Bible Gateway passage: Romans 12 - New International Version (2024)

A Living Sacrifice

12Therefore, I urge you,^(A) brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,^(B) holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ²Do not conform^(C) to the pattern of this world,^(D) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.^(E) Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is^(F)—his good, pleasing^(G) and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

³For by the grace given me^(H) I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,^{(I) 5}so in Christ we, though many, form one body,^(J) and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶We have different gifts,^(K) according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying,^(L) then prophesy in accordance with your^[a] faith;^{(M) 7}if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;^{(N) 8}if it is to encourage, then give encouragement;^(O) if it is giving, then give generously;^(P) if it is to lead,^[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love in Action

⁹Love must be sincere.^(Q) Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.^{(R) 10}Be devoted to one another in love.^(S) Honor one another above yourselves.^{(T) 11}Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,^(U) serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope,^(V) patient in affliction,^(W) faithful in prayer.^{(X) 13}Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.^(Y) Practice hospitality.^(Z)

¹⁴Bless those who persecute you;^(AA) bless and do not curse. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.^{(AB) 16}Live in harmony with one another.^(AC) Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^[c] Do not be conceited.^(AD)

¹⁷Do not repay anyone evil for evil.^(AE) Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.^{(AF) 18}If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.^{(AG) 19}Do not take revenge,^(AH) my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^[d](AI) says the Lord. ²⁰On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”^[e](AJ)

²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Footnotes

1. Romans 12:6 Or the
2. Romans 12:8 Or to provide for others
3. Romans 12:16 Or willing to do menial work
4. Romans 12:19 Deut. 32:35
5. Romans 12:20 Prov. 25:21,22

Cross references

1. Romans 12:1 : Eph 4:1; 1Pe 2:11
2. Romans 12:1 : Ro 6:13, 16, 19; 1Co 6:20; 1Pe 2:5
3. Romans 12:2 : 1Pe 1:14
4. Romans 12:2 : 1Co 1:20; 2Co 10:2; 1Jn 2:15
5. Romans 12:2 : Eph 4:23
6. Romans 12:2 : S Eph 5:17
7. Romans 12:2 : S 1Ti 5:4
8. Romans 12:3 : Ro 15:15; 1Co 15:10; Gal 2:9; Eph 3:7; 4:7; 1Pe 4:10, 11
9. Romans 12:4 : 1Co 12:12-14; Eph 4:16
10. Romans 12:5 : 1Co 6:15; 10:17; 12:12, 20, 27; Eph 2:16; 4:4, 25; 5:30; Col 3:15
11. Romans 12:6 : 1Co 7:7; 12:4, 8-10
12. Romans 12:6 : S Eph 4:11
13. Romans 12:6 : 1Pe 4:10, 11
14. Romans 12:7 : S Eph 4:11
15. Romans 12:8 : Ac 11:23; 13:15; 15:32
16. Romans 12:8 : 2Co 8:2; 9:5-13
17. Romans 12:9 : 2Co 6:6; 1Ti 1:5
18. Romans 12:9 : Ps 97:10; Am 5:15; 1Th 5:21, 22
19. Romans 12:10 : Ps 133:1; 1Th 4:9; Heb 13:1; 1Pe 1:22
20. Romans 12:10 : Php 2:3
21. Romans 12:11 : Ac 18:25
22. Romans 12:12 : Ro 5:2
23. Romans 12:12 : Heb 10:32, 36
24. Romans 12:12 : S Lk 18:1
25. Romans 12:13 : S Ac 24:17
26. Romans 12:13 : 2Ki 4:10; Job 31:32; 1Ti 3:2; 5:10; Heb 13:2; 1Pe 4:9
27. Romans 12:14 : S Mt 5:44
28. Romans 12:15 : Job 30:25
29. Romans 12:16 : S Ro 15:5
30. Romans 12:16 : ver 3; Ps 131:1; Isa 5:21; Jer 45:5; Ro 11:25
31. Romans 12:17 : ver 19; Pr 20:22; 24:29
32. Romans 12:17 : 2Co 8:21
33. Romans 12:18 : S Mk 9:50; S Ro 14:19
34. Romans 12:19 : ver 17; Lev 19:18; Pr 20:22; 24:29
35. Romans 12:19 : Dt 32:35; Ge 50:19; 1Sa 26:10; Ps 94:1; Jer 51:36
36. Romans 12:20 : Pr 25:21, 22; Ex 23:4; Mt 5:44; Lk 6:27