Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

12:3 God has granted a differing measure of faith to each of his children, and Paul calls upon each to assess himself or herself realistically.

12:4-5 The diversity and unity of the church is illustrated by comparison to the human body. Just as the human body is one with many members (lit., body parts, limbs), so the church is united though it is composed of many members. On the theme of the church as the body of Christ, see also 1 Corinthians 12 and Eph. 4:4, 12-16.

12:6 The variety of the body is evident from the various gifts God has given the church (see chart). On the gift of prophecy, see notes on Acts 21:4; 21:10-11; 1 Cor. 12:10; Eph. 2:20; 1 Thess. 5:20-21; and other notes on 1 Corinthians 12-14. in proportion to our faith. Paul instructs prophets to speak only when they have faith or confidence that the Holy Spirit is truly revealing something to them, and not to exceed the faith that God has given them by trying to impress others.

12:7-8 Christians should concentrate upon and give their energies to the gifts God has given them, whether in serving others, teaching God's Word patiently, or in exhortation and encouragement in the things of God. Thus Paul spotlights three attitudes necessary in exercising particular gifts: (1) those who have a special gift of helping others financially should never give grudgingly but always generously; (2) those who lead often have no one to whom they are accountable, and hence they must beware of laziness; (3) those who show mercy to the hurting must not grow weary but continue to minister with gladness.

12:9 The remainder of the chapter is a description of the life that is pleasing to God. Not surprisingly, love heads the list, for all that Paul says is embraced by the call to love (see note on John 13:34-35). genuine. Love cannot be reduced to sentimentalism. abhor. Christians are to hate evil.

12:13 Hospitality was very important for early Christians, for most of them could not afford hotels (lodging houses) when traveling but depended on the provision of fellow believers.

12:14 Bless . . . do not curse. These words reflect the teaching of Jesus (Matt. 5:44).

12:17 Repay no one evil. Again, an allusion to Jesus' teaching (Matt. 5:39).

12:18 If possible. Paul recognizes it is not always possible to be at peace with everyone, even when one makes the effort.

12:19 Vengeance is mine. Another allusion to Jesus' teaching (Matt. 5:39). Feelings of revenge can be overcome by realizing that God will make all things right, and that he will visit his wrath on those who deserve it.

12:20-21 Burning coals is quoted from Prov. 25:21-22. Most interpreters think Paul is teaching that the Christian is to do good to people so that they will feel ashamed and repent, and that sense is possible. But in the OT "burning coals" always represent punishment (2 Sam. 22:13; Ps. 11:6; 18:8, 12-13; 140:10), so another interpretation is that Paul is repeating the thought of Rom. 12:19: Christians are to do good to wrongdoers, recognizing that God will punish them on the last day if they refuse to repent. Overcoming evil with good will ordinarily include acts of kindness toward evildoers, but it may sometimes also include the "good" (13:4) of the civil government stopping evil through the use of superior force (military or police), as Paul explains in 13:3-4. See note on Prov. 25:21-22.

13:1-7 This passage addresses the responsibility of Christians to governing authorities. They are to "be subject to" (which generally means to obey, cf. 1 Pet. 3:5-6) the government because it has been ordained by God. Paul is speaking here of the general principle of submission to government. Several other passages show that God approves of Christians disobeying government, but only when obedience to government would mean disobeying God (see Ex. 1:17, 21; 1 Kings 18:4-16; Est. 4:16; Dan. 3:12-18; 6:10; Matt. 2:12; Acts 5:29; Heb. 11:23). There were even times when God raised up leaders to rebel against the government and deliver his people from evil rulers (Exodus 1-14; Judg. 2:16; Heb. 11:32-34).

13:1 It is true that those governing authorities that exist have been instituted by God, but sometimes God gives good authorities as a blessing, and sometimes he institutes evil rulers as a means of trial or judgment (2 Chron. 25:20; 32:24-25). On God's rule over earthly authorities, see Ps. 75:7 and Dan. 2:21. These earthly "authorities" will ultimately be superseded by the rule of Christ (Dan. 2:44; Rev. 22:1-5).

13:3 Rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad means that civil government in general is a great blessing from God for which we should be thankful. Without civil government there would be anarchy, a horrible alternative in which evil runs rampant.

13:4 Governing authorities are God's servants and carry out his wrath on evildoers, and they do so for your good. Even though Christians must not take personal revenge (12:17-20), it is right for them to turn punishment over to the civil authorities, who have the responsibility to punish evil. The reference to the sword most likely refers to the penalty of capital punishment (cf. Gen. 9:6).

13:5 Christians should obey the civil authorities not only to avoid God's wrath (coming through those authorities, v. 4) but also because their conscience tells them that submitting to the government is right (see note on vv. 1-7).

13:6-7 Christians must not refuse to pay taxes simply because they think some of the money is used unjustly, for the Roman Empire surely did not use all of its money for godly purposes! So, too, believers are to honor their leaders, even if they are not fully admirable.

13:8 Verses 8-10 focus on the Christian's relationship to the Mosaic law. Owe no one anything links back to v. 7, and thus the command does not prohibit all borrowing but means that one should always "pay what is owed" (see v. 7), fulfilling whatever repayment agreements have been made. The debt one never ceases paying is the call to love one another. Indeed, love fulfills what the Mosaic law demands.

13:9 Paul cites several OT commandments regarding responsibility to others, all of which are summed up in the call from Lev. 19:18 to love your neighbor as yourself.

13:11-12 In this section (12:3-13:14) the final verses call Christians to action, given the shortness of the time before Jesus returns. Sleep here is a metaphor for a life of moral carelessness and laxity. Salvation is viewed as a future reality here, and it draws nearer every day. the day is at hand. The nearness of the end summons Christians to put off all evil works and to live in the light.

13:13 Things not fitting for those who belong to the light include (1) sins of addiction in drinking and partying; (2) sexual sins; and (3) social sins.

13:14 Paul's exhortations can be summed up in the call to put on . . . Christ. The metaphor of putting on clothing implies not just imitating Christ's character but also living in close personal fellowship with him. Even though believers have new life, they still must constantly renounce the flesh and refuse to gratify its desires.