Living sacrifices, one body, many gifts
(Parallel teachings: 1 Peter 2:4-10; 1 Corinthians 12:4-27; Ephesians 4:1-16)
- 1 Therefore, brothers, through the compassions of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God as your genuinely thoughtful and rationalfn“genuinely thoughtful and rational” is one word in Greek. It comes from the root “λόγος” (logos), which is also the root of our English word “logic”. It has the connotation of engaging in rational, deliberate, and careful thought, and in this context about “service of worship”, it contrasts with worship that is based on emotional highs or rote external rituals. It also has the nuance of being genuine. service of worship.
- 2 And don’t be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of [your] mind, for you to prove by testing what is the good, and pleasing, and perfect will of God.
- 3 For through the grace given to me, I tell every man among you not to be overly proud beyond what is proper to think, but to think in order to be sober-minded as God distributed a measure of faith to each.
- 4 For just as we have many parts in one body, but all the parts don’t have the same function,
- 5 in this way, we are the many parts of one body in the Anointed, and individually parts of one another,
- 6 but having different gifts of grace in accordance with the grace given to us. If prophecy, in proportion to faith;
- 7 if service, in serving; or the man teaching in teaching,
- 8 or the man encouraging in encouragement, the man giving in generosity, the man leading with diligent zeal, and the man showing mercy with cheerfulness.
Proper conduct
(Parallel teachings: Matthew 5:38-48; Luke 6:27-36; 1 Peter 3:8-12)
(Thematic parallels: Luke 23:33-34; Genesis 50:15-21; Acts 7:58-60)
- 9 Let ^love be without hypocrisy, abhorring evil, adhering to good.
- 10 Be tenderly devoted to one another in brotherly love, preferring one another in honor,
- 11 not slothful in diligent zeal, being fervent in spirit, serving the Lord,
- 12 rejoicing in hope, enduring in tribulation, constantly persevering in prayer,
- 13 contributing to the needs of the holy ones, and pursuing hospitality.
- 14 Bless the men persecuting [you]; bless and don’t curse.
- 15 You are to rejoice with those rejoicing, to weep with those weeping,
- 16 setting your mind on the same thing toward one another, not setting your mind on haughty things, but associating with humble men. Don’t become wise in your own estimation,fnquotation/allusion to Proverbs 3:7 and Isaiah 5:21
- 17 repaying evil for evil to no one, but planning ahead for good in the sight of all men.
- 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, living in peace with all men,
- 19 not avenging yourselves, beloved, but leavefn“leave” is literally “give” a place for God’s wrath. For it’s *written: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay“fnquotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 32:35 (also quoted/alluded to by Heb 10:30); see also possibly Proverbs 24:29 says the Lord.
- 20 But:
- “If your enemy hungers, feed him.
- If he thirsts, give him a drink.
- For by doing this, you will heap fiery coals on his head.”fnquotation/allusion to Proverbs 25:21-22
- 21 Don’t be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.