NOTES for Rom 12:9-21

All the apostle Paul’s recommendations in this section of the Epistle to the Romans are remarkable and worthy of special consideration. Yet it is especially important to dwell on some of the internal connections between the rules of Christian life that Paul proposes in verses 11 and 12.

“Do not grow slack in zeal.” We usually call zeal a persistent activity that demands an effort of the will and presses through our own laziness. But this is immediately followed by “be fervent in spirit.” When the fire of the spirit is kindled within us, no effort is needed; everything happens as if “by itself.” These are two antitheses in the description of our activity, after which Paul offers a synthesis: “serve the Lord.” Thus, our actions are called to be service to God, regardless of whether they are performed with ease or with great effort.

Now comes the next group of three. “Rejoice in hope.” Through the expectation of something good in the future, hope gives us a bright state of soul already in the present. “Be patient in tribulation.” Something negative that happened in the past plunges us into sorrow that is difficult to bear, and therefore we need patience. But once again comes the synthesis: “be constant in prayer”! Both a bright and a dark state of soul should move us toward communion with God.

Paul therefore knows the alternating “stripes” of our life: an ascent is followed by a decline, and vice versa. Yet he says that in every circumstance God stands at the center of the Christian’s life, attention, and actions.