A Living Sacrifice

¹Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.[#12:1 1Co 1:10; 2Co 10:2; Eph 4:1; 1Pt 2:11; #12:1 Rm 6:13,16,19; 1Co 6:20; Heb 13:15; 1Pt 2:5; #12:1 Or your reasonable service]

²Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.[#12:2 1Pt 1:14; #12:2 Mt 13:22; Gl 1:4; 1Jn 2:15; #12:2 Eph 4:23; Ti 3:5; #12:2 Eph 5:10,17; Col 1:9]

Many Gifts but One Body

³For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.[#12:3 Rm 1:5; 15:15; 1Co 3:10; 15:10; Gl 2:9; Eph 3:7–8; #12:3 Rm 11:20; #12:3 1Co 7:17; 2Co 10:13; Eph 4:7; 1Pt 4:11]

⁴Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function,[#12:4 1Co 12:12–14; Eph 4:4,16]

⁵in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.[#12:5 1Co 10:17,23; #12:5 1Co 12:20,27; Eph 4:12,25]

⁶According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith;[#12:6 1Co 7:7; 12:4; 1Pt 4:10–11; #12:6 Ac 13:1; 1Co 12:10; #12:6 Or the , also in v. 19]

⁷if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching;[#12:7 Ac 6:1; 1Co 12:28; #12:7 Ac 13:1; 1Co 14:26]

⁸if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.[#12:8 Ac 4:36; 11:23; 13:15; #12:8 2Co 8:2; 9:11,13; #12:8 1Co 12:28; 1Tm 5:17; #12:8 2Co 9:7]

Christian Ethics

⁹Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good.[#12:9 2Co 6:6; 1Tm 1:5; #12:9 1Th 5:21–22]

¹⁰Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another.[#12:10 Jn 13:34; 1Th 4:9; Heb 13:1; 2Pt 1:7; #12:10 Rm 13:7; Php 2:3; 1Pt 2:17]

¹¹Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; , serve the Lord.[#12:11 Or in spirit; #12:11 Ac 18:25; #12:11 Ac 20:19]

¹²Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.[#12:12 Rm 5:2; #12:12 Heb 10:32,36; #12:12 Ac 1:14]

¹³Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.[#12:13 Rm 15:25; 1Co 16:15; 2Co 9:1; Heb 6:10; #12:13 Mt 25:35; 1Tm 3:2]

¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.[#12:14 Mt 5:44; Lk 6:22; 1Co 4:12]

¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.[#12:15 Jb 30:25; Heb 13:3]

¹⁶Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.[#12:16 Rm 15:5; 2Co 13:11; Php 2:2; 4:2; 1Pt 3:8; #12:16 Rm 11:20; #12:16 Rm 11:25; Pr 3:7]

¹⁷Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes.[#12:17 Pr 20:22; 24:29; #12:17 2Co 8:21]

¹⁸If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.[#12:18 Mk 9:50; Rm 14:19]

¹⁹Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, , says the Lord.[#12:19 Dt 32:35; #12:19 Dt 32:35; Ps 94:1; 1Th 4:6; Heb 10:30]

²⁰But

²¹Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.