes faithfulness to what is right limits what we can do. At other times, other people may refuse to be reconciled.

A simple act of Christian kindness can often bring a hostile person to repentance before God and restore fellowship between people.