PARAPHRASE. '(1) God's redeeming love should be answered by the true sacrifice and spiritual ritual service of a life of purity and self-denial and work for God. (2) Do not follow the fashions and customs of the worldly society around you, but let your ways of thinking be so changed by the Holy Spir... [ Continue Reading ]
LIVING SACRIFICE] as opposed to the sacrifice of a slain beast: cp. Romans 6:13. REASONABLE] i.e. an act of the reason.... [ Continue Reading ]
CONFORMED TO] RV 'fashioned according to.' 'Fashion' implies external resemblance, 'form,' essential nature: cp. Philippians 2:6. WORLD] lit. 'Æon,' or 'age.' The Jews called the Messianic age 'the age to come,' as contrasted with 'this age': cp. Matthew 12:32; Luke 20:34; Ephesians 1:21. At present... [ Continue Reading ]
GRACE] cp. Romans 1:5. FAITH] Faith is God's gift, and is of differing power and character, carrying with it differing 'gifts' (Romans 12:6), i.e. capacities of Christian service.... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE BODY] cp. 1 Corinthians 12:12.; Ephesians 4:15.; Colossians 1:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
GIFTS] see on Romans 1:13. IS] RV 'was,' i.e. when the Holy Spirit was received. PROPHECY] i.e. inspired speaking, whether foretelling the future, or unfolding spiritual truth: cp. Acts 11:28; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Corinthians 14:1; Ephesians 2:20; Ephesians 3:5; Ephesians 4:11. PROPORTION OF FAITH... [ Continue Reading ]
MINISTRY] i.e. the service of others: cp. Mark 10:45 sometimes any Christian office: cp. Romans 11:13 sometimes, as here, attendance on temporal wants: cp. Acts 6:1; 1 Corinthians 16:15; 2 Corinthians 8:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMPLICITY] i.e. without selfish aim; RV 'liberality.' RULETH] lit. 'presideth,' i.e. in the Church or the family: cp. 1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Timothy 3:4.; 1 Timothy 5:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
DISSIMULATION] RV 'hypocrisy.... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another.'... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'In diligence not slothful'; 'diligence' =zeal, moral earnestness, not merely in temporal affairs.... [ Continue Reading ]
INSTANT] RV 'stedfastly.'... [ Continue Reading ]
DISTRIBUTING] RV 'communicating,' i.e. sharing your goods: cp. Acts 2:42. SAINTS] RV 'the saints,' i.e. Christians, God's people. HOSPITALITY] The various Churches were linked by the visits of accredited messengers: cp. Hebrews 13:2; 1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Peter 4:9; 2 John 1:10; 3 John 1:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Matthew 5:44.... [ Continue Reading ]
MEN OF LOW ESTATE] RV 'things that are lowly.'... [ Continue Reading ]
PROVIDE] RV 'take thought for.' HONEST] RV 'honourable.'... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE PLACE UNTO WRATH] i.e. leave room for God's wrath to execute the vengeance deserved. Do not usurp the prerogative of God. WRATH] i.e. the wrath of God: cp. Romans 5:9. WRITTEN] Deuteronomy 32:35.... [ Continue Reading ]
From Proverbs 25:21. COALS OF FIRE] i.e. melt him into shame, as a furnace melts metals.... [ Continue Reading ]