Romans redux (chs. 12-13a)
After concluding the “redemptive historical/theological” part of the letter, Paul now moves to the “so what” or application part for the rest of the letter.
This is what ALL solid theology should be concerned with–helping people conform more and more to a reflection of Jesus. Theology without transformation is lifeless; transformation without theology is mindless. Neither are optional for the true Disciple of Jesus!
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12:1 Therefore I am appealing to you, brothers (and sisters), according to the compassion of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice– living, holy, and pleasing to God– [which is] your reasonable service. 2 And do not conform yourselves to this age, but be transformed by renewal of mind in order for you to [be able to] approve what is the will of God—good, pleasing and perfect.
3 For I am saying, according to the grace given to me, to all of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think sensibly, as God has divide a measure of faith [among] each of you. 4 For just as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 thus we who are many are one body in the Messiah, and as one we are members of one another.
6 And we are having different gifts according to the grace given to us.
If prophecy, [then it’s] according to the proportion of faith.
7 If service, [then it’s] in serving;
if teaching, [then it’s] in teaching;
8 if exhorting, [then it’s] in exhortation;
if giving, [then it’s] in generosity;
if leading, [then it’s] in diligence;
if showing mercy, [then it’s] in gladness.
9 Love [is to be] genuine,
utterly hating evil,
being glued to good,
10 devoted to one another in brotherly love,
competitive in honoring one another,
11 diligent, not idle,
boiling in the Spirit,
being a slave to the Lord,
12 rejoicing in hope,
enduring in tribulation,
being persist in prayer,
13 sharing in the needs of the saints,
pursuing hospitality to strangers,
14 blessing the ones persecuting you—bless and don’t curse!
15 Rejoice with the ones rejoicing,
weep with the ones weeping,
16 having the same mindset towards one another,
not being haughty, but coming alongside the lowly.
Do not be wise according to yourselves,
17 repaying no one evil for evil,
being concerned for good before all people.
18 If possible from you, be at peace with all people,
19 not avenging yourselves, beloved, but leave a place for [God’s] wrath, for it is written,
“Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” (Deut 32:35) says the Lord.
20 But,
“…if your enemy is hungry, give him some morsels;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink;
for in doing this you will heap burning coals on his head.” (Prov 25:21-22)
21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
13:1 Let every soul be subject to the authorities having authority. For there is no authority except by God, and the existing authorities are [ones] that have been put in place by God. 23 (for rulers are no fear regarding good conduct but regarding bad).
Do you wish to not fear authority? Do good and you will have praise from it, 4 for it is God’s servant to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword in vain. It is God’s servant, and avenger wrath to the evildoer. 5 So the one opposing authority has resisted the ordinance of God, and the ones having resisted will recieve judgment upon themselves. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience.
6 For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are public servants of God, attending to this very thing.
7 Repay every debt:
taxes to [whom] taxes [are owed],
revenue to [whom] revenue [is owed],
fear to [whom] fear [is owed],
honor to [whom] honor [is owed].
8 Owe nothing to anyone, except the love of one another, for the one who loving another has fulfilled the law. 9 For,
“You shall not commit adultery,
You shall not murder,
You shall not steal,
You shall not covet,” (Exod 20:13-15, 17; Deut 5:17-19, 21)
(and if [there] is any other commandment) is summed up in this word:
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Lev 19:18)
10 Love does no evil to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of Law.
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