1 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.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

1I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that yee present your bodies a liuing sacrifice, holy, acceptable vnto God, which is your reasonable seruice.

2And bee not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renuing of your minde, that ye may proue what is that good, that acceptable and perfect will of God.

3For I say, through the grace giuen vnto mee, to euery man that is among you, not to thinke of himselfe more highly then hee ought to thinke, but to thinke soberly, according as God hath dealt to euery man the measure of faith.

4For as we haue many members in one body, and all members haue not the same office:

5So we being many are one bodie in Christ, and euery one members one of another.

6Hauing then gifts, differing according to the grace that is giuen to vs, whether prophecie, let vs prophecie according to the proportion of faith.

7Or ministery, let vs wait, on our ministring: or hee that teacheth, on teaching:

8Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giueth, let him doe it with simplicitie: hee that ruleth, with diligence: hee that sheweth mercy, with cheerefulnesse.

9Let loue bee without dissimulation: abhorre that which is euill, cleaue to that which is good.

10Bee kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly loue, in honour preferring one another.

11Not slouthfull in busines: feruent in spirit, seruing the Lord.

12Reioycing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer.

13Distributing to the necessitie of Saints; giuen to hospitalitie.

14Blesse them which persecute you, blesse, and curse not.

15Reioyce with them that doe reioice, and weepe with them that weepe.

16Be of the same mind one towards another. Minde not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Bee not wise in your owne conceits.

17Recompence to no man euill for euill. Prouide things honest in the sight of all men.

18If it be possible, as much as lyeth in you, liue peaceably with all men.

19Dearely beloued, auenge not your selues, but rather giue place vnto wrath: for it is written, Uengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.

20Therefore if thine enemie hunger, feed him: if he thirst, giue him drink. For in so doing thou shalt heape coales of fire on his head.

21Be not ouercome of euill, but ouercome euill with good.

 

1 I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. 2 Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. 3 For by the grace given to me I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than one ought to think, but to think soberly, each according to the measure of faith that God has apportioned. 4 For as in one body we have many parts, and all the parts do not have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually parts of one another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: if prophecy, in proportion to the faith; 7 if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching; 8 if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. 11 Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute (you), bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly; do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil; be concerned for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If possible, on your part, live at peace with all. 19 Beloved, do not look for revenge but leave room for the wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."20 Rather, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head." 21 Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good.

Chapters 12 and 13 are written to show Christians how to live.
v1.  Therefore - in view of everything said in the first eleven chapters. 1-3, Man’s depravity; 4,5,Justification by grace; 6-8,Sanctification; 9-11,God’s sovereignty.
v1,2.  Present ourselves first. Place ourselves at Gods disposal.  God prefers obedience than sacrifice of blood or possessions. This is not unreasonable. The easy way is to conform to the patterns of the world, flow into it as jello in a mold. But we are to go against the current and be transformed, a metamorphosis, by our new outlook as Christians. By this we can see and do what is pleasing to God. We do the presenting, God does the transforming.
v3.  Pride a stumbling stone even to those who are “proud of their humility”. How much Christian service is hoarded by those who think they are indispensable, superior
v4,5.  As each body part has a useful function, so in the body of Christ.
v6.  Gift of prophesy is past other than the sense of forth telling the Word.
v7.  Some have a greater ability as a comforter in a sick room or other areas of service, others teaching. Godly teaching must be based on the Word of God.
v8.  Exhorting may involve cheering and encouraging or admonishing. Some can exhort where others will offend. Giving by love but still generously for whatever your income level. Give total effort in positions of leadership, and not  grudgingly when showing mercy.
v9.  Not a two faced expression of love. delight in doing right.
v10.  This does not put self first. Seek to build up the brethren.
v11.  Too many times people are slothful in church business that would not be in other things. Serve the Lord whole heartedly.
v12.  It is easier to rejoice when things are going well than to be patient when things are going wrong. Diligent, not neglectful in our prayer life.
v13.  These are gifts outside the church budget,  may involve concern for strangers or may involve opening our homes to missionaries and others.
v14.  This is a real test to be able to do or speak well of our persecutors. This might even reduce negative political campaigning. When I was in a home demonstrating a vacuum cleaner I never brought up the name of a competing brand.
v15.  Show genuine interest, not jealous of blessings or shunning their problems, even laughing at some one with a flat tire etc.
v16.  Humbly seek to be of the same mind with other believers, recognizing there will be individual differences.
v17.  Don’t try to get even. Be honest in life or in business, not showing favoritism.
v18.  In some cases this is impossible, but at least do our part.
v19.  Even if we are angry, subdue it and leave vengeance to God.
v20.  Originally this provided coals in a pot carried on the head for some one whose fire had gone out. Don’t do this for the purpose of heaping coals of guilt up on his head, but that the result may be, he will be convicted and cease to be an enemy. Any other interpretation which indicates actual fire on their head or the wrath of God, is out of context and incorrect.
v21.  The optimistic Christian reaction, compare verse 9.