Dedicated Service
1Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, Or pleasingacceptable to God, which is your I.e., in contrast to offering a literal sacrificespiritual service of worship.
2And do not be conformed to this Or ageworld, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may Or discoverprove what the will of God is, that which is good and Or pleasingacceptable and perfect.
3For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
4For just as we have many parts in one body and all Lit the partsthe body’s parts do not have the same function,
5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another.
6However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, Or in agreement with the faithin proportion to one’s faith;
7if Or office of serviceservice, in the act of serving; or the one who teaches, in the act of teaching;
8or the one who Or encouragesexhorts, in the work of Or encouragementexhortation; the one who gives, with Or sincere concerngenerosity; the one who Or provides careis in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; Or outdo one another in showing honorgive preference to one another in honor,
11not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,
13contributing to the needs of the Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s peoplesaints, Lit pursuingpracticing hospitality.
14Bless those who persecute Two early mss do not contain youyou; bless and do not curse.
15Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
16Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be Or arroganthaughty in mind, but Or accommodate yourself to lowly thingsassociate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
17Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Lit Take thought forRespect what is right in the sight of all people.
18If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.
19Never take your own revenge, beloved, but Lit give a placeleave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
20“But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
New American Standard Bible
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by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved.
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