Romans Chapter 12

12 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who followed not after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith:

13 but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, did not arrive at

14 that law.

15 Wherefore? Because

16 they sought it not by faith, but as it were by works. They stumbled at the stone of stumbling;

17 even as it is written,

18 Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence:

19 And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame.

20 Brethren, my heart’s desire and my supplication to God is for them, that they may be saved.

21 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the compassions ofGod, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable toGod, [which is] your intelligent service.

2 And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of [your] mind, that ye may prove what [is] the good and acceptable and perfect will ofGod.

3 For I say, through the grace which has been given to me, to every one that is among you, not to have high thoughts above what he should think; but to think so as to be wise, asGod has dealt to each a measure of faith.

4 For, as in one body we have many members, but all the members have not the same office;

5 thus we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and each one members one of the other.

6 But having different gifts, according to the grace which has been given to us, whether [it be] prophecy, [let us prophesy] according to the proportion of faith;

7 or service, [let us occupy ourselves] in service; or he that teaches, in teaching;

8 or he that exhorts, in exhortation; he that gives, in simplicity; he that leads, with diligence; he that shews mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be unfeigned; abhorring evil; cleaving to good:

10 as to brotherly love, kindly affectioned towards one another: as to honour, each taking the lead in paying it to the other:

11 as to diligent zealousness, not slothful; in spirit fervent; serving the Lord.

12 As regards hope, rejoicing: as regards tribulation, enduring: as regards prayer, persevering:

13 distributing to the necessities of the saints; given to hospitality.

14 Bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not.

15 Rejoice with those that rejoice, weep with those that weep.

16 Have the same respect one for another, not minding high things, but going along with the lowly: be not wise in your own eyes:

17 recompensing to no one evil for evil: providing things honest before all men:

18 if possible, as far as depends on you, living in peace with all men;

19 not avenging yourselves, beloved, but give place to wrath; for it is written, Vengeance [belongs] to me, I will recompense, saith the Lord.

20 If therefore thine enemy should hunger, feed him; if he should thirst, give him drink; for, so doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.

21 Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

1 Obsecro itaque vos fratres per misericordiam Dei, ut exhibeatis corpora vestra hostiam viventem, sanctam, Deo placentem, rationabile obsequium vestrum.

2 Et nolite conformari huic sæculo, sed reformamini in novitate sensus vestri: ut probetis quæ sit voluntas Dei bona, et beneplacens, et perfecta.

3 Dico enim per gratiam quæ data est mihi, omnibus qui sunt inter vos: Non plus sapere quam oportet sapere, sed sapere ad sobrietatem: et unicuique sicut Deus divisit mensuram fidei.

4 Sicut enim in uno corpore multa membra habemus, omnia autem membra non eumdem actum habent:

5 ita multi unum corpus sumus in Christo, singuli autem alter alterius membra.

6 Habentes autem donationes secundum gratiam, quæ data est nobis, differentes: sive prophetiam secundum rationem fidei,

7 sive ministerium in ministrando, sive qui docet in doctrina,

8 qui exhortatur in exhortando, qui tribuit in simplicitate, qui præest in sollicitudine, qui miseretur in hilaritate.

9 Dilectio sine simulatione: Odientes malum, adhærentes bono:

10 charitate fraternitatis invicem diligentes: Honore invicem prævenientes:

11 Solicitudine non pigri: Spiritu ferventes: Domino servientes:

12 Spe gaudentes: In tribulatione patientes: Orationi instantes:

13 Necessitatibus sanctorum communicantes: Hospitalitatem sectantes.

14 Benedicite persequentibus vos: benedicite, et nolite maledicere.

15 Gaudere cum gaudentibus, flere cum flentibus:

16 Idipsum invicem sentientes: Non alta sapientes, sed humilibus consentientes. Nolite esse prudentes apud vosmetipsos:

17 Nulli malum pro malo reddentes: providentes bona non tantum coram Deo, sed etiam coram omnibus hominibus.

18 Si fieri potest, quod ex vobis est, cum omnibus hominibus pacem habentes:

19 Non vosmetipsos defendentes charissimi, sed date locum iræ. scriptum est enim: Mihi vindicta: ego retribuam, dicit Dominus.

20 Sed si esurierit inimicus tuus, ciba illum: si sitit, potum da illi: hoc enim faciens, carbones ignis congeres super caput eius.

21 Noli vinci a malo, sed vince in bono malum.

web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV

1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.

2 Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.

3 For I say through the grace that was given me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.

4 For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don’t have the same function,

5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another,

6 having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us: if prophecy, let’s prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;

7 or service, let’s give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching;

8 or he who exhorts, to his exhorting; he who gives, let him do it with generosity; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good.

10 In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor prefer one another,

11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord,

12 rejoicing in hope, enduring in troubles, continuing steadfastly in prayer,

13 contributing to the needs of the saints, and given to hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse.

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.

16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own conceits.

17 Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men.

18 If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.

19 Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.”

20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

21 Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

wh1881 (wh1881) - Westcott-Hort Greek NT 1881 eBible USFM

1 παρακαλω ουν υμας αδελφοι δια των οικτιρμων του θεου παραστησαι τα σωματα υμων θυσιαν ζωσαν αγιαν τω θεω ευαρεστον την λογικην λατρειαν υμων

2 και μη συσχηματιζεσθε τω αιωνι τουτω αλλα μεταμορφουσθε τη ανακαινωσει του νοος εις το δοκιμαζειν υμας τι το θελημα του θεου το αγαθον και ευαρεστον και τελειον

3 λεγω γαρ δια της χαριτος της δοθεισης μοι παντι τω οντι εν υμιν μη υπερφρονειν παρ ο δει φρονειν αλλα φρονειν εις το σωφρονειν εκαστω ως ο θεος εμερισεν μετρον πιστεως

4 καθαπερ γαρ εν ενι σωματι πολλα μελη εχομεν τα δε μελη παντα ου την αυτην εχει πραξιν

5 ουτως οι πολλοι εν σωμα εσμεν εν χριστω το δε καθ εις αλληλων μελη

6 εχοντες δε χαρισματα κατα την χαριν την δοθεισαν ημιν διαφορα ειτε προφητειαν κατα την αναλογιαν της πιστεως

7 ειτε διακονιαν εν τη διακονια ειτε ο διδασκων εν τη διδασκαλια

8 ειτε ο παρακαλων εν τη παρακλησει ο μεταδιδους εν απλοτητι ο προισταμενος εν σπουδη ο ελεων εν ιλαροτητι

9 η αγαπη ανυποκριτος αποστυγουντες το πονηρον κολλωμενοι τω αγαθω

10 τη φιλαδελφια εις αλληλους φιλοστοργοι τη τιμη αλληλους προηγουμενοι

11 τη σπουδη μη οκνηροι τω πνευματι ζεοντες τω κυριω δουλευοντες

12 τη ελπιδι χαιροντες τη θλιψει υπομενοντες τη προσευχη προσκαρτερουντες

13 ταις χρειαις των αγιων κοινωνουντες την φιλοξενιαν διωκοντες

14 ευλογειτε τους διωκοντας ευλογειτε και μη καταρασθε

15 χαιρειν μετα χαιροντων κλαιειν μετα κλαιοντων

16 το αυτο εις αλληλους φρονουντες μη τα υψηλα φρονουντες αλλα τοις ταπεινοις συναπαγομενοι μη γινεσθε φρονιμοι παρ εαυτοις

17 μηδενι κακον αντι κακου αποδιδοντες προνοουμενοι καλα ενωπιον παντων ανθρωπων

18 ει δυνατον το εξ υμων μετα παντων ανθρωπων ειρηνευοντες

19 μη εαυτους εκδικουντες αγαπητοι αλλα δοτε τοπον τη οργη γεγραπται γαρ εμοι εκδικησις εγω ανταποδωσω λεγει κυριος

20 αλλα εαν πεινα ο εχθρος σου ψωμιζε αυτον εαν διψα ποτιζε αυτον τουτο γαρ ποιων ανθρακας πυρος σωρευσεις επι την κεφαλην αυτου

21 μη νικω υπο του κακου αλλα νικα εν τω αγαθω το κακον

ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8

1 I call upon you, therefore, brethren, through the compassions of God, to present your bodies a sacrifice--living, sanctified, acceptable to God--your intelligent service;

2 and be not conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, for your proving what <FI>is<Fi> the will of God--the good, and acceptable, and perfect.

3 For I say, through the grace that was given to me, to every one who is among you, not to think above what it behoveth to think; but to think so as to think wisely, as to each God did deal a measure of faith,

4 for as in one body we have many members, and all the members have not the same office,

5 so we, the many, one body are in Christ, and members each one of one another.

6 And having gifts, different according to the grace that was given to us; whether prophecy--`According to the proportion of faith!'

7 or ministration--`In the ministration!' or he who is teaching--`In the teaching!'

8 or he who is exhorting--`In the exhortation!' he who is sharing--`In simplicity!' he who is leading--`In diligence?' he who is doing kindness--`In cheerfulness.'

9 The love unfeigned: abhorring the evil; cleaving to the good;

10 in the love of brethren, to one another kindly affectioned: in the honour going before one another;

11 in the diligence not slothful; in the spirit fervent; the Lord serving;

12 in the hope rejoicing; in the tribulation enduring; in the prayer persevering;

13 to the necessities of the saints communicating; the hospitality pursuing.

14 Bless those persecuting you; bless, and curse not;

15 to rejoice with the rejoicing, and to weep with the weeping,

16 of the same mind one toward another, not minding the high things, but with the lowly going along; become not wise in your own conceit;

17 giving back to no one evil for evil; providing right things before all men.

18 If possible--so far as in you--with all men being in peace;

19 not avenging yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath, for it hath been written, `Vengeance <FI>is<Fi> Mine,

20 I will recompense again, saith the Lord;' if, then, thine enemy doth hunger, feed him; if he doth thirst, give him drink; for this doing, coals of fire thou shalt heap upon his head;

21 Be not overcome by the evil, but overcome, in the good, the evil.

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).