Romans 12:20

Therefore if thine enemy, &c. Here again is an O. T. quotation, (Proverbs 25:21-22; nearly verbatim with LXX.,) introduced by the Apostle's "therefore," as a practical inference from the previous principles.

thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head This phrase has been explained (1) of burning shame produced by requital of good for evil; (2) of the melting of the evil-doer's heart by such conduct, as of metal by fire; (3) of the result of a spirit of love as producing at length the "incense" of prayer and praise (as from censer-coals) from the conquered heart. (The last is suggested in the Speaker's Commentary, on Proverbs 25) A simpler, yet more inclusive, explanation is Alford's: "in thus doing, you will be taking the most effectual vengeance;" the idea of vengeance being, in the Christian's view, transformed, so as to become in fact the victory of love. Q. d., "You shall thus secure exactly that sort of vengeance which alone a servant of God can desire." The clause "and the Lord shall reward thee," in Proverbs 25, is omitted; not as if not true (for the Gospel distinctly teaches that "good works, which are the fruits of faith, and follow after justification, … are pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ [45] ;") but as not pertinent to the context here, where the ruling motiveunderstood throughout is "the mercies of God."

[45] Art. xii. of the Church of England.