Keraia
Romans 12

Romans 12:1

Living Sacrifices · Romans 12:1–8
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Translations

Modern
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
Traditional
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Literal
Therefore I exhort you, brothers, through the compassions of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy to God, well-pleasing, which is your reasonable service.
Latin
Obsecro itaque vos fratres per misericordiam Dei, ut exhibeatis corpora vestra hostiam viventem, sanctam, Deo placentem, rationabile obsequium vestrum.

Original

Greek
English
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Notes

Romans 12:1

  • 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.

Romans 12:1–15:13

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).

Parallels

1 Corinthians 3:16–23 1 Corinthians 6:18–20

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Biblical Concept of Law Body Consecration Letter to the Romans Peter, First Letter of Priesthood Sanctification Spiritual Gifts

Topics

Actions Becoming More Like Christ Being Healthy Being Like the World Being Perfect Being Set Apart Braided Hair Breaking Bad Habits Change Chewing Tobacco Cleaning Up your Life Coarse Joking Commandments: Precepts of Paul--Explicitly Stated or Implied in Didactic Epistles Commitment Commitment to Excellence Commitment to God Consciousness After Death Consecration: Personal Death to Self Determination Devotedness to God: Grounded Upon: The Mercies of God Devotedness to God: should Be with Our Bodies Devotion to God Dying to Self Exercise Eyes on the Things Above False Brethren God's Will Godliness Godly Living Healthy Eating Healthy Lifestyle Holiness: Commanded Holiness: General Scriptures Concerning Holiness: Motives to The Mercies of God Holiness: Saints: should Present Their Bodies to God In How we Dress How we Should Live Humanism Jealousy