Romans 12:9-21

Overcome Evil with Good

Read the passage

9Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.

10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.

11Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.

13Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.

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

16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.

17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.

18If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.

19Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”

20On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Berean Standard Bible

Read aloud

Paul calls for sincere love that hates evil and holds to good. Believers are to be devoted to each other, eager to give honor and diligent in serving the Lord. Hope, patience in trouble and persistence in prayer belong together.

Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony, do not be haughty, and associate with the lowly.

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in everyone's sight. If possible, live peaceably with all. Never avenge yourselves; leave room for God's wrath. Feed your enemy if hungry, give drink if thirsty, and do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Paul's list is not a collection of pleasant sentiments detached from difficulty. Sincere love hates what destroys, honors others, serves the Lord in hardship, shares with people in need, and blesses an enemy. The command to overcome evil with good does not call evil good or remove the need for protection and justice; it refuses to let the wrongdoer's hatred dictate the believer's character.

Paul quotes Deuteronomy's declaration that vengeance belongs to the Lord, then Proverbs' command to feed a hungry enemy and give a thirsty enemy a drink. The image of burning coals is severe, but the action required of us is kindness. It is not a technique for disguising revenge as generosity. We leave judgment to God and seek the other person's good.

Questions

1 What must be true of love?

AnswerLove must be genuine. It is not a performance that hides hatred; it clings to good and rejects evil.

2 How should believers respond to others' joys and sorrows?

AnswerThey should rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Love attends to another person's actual experience instead of making every moment about itself.

3 What does Paul say about revenge?

AnswerHe says not to avenge ourselves but to leave room for God's wrath. Refusing personal vengeance does not mean calling evil acceptable or abandoning lawful protection.

4 How is evil overcome?

AnswerEvil is overcome with good, including blessing persecutors, feeding an enemy, and giving drink to the thirsty. Goodness is active and concrete, not merely a refusal to retaliate.

What This Means for Us

Paul's commands are not sentimental. Genuine love hates evil, honors the lowly, shares burdens, and refuses to let an enemy's wrongdoing dictate the character of our response.

Paul’s qualification about what is possible acknowledges that peace is not always fully within one person's control. Someone can pursue peace while still needing boundaries, safety, and outside help.

Choose one practice for a tense relationship: speak a blessing instead of an insult, offer a concrete kindness, or ask a trusted person to help you pursue peace without surrendering truth.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, make our love genuine and courageous. Help us hate evil without becoming hateful, seek peace without denying danger, and answer wrongdoing with goodness that protects and honors people. Amen.

Your reading

Keep your place.

Save this passage to your private reading history.