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Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 12:9-21

A Call To Fulfil The Law Of Christ And Of The Scriptures. The Working Out Of Love (12:9-21). Having dealt with what was necessary for the edifying and upbuilding of the body of Christ, Paul now turns to what is required of Christians as they live ‘in newness of life’ (Romans 6:3-4). In the terms of chapter 6 we are to be ‘slaves of righteousness’ (Romans 6:18). The injunctions appear in one sense to be a miscellany, but they cover various aspects of daily experience, and they present us with a... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 12:21

‘Do not become overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’ If a Christian responds to evil by doing evil, he has been ‘overcome by evil’. It has brought him down to the level of the other person. He has been defeated. But if he responds by doing good then he overcomes evil. And not only does he then triumph over evil, he might also triumph over his enemy by bringing him to repentance. There are few who, having a kindness shown to them, do not respond by being ashamed. read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 12:3-21

Romans 12:3-Ecclesiastes : . In the Christian Temper, modesty is the first desideratum. Romans 12:3 . “ I tell everyone that is among you not to be high-minded above a right mind, but to be of a mind to be sober-minded” (Sp.). This is the “ mind” as temper, disposition (so in Romans 8:5-Judges :), not as intellect ( Romans 12:2). A modest temper comes from appreciating other men’ s gifts. “ Measure of faith,” as the sequel shows, means faith in the variety of its apportioned... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Romans 12:21

This verse is a Divine aphorism: therein the apostle anticipates an objection. Some might be ready to say, If we should follow this advice we should be counted cowards and dastards, &c. To this he answers, that it is the ready way to be triumphers and conquerors. By evil, here, he means, the wrongs and injuries of men; and to be overcome of evil, is to be moved and provoked thereby to impatience or malice. When it is thus with a man, he is overcome, or conquered: in revenge of injuries, he... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Romans 12:20-21

CRITICAL NOTESRomans 12:20.—Here are figurative expressions for the general duties of benevolence.Romans 12:21.—He is conquered by evil who wishes another to sin. He has sinned himself who strives to make another sin. Love is the conqueror. We cannot always tell where it prevails. If it do not seem to succeed in this world, it shall triumph in the world to come. How the early Church triumphed! Justin Martyr says: “That we who have given our names to Jesus do not draw back our profession while... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - Romans 12:21

Romans 12:21 Retaliation. I. We must read this verse first in direct contrast with the prohibition, " Be not overcome of evil." The immediate subject of both is that of injuries and their treatment. As to be overcome of evil is to let evil master us, so that it shall subdue and lead captive, instead of merely oppressing and overwhelming us; so to overcome that evil with good is to bring into conflict with injury, not anger, not sullenness, not revenge, but the very opposites and contraries of... read more

Charles Simeon

Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae - Romans 12:21

DISCOURSE: 1910OVERCOMING EVIL WITH GOODRomans 12:21. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.THE writings of the Old Testament exhibit a system of morals incomparably superior to any that was ever promulgated by the wisest philosophers. In extent it equals the New Testament. It is quite a mistake to say that our Lord inculcated sublimer morals than ever had been revealed before: he only removed the false glosses by which the commands of God had been obscured, and enforced the... read more

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - Romans 12:1-21

Chapter 12I beseech you therefore, brethren ( Romans 12:1 ),Because God has grafted you in, because you are partaking of the fullness of that good tree. I beseech thee, because of these things,that ye present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service ( Romans 12:1 ).God does not and has not made demands upon us. The gospel is reasonable. God said, "Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord" ( Isaiah 1:18 ).Now, of course, existential... read more

Joseph Sutcliffe

Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments - Romans 12:1-21

Romans 12:1 . I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God. Under the form of entreaty he now tenderly exhorts them, in return for all the glory of redeeming love, to present their bodies to God, in chastity and in temperance, as temples of the Most High. Herodotus, the Greek priest, confesses that in the festival of Venus, the better sort of folks presented themselves to pay their respects to the goddess, while the lower sort indulged in crimes that cannot be named. Romans... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - Romans 12:19-21

Romans 12:19-21Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath. Avenge not yourselvesThe prohibition urged by such considerations as--1. Our own peace and happiness. There is nothing so wretched as the harassing disquietudes of angry and revengeful passions. The spirit of revenge is like the shelving rocks in the bottom of the deep, which cause the waters to boil in the foaming whirlpool--the spirit of forgiveness and love keeps the soul “Calm and unruffled as a summer sea.”2.... read more

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