Romans 12 - Introduction

God's mercies must move us to please God. No man must think too well of himself, but attend every one on that calling wherein he is placed. Love, and other duties, are required of us. Revenge is especially forbidden.

Anno Domini 58.

THE Apostle, having now finished the doctrinal part of his Epistle, judged it fit, in this and in the following Chapter s, to give the Roman brethren a variety of precepts respecting their behaviour, both as members of the church, and as subjects of the state. Some of these precepts are of universal and perpetual obligation, and others of them were suited to the circumstances of the brethren at the time they were written; such as the precepts concerning meats and holy days, which, though they may seem less necessary now that the disputes which gave rise to them no longer subsist, are nevertheless of great use still, as they may be applied for directing our conduct in other points of equal importance to society and to the church.

The Apostle begins with observing, that as the Jewish church was dissolved, and the sacrifices of beasts were no longer a part of the worship of God, it was highly proper that Jews and Gentiles should offer their bodies a sacrifice to God, not by slaying them, but by putting the lusts thereof to death; Romans 12:1.—And that both should take care not to conform themselves to the heathen world, either in its principles or practices; Romans 12:2.—And because the brethren at Rome, and more particularly the statedministersofreligion,there,whopossessedspiritualgifts,hadfromvanityfallen, or were in danger of falling into some irregularities in the exercise of their gifts, he desired them not to think too highly of themselves on account of their endowments, whatever they might be; Romans 12:3.—but to remember, that they were all joint-members of one body; Romans 12:4.—and had spiritual gifts as well as natural talents bestowed on them, suitable to their office in that body, which they were to exercise for the good of the whole; Romans 12:6.—Next the Apostle inculcated on the Roman brethren, the practice of those moral graces and virtues, which were the glory of the Christian name; such as zeal in the service of Christ, patience in afflictions, love to mankind, even to enemies, forgiveness of injuries, and the overcoming of evil with good; Romans 12:9.