Chapter # 12 Paragraph # 4 Study # 6
May 31, 2019
Humble, Texas
(050)
1769 Translation:
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16 [
Be] of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [
rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [
is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
1901 ASV Translation:
14 Bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not.
15 Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but
condescend to
things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men.
19 Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath [
of God]: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord.
20 But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
- I. The Second "Application" of Unhypocritical Love: One's "Attitude" Toward Others Continued.
- A. Prior Studies of Unhypocritical Love.
- 1. The major thesis: Let love be without hypocrisy: 12:9a.
- 2. The first sub-thesis: Let this be true in respect to the saints: 12:9b-13.
- B. Current Studies: The second sub-thesis: Let this be true in respect to the "enemies": 12:14-21.
- 1. "At Issue": Unhypocritical Love, being rooted in a strong antagonism toward "the evil" (in oneself) and in a "welded unity" (of oneself) with "the good".
- a. There are two concepts of "evil" in this context.
- 1) There is "the evil" of 12:9 (to poneron), which is to be the object of extreme antagonism.
- a) This "evil" is identified as "slander" in Matthew 5:11, the attempt to diminish another in the eyes of the hearers (an attack upon the spirit of man).
- b) In Matthew 5:37 it is tied to the concept of "over-speaking" where a simple "yes" or "no" is all that is necessary, but "evil" motivates speech that is intended to be "impressive" as with the making of an "oath" (this is the opposite of Matthew 5:11 where the speech is designed to diminish; in this case the speech is designed to exalt). Two verses later (5:39) it is tied to abusive behavior (as in slapping you on the cheek, or suing to take away your garment, or forcing you to carry his baggage for a mile, or seeking to 'borrow' from you to his own advantage). And, again, six verses later (5:45) this "evil" is identified as "injustice" and is opposite to "good" in the same way as our current Romans text. Matthew is the majority user of this term in the New Testament (using the word in 23 texts out of a total of 72 in the New Testament). His use swirls around the idea of self-exaltation at the expense of another. As such, it is a descriptive term that began with Lucifer's attempt to exalt himself above the throne of God (Isaiah 14:13): it is the essence of "evil" to "use" others to obtain one's own narcissistic objectives. Acts 19:12, 13, 15, and 16 uses the term to refer to "evil spirits" as those which dominate men to their destruction (a reinforcement of the connection with Lucifer). Its identification with "spirits" is instructive: bodies do not seek self-exaltation as a primary objective ("pleasure" is enough for the body); souls do not seek self-exaltation as a primary objective ("security" is enough for the soul); "spirits" do. "Evil" is, then, a most fundamental orientation that overrides the appetites of body and soul.
- c) Paul's use is restrained (he only uses it once or twice in each of the several of his letters in which we find the term), but his use is consistent with Jesus' use in Matthew's record.
- d) "Evil" is a complete self-absorbed mindset that views others as "tools of one's own lust for glory".
- 2) There is the "evil" of Romans 12:17 and 21 (kakos) which is a part of Paul's focus in 12 texts in Romans.
- a) This "evil" has its first referent in Romans in 1:30 and is, there, a part of a list of descriptors that are associated with "a depraved mind" (1:28) that has become so by reason of God's response to those who have rejected Him altogether.
- b) In 2:9, this "evil" is that which brings "tribulation and distress" upon the "soul" of man from God ("soul" being the primary 'receptor' of fearful outcomes).
- c) In 3:8, Paul claims that there are those who say his teaching is summarized as "let us do evil that good may come".
- d) In 7:19 this "evil" is the expression of any kind of "lawlessness" (7:16), and 7:21 goes further and identifies it as the "root" of all of the various kinds of "sins" that erupt from the man whose mind is enslaved to "the law of sin".
- e) In 13:3, 4, and 10, "evil" is anything that does harm to another unjustly, and 14:20 uses the term to describe the action of a person who satisfies himself at the expense of "the work of God", making "food" more important that His work.
- b. Summary: This "evil" is different from the "evil" of 12:9 in that the "evil" of 12:9 is an attitude wherein "others" are simply not as important as "I" am, and the "evil" of 12:17 and 21 is any form of behavior that injures another unjustly. 12:9 gives us the "root" and 12:17 and 21 gives us the "fruit".
- 2. The Particular Focus of 12:14-21.
- a. This subsection begins with "how to respond to 'persecutors'" (12:14).
- b. This subsection ends with "how to respond to 'the evil' done to us" (12:21).
- c. There are two ways this subsection develops.
- 1) It begins with the commands to "bless" and to "curse not" those who persecute.
- 2) It continues with the exhortation to "take part with others in their joys and sorrows" (12:15) and progresses with instructions regarding the attitude one adopts with regard to oneself in respect to "others" whose main characteristic is "obvious flaws" (12:16) much like Deuteronomy 15:4 compared to 7-11.
- 2) It then turns to "responding to 'the evil' of others" (12:17-21).
- a) Never express "evil" as a response to "evil" in others (12:17a).
- b) Always focus upon "good" (12:17b).
- c) Pursue "peace" with all men (12:18).
- d) Never seek "revenge" through actions taken against another, by rejecting "wrath" and allowing God to be the Avenger (12:19).
- e) Provide for your enemy's need (12:20).
- f) Conquer "the evil" by means of "the good" (12:21).