Romans
Chapter
12
{Verses
1-21: Advancing of Believer to Maturity - Overcome Evil by The Good}
1~~Therefore
I {Paul} urge you, brethren {all Royal Family of God},
by
the mercies/'grace blessings' {oiktirmos} of The God,
to
'place your bodies under orders'/'present yourself' {paristemi}
as
a sacrifice . . . living, holy/'set apart to God' {hagios};
{this
is} well pleasing to our God . . .
your
'rational and spiritual' {logikos} 'sacred service' {latreia}.
{Note: Paristemi was first used in classical Greek to describe a military maneuver with a double flank attack and destruction of a foe in battle. It came to mean to place yourself beside or under the authority of another.}
{Note: Logos is the word form, which we get logical. Logikos has two meanings, both are applicable here. First of all means to act rationally and secondly, it also means to be spiritual.}
2~~Also,
stop being molded/conformed {suschematizo}
to
this age {aion}
{meaning to stop following human viewpoint and living in the
cosmic system},
but
be transformed {metamorphoo - from human to divine viewpoint}
by
the renewing/renovation {anakainosis} of your mind {nous}
{means to take in doctrine and replace human viewpoint with divine
viewpoint},
that
you may prove
{dokimazo - investigate (like gold) to see if there is value}
what
the will {thelema} of God {Theos} is . . .
namely
{that the will of God} . . . the good
{see Romans 8:28 - 'the good' will be defined} . . .
the
well-pleasing/acceptable {euarestos} . . .
and
the complete/perfect {teleios}
{the attainment of the objective of the plan of God}!
{Note: The purpose of spiritual growth is to determine what is God's will/purpose/design for each of us. Now that the canon of scripture is complete, the only way to determine God's will is by studying His Mind/Word. That is the beginning of spiritual growth - consistent intake of the Word.}
{Conduct
in Humility - Honor Code of the Royal Family of God}
3~~For
I {Paul} say through the grace
which
has been given to me . . .
to
everyone who is among you . . .
stop
thinking of self . . .
in
terms of arrogance . . .
beyond
what you ought to think;
but
think in terms of sanity . . .
for
the purpose of being rational . . .
without
illusion . . .
as
The God has assigned to each one {believer}
a
standard of thinking from doctrine {pistis}.
{Note: From the papyri, we learned that pistis in the Koine Greek was used for 'that which is believed' - therefore doctrine. It is also used for faith (our belief in something), but here it is doctrine.}
4-5~~For
just as in one body
{physical body to be compared with the Body of Christ}
we
have many members/parts {melos},
and
absolutely not {ouk} all the members/parts
serve
the same function {praxis}
{arms, legs, eyes, mouth all have a different function}, 5~~
so
we . . . the many
are/'keep
on being' one body in Christ,
and
individually {kata - idiom when as an adverb}
members/parts
. . .
one
of another {allelon}.
{Verses
6-8: Functions of Spiritual Gifts}
6-8~~And,
since we 'have and hold' {echo}
{spiritual}
gifts {charisma} that differ {diaphoros},
according
to the grace given to us.
If
{eite}{one has the gift of} prophecy . . . {prophesize}
in
agreement with the doctrine {pistis}. 7~~
If
{eite}{one has the gift of}
service/helps/administration
{diakonia} . . . serve,
If
{eite}{one has the gift of} teaching {didasko} . . . teach. 8~~
If
{eite}{one has the gift of} counseling {parakaleo} . . . counsel.
If
{eite}{one has the gift of} contributing {metadidomi} . . .
intensively
contribute with generosity {haplotes}.
If
{eite}{one has the gift of} management/
administration
{proistemi} . . . {manage} . . . with diligence.
If
{eite}{one has the gift of} performing an act
of
mercy {eleeo} . . . {do so} with graciousness/cheerfulness.
{Note: Eite is a classical Greek word used to introduce a subordinate clause. So a list of certain spiritual gifts will be mentioned. Before the canon of scripture was complete, God spoke to certain men directly and they were to teach the people from the oral information received from God. This was a very rare temporary spiritual gift.}
{Note: RBT says the gift of administrative services is one of the most common of spiritual gifts. This is the gift given to the people, for example, who serve around the Church. Diakonia is also the word from which we get deacon. Next is one of the least common of spiritual gifts - teacher. A pastor should have the gift of teacher to feed his sheep.}
{Note: Parakaleo means to stand by someone to provide comfort or encouragement. It often is translated to exhort. But RBT says the most pertinent meaning here is to give counsel. Therefore it is the spiritual gift of counseling.}
{Note: Proistemi means to stand in the front - which came to mean to manage.}
{Note: Metadidomi does mean to 'give with'. Here it means to give with others. One person is not responsible for the financial condition of a local Church - God will provide if He wants it to continue. The person with the gift will be motivated to give whether rich or poor. All believers are to give of themselves first, and once mature, then give as God leads them. But this is the special spiritual gift of giving. And, this person is warned to be sure his motivation in giving is correct - not from a desire of approbation, or some form of lust for control or influence. Must give without expectation of 'return' - other than the reward of allowing God to work through you.}
{Verses
9-21: General Function of the Spiritual Life - Details Described}
{Three Commands}
9~~Your
{agape} love . . .
{'should
be'/'must function'} without hypocrisy.
Detest
{apostugeo} the evil {poneros}.
Adhere
{kollao} to the 'good of intrinsic value' {agathos}.
{Note: Apostugeo - apo means from the ultimate source - stugeo means to hate. This is a command to detest the evil. RBT defines evil as the policy of Satan as the ruler of this world and the function of the Old Sin Nature as the ruler of life - the doctrine of the total depravity of mankind. Bible doctrine is The Good of intrinsic value'.}
{Note: Kollao when the object is a person, it means to have cleave to - to have sexual intercourse. When the object is a principal, it means to adhere to the principal and that is how it is used here.}
{Royal
Family Honor Code Restated}
10~~With
reference to your 'brotherly love' {philadelphia} . . .
{referring to maintaining a relaxed mental attitude -
free from mental attitude sins
such as judging, maligning etc.},
{be}
devoted {philostorgos}
to
'each other'/'one another of the same kind' {allelon}.
With
reference to your honor {time},
'esteem
higher than yourself'
{idiom: proegeomai literally means `lead the way' ' to go ahead'
but it means to think the other believer ahead of your self
in the honorable way you treat them}
one
another of the same kind {allelon}
{treat other believers as more mature then yourself under
your Royal Family Honor Code}.
{Note: Philostorgos is a combination of 'Love and affection' and came to mean 'devoted'.}
{Motus
Operendi for Ambassador to Christ}
11~~'With
reference to application/diligence' {spoude}
{application of doctrine to circumstances in life}
do
not be negligent {okneros}.
With
reference to the spirit {pneuma},
boil/'be
zealous'/'get hot on the idea' {zeo}
when
serving {douleuo} the Lord.
12~~With
reference to the hope/'absolute confidence' {elpis} . . .
be
rejoicing {chairo}.
With
reference to 'the pressure of {undeserved} suffering' {thlipsis}
{here referring to undeserved suffering for testing
and advancement in your spiritual life},
stand-fast/'have
patience'/'patiently endure' {hupomeno}.
Persist/'endure
face to face with' {proskartereo}
with
reference to prayer {proseuche}
{maximum exploitation of prayer is the prerogative of the spiritually
mature believer - the right to accurately discuss the situation with
God increases as your maturity increases}.
{Note: Unbelievers have no hope. In Romans, Paul reveals to us that for believers, elpis really means 'absolute confidence'. And, it means to be confident of the future. The best of living in time, the best of dying, and the best of eternity future.}
13-14~~Contribute
{koinoneo} to the needs {chreia}
of
the 'holy ones'/'set apart to God ones'/saints {hagios}.
Be
"pursuing" {dioko}
hospitality/'love
to strangers' {philoxenia}. 14~~
Speak
well {eulogeo}
of
those who persecute/'pursue after' {dioko}
{idiom: dioko literally 'pursue after' - a play on words}.
Keep
on speaking well {eulogeo}
and
do not curse {kataraomai} them.
{Note: RBT says this is a test of objectivity. When they malign you, slander you, attack you in any way, keep a relaxed mental attitude and do not lash out back at them in retaliation. Part of the saying - Satan's man returns good with evil, the earthly man returns evil with evil, but God's man returns evil with good.}
{Emotional
Depth From Doctrine in Your Soul - Harmony and Rapport}
{Rapport
with Other Royal Family of God - Join with the Mood of the Group}
15~~Rejoice
{chairo - infinitive in the imperative mood means this is a command}
with
those who rejoice.
Weep
{klaio} {also a command} with those who weep.
{Note: It is not rapport to walk into a group of grieving believers and say WHY are you so unhappy? You might be correct, but it is the wrong situation. So a right thing in a wrong way is wrong. Rapport says it is ok to recognize the feelings of others. Next, don't be the party pooper. If others are happy, join in! Don't bring others down. That is being insensitive to the feelings of others - that is being self-centered and arrogant. But don't be superficial and be stupid about this. This is a rapport passage.}
16~~'Be
thinking' {phroneo} the same
toward
'each other'/'one another of the same kind' {allelon}.
Do
not be thinking in terms
of
arrogance/'high-mindedness' {hupselos},
but
associate with the humble/'low-mindedness' {tapeinos} people.
Stop
becoming/being
{ginomai - imperative mood - a negative command}
'{pseudos}
wise'
{phronimos - pseudos wisdom - holding an entrancing thought
and thinking you are so smart for thinking that}
'in
your own estimation'
{Idiom: para heautou literally 'by yourselves'}.
{Note: If you do not have 'divine viewpoint' in your norms and standards from the intake of bible doctrine, one inserts his own viewpoint. The Romans apparently were all full of themselves - so proud of their own thoughts and concepts. Forget that. Humble oriented people understand GRACE. We are nothing, God is everything. All we can do is allow Him to work through us through our positive volition and His thinking in our soul.}
17~~Do
not repay/'pay back' {in the sense of revenge} {apodidomi}
evil
{kakos} for evil
{idiom: anti kakos literally means 'against evil'}.
Respect/'Have
regard for'
{pronoeo - literally 'to think in advance' comes to mean respect}
what
is honorable {kalos}
in
the sight of {enopion} all men/mankind {pas anthropos}.
{Note: Respect for all principals of authority. Respect all God's laws of establishment. Respect for womanhood, free enterprise, parents, police, military, teachers, pastors, on and on.}
{Verses
18-20 Function of the Royal Family Honor Code}
18~~If
{ei} 'it is possible' - and it is possible -
{dunatos - root is 'power' - 'have the power'}
'as
much as it depends on you'
{idiom: to ek su/humon - literally: 'the from . . . your part'},
'live
in harmony/'be at peace'/'live in peace'
{eireneuo - here 'be thoughtful of others'}
with
{meta} all men/mankind {pas anthropos}.
{Note: Ei plus an indicative mood (or implied indicative mood) is the protasis of a first class condition which is translated 'if and it is true' (apodosis always follows the protasis).}
{Note: 'Possible' here is a synonym for capacity - capacity for life, production, happiness, blessing, leadership, etc. The Honor code deals with capacities of all types.}
19~~Stop
avenging {ekdikeo} yourselves,
beloved
ones{agapetos};
instead
{alla} give place {didomi topos}
'to
the wrath/discipline {from the justice/integrity of God}'
{idiom: orge means 'unto wrath' means to leave the wrath to the
Justice of God}.
For
it stands written {from Deuteronomy 32:35}
-
in the past with results that remain forever -
"Punishment
{ekdikesis} . . . 'belongs to Me'/'is Mine'
{idiom: ego literally 'to me' but it always means belongs to me'},
I
will repay {antapodidomi - compound word - 'to give from against'}"
says
the Lord.
{Note: God knows all the facts. It is arrogant to think you can retaliate against someone who wronged you better than God can handle the matter. Do NOT lower your standards to the level of the one who is attacking you.}
{Advance
on Previous Principal - Never Contribute to the Discomforts of your Enemy}
20~~Nevertheless,
if your enemy {echthros} is hungry {peinao}
-
maybe he is, maybe he is not -
feed
{psomizo} him.
If
he is thirsty {dipsao},
-
maybe he is, maybe he is not -
give
him a drink {potizo}
{this preserves his life - Why? God is not through disciplining him}.
For
by doing this
{the unexpected . . . the honorable 'non-retaliation'}
you
will be heaping/'piling up' {soreuo}
burning
coals of fire {anthrax pur}
on
{epi} his head {kephale}.
{Note: Leaving animosities to the justice of God. Your antagonist is going to live and hurt. And, from that hurting recover or eventually die the sin unto death. You stand on principal and become stronger. He is disciplined and weakens or recovers - grace always precedes judgment - giving an opportunity for your enemy to recover!}
21~~
Stop being conquered {nikao}
by
evil/reversionism {kakos},
but,
in contrast,
conquer
{nikao} evil/reversionism {kakos},
by
means of the good {see Romans 8:28}/
'the
good of intrinsic value' {agathos}.
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