Romans 12

A Living Sacrifice

¹Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.²³Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.⁴

Many Gifts but One Body

⁵For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.⁶⁷Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function,⁸⁹in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.¹⁰¹¹According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith;¹²¹³if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching;¹⁴¹⁵if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.¹⁶

Christian Ethics

¹⁷Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good.¹⁸¹⁹Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another.²⁰²¹Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord.²²²³Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.²⁴²⁵Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.²⁶²⁷Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.²⁸²⁹Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.³⁰³¹Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.³²³³Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes.³⁴³⁵If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.³⁶³⁷Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.³⁸³⁹But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.⁴⁰

⁴¹Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.⁴²