Romans 12 Chapter Introduction

Structure and Formatting

Instructions for living as Christians (12:1–15:13)
- How to act toward God (12:1–2)
- How to serve the church (12:3–8)
- How to act toward other Christians (12:9–13)
- How to act toward unbelievers (12:14–21)
- How to act toward government (13:1–7)
- How to act toward other people (13:8–10)
- Act as if the end is near (13:11–14)
- Do not judge other Christians (14:1–12)
- Do not tempt other Christians to sin (14:13–23)
- Be united with other Christians (15:1–13)

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the words of 12:20, which are from the Old Testament.

Many scholars believe Paul uses the word therefore in Romans 12:1 to refer back to all of Chapters 1–11. After having carefully explained the Christian gospel in chapters 1–11, Paul explains in chapters 12–16 how Christians should live in response to these great truths. In these chapters, Paul gives many different commands that are practical instructions for how Christians should behave. (See: faith)

Translation Issues in This Chapter

Body of Christ

The body of Christ is an important metaphor used in the New Testament to refer to the church. Every Christian plays a unique and important function within the people of God. Christians need each other. (See: figs-metaphor)