A Life Dedicated To God
1 So, I urge you, brothers, because God is so merciful [to us], to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, [fully] dedicated and very pleasing to God. For this is a reasonable [or spiritual] way for you to worship [or serve] Him.
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
1 Therefore (A)I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to (B)present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, (a)acceptable to God, which is your (b)spiritual service of worship.
1 Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you(A) to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,(B) holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.(a)
1 I therefore urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercies, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God, for this is the reasonable way for you to worship.
2 And you people must not be conformed to [the values and standards of] this age, but you should become transformed [i.e., changed in attitude and action] by having your mind renewed [i.e., to think in a totally different way]. Then you will be able to determine [and practice] God's will, the thing that is good, and acceptable and perfect.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
2 And do not (C)be conformed to (D)this (c)world, but be transformed by the (E)renewing of your mind, so that you may (d)(F)prove what the will of God is, that which is good and (e)acceptable and perfect.
2 Do not be conformed(C) to this age,(D) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,(E) so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will(F) of God.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but continuously be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may be able to determine what God's will is what is proper, pleasing, and perfect.
A Variety Of Gifts In The Body Of Christ
3 And because of God's unearned favor shown to me [i.e., in appointing me to be an apostle], I am telling every person among you not to think he is more important than he really is. Instead, he should have a sensible estimate [of his gifts] in harmony with the degree of faith God has given to each person.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
3 For through (G)the grace given to me I say to everyone among you (H)not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to (I)each a measure of faith.
3 For by the grace(G) given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think.(H) Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith(I) to each one.
3 For by the grace given to me I ask every one of you not to think of yourself more highly than you should think, rather to think of yourself with sober judgment on the measure of faith that God has assigned each of you.
4 For there are many parts to a single human body and all of these parts do not have the same function.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
4 For (J)just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,
4 For we have many parts in one body, but these parts do not all have the same function.
5 In the same way, though we [Christians] are many, we are one [spiritual] body in [fellowship with] Christ, and each one of us is part of [all] the others.
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
5 in the same way we who are many(K) are one body in Christ(L) and individually members of one another.
5 In the same way, even though we are many people, we are one body in the Messiah and individual parts connected to each other.
6 And we [all] have different gifts, in harmony with the unearned favor [God has] shown us. If our gift is the ability to prophesy [i.e., to speak for God], we should make use of this gift in harmony with the amount of faith we have.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
6 Since we have gifts that (M)differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if (N)prophecy, (f)according to the proportion of his faith;
6 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts:(M)If prophecy,(N)use it according to the standard of one’s(b) faith;
6 We have different gifts based on the grace that was given to us. So if your gift is prophecy, use your gift in proportion to your faith.
7 Or, if our gift is serving, we should devote ourselves to rendering service. Or, if our gift is teaching, we should devote ourselves to teaching.
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
7 If your gift is serving, devote yourself to serving others. If it is teaching, devote yourself to teaching others.
8 Or, if our gift is encouraging others, we should devote ourselves to encouraging. Or, if our gift is sharing with others, we should do so generously. Or, if our gift is leading others, we should do so diligently. Or, if our gift is showing caring concern for others, we should do it cheerfully.
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
8 or he who (Q)exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with (h)(R)liberality; (S)he who (i)leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with (T)cheerfulness.
8 if exhorting,(Q) in exhortation;giving, with generosity;(R)leading,(S) with diligence;showing mercy, with cheerfulness.(T)
8 If it is encouraging, devote yourself to encouraging others. If it is sharing, share generously. If it is leading, lead enthusiastically. If it is helping, help cheerfully.
Living In Love
10 In your love for your brothers, show tender affection toward one another. Try to outdo one another in showing respect [for each other].
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
10 Show family affection to one another with brotherly love.(W) Outdo one another in showing honor.(X)
10 Be devoted to each other with mutual affection. Excel at showing respect for each other.
11 Be enthusiastic instead of lazy. Be fervent in your spirit [Note: Some translators take "spirit" here to refer to the "Holy Spirit"], [as you] serve the Lord.
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
11 Never be lazy in showing such devotion. Be on fire with the Spirit. Serve the Lord.
16 Have the same [good] thoughts toward one another. Do not [always] be thinking you are a "bigshot," but lower yourself to accept humble tasks [or, humble people]. Do not think you are so smart.
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.
16 (AH)Be of the same mind toward one another; (AI)do not be haughty in mind, but (n)associate with the lowly. (AJ)Do not be wise in your own estimation.
16 Be in agreement with one another.(AH) Do not be proud;(AI) instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.(AJ)
16 Live in harmony with each other. Do not be arrogant, but associate with humble people. Do not think that you are wiser than you really are.
17 Do not [try to] pay back a wrong done to you by doing something wrong to the other person. Think about how to live honorably in front of all people.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
17 (AK)Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. (o)(AL)Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
17 Do not pay anyone back evil for evil, but focus your thoughts on what is right in the sight of all people.
19 Do not take revenge on someone who has wronged you, but leave it up to God's wrath [to take care of it], for it is written [Deut. 22:35], "The Lord says, I will pay people back [for doing wrong] because taking revenge belongs to me."
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.
19 (AO)Never take your own revenge, beloved, but (p)leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “(AP)Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His(c) wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay,(AN)(d) says the Lord.
19 Do not take revenge, dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath. For it is written, "Vengeance belongs to me. I will pay them back, declares the Lord."
20 But [Prov. 25:21-25 says], "Feed your enemy if he is hungry; give him something to drink if he is thirsty. For when you do this, it will be [like] heaping burning coals on his head." [i.e., it can cause him burning shame that can lead to his repentance and ultimate forgiveness].
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.
20 “(AQ)But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
20 ButIf your enemy is hungry, feed him.(AO)If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.For in so doingyou will be heaping fiery coals on his head.(AP)(e)
20 But "if your enemy is hungry, feed him. For if he is thirsty, give him a drink. If you do this, you will pile burning coals on his head."
21 [So], do not be conquered by evil, but [instead] conquer evil by doing good.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.