Bible / Romans

Romans 12

World English Bible, Catholic edition, in plain modern English. About the translations

1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. CCC

2 Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God. CCC

3 For I say through the grace that was given me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith. Fathers

4 For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don’t have the same function, CCC

5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another, CCC · Fathers

6 having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us: if prophecy, let’s prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; CCC

7 or service, let’s give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching; CCC

8 or he who exhorts, to his exhorting; he who gives, let him do it with generosity; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. CCC

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good. CCC

10 In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor prefer one another, CCC

11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, CCC

12 rejoicing in hope, enduring in troubles, continuing steadfastly in prayer, CCC

13 contributing to the needs of the saints, and given to hospitality. CCC

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse. CCC

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

16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own conceits.

17 Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. Fathers

18 If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.

19 Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.”

20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

21 Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church

Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text.

  1. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 1105 “The Epiclesis ("invocation upon") is the intercession in which the priest begs the Father to send the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, so…”
    • CCC 2031 “The moral life is spiritual worship. We "present (our) bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God," within the Body…”
  2. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 2520 “Baptism confers on its recipient the grace of purification from all sins. But the baptized must continue to struggle against concupiscence of…”
    • CCC 2826 “By prayer we can discern "what is the will of God" and obtain the endurance to do it. Jesus teaches us that…”
  3. Read the Fathers
    • “For this cause also the apostle says, "Be not wise beyond what it is fitting to be wise, but be wise prudently,”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XX. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  4. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 1142 “But "the members do not all have the same function." Certain members are called by God, in and through the Church, to…”
  5. Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 1372 “St. Augustine admirably summed up this doctrine that moves us to an ever more complete participation in our Redeemer's sacrifice which we…”
    • “Why do we divide and tear to pieces the members of Christ, and raise up strife against our own body, and have reached such a height of madness as to forget that "we are members one of another?”

      Quoted in First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Clement of Rome (c. AD 96), Chapter XLVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  6. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 2004 “Among the special graces ought to be mentioned the graces of state that accompany the exercise of the responsibilities of the Christian…”
    • CCC 114 “3. Be attentive to the analogy of faith. By "analogy of faith" we mean the coherence of the truths of faith among…”
  7. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 2004 “Among the special graces ought to be mentioned the graces of state that accompany the exercise of the responsibilities of the Christian…”
  8. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 2004 “Among the special graces ought to be mentioned the graces of state that accompany the exercise of the responsibilities of the Christian…”
    • CCC 2039 “Ministries should be exercised in a spirit of fraternal service and dedication to the Church, in the name of the Lord. At…”
  9. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 1971 “To the Lord's Sermon on the Mount it is fitting to add the moral catechesis of the apostolic teachings, such as Romans…”
  10. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 1971 “To the Lord's Sermon on the Mount it is fitting to add the moral catechesis of the apostolic teachings, such as Romans…”
  11. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 1971 “To the Lord's Sermon on the Mount it is fitting to add the moral catechesis of the apostolic teachings, such as Romans…”
    • CCC 2039 “Ministries should be exercised in a spirit of fraternal service and dedication to the Church, in the name of the Lord. At…”
  12. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 1820 “Christian hope unfolds from the beginning of Jesus' preaching in the proclamation of the beatitudes. the beatitudes raise our hope toward heaven…”
    • CCC 1971 “To the Lord's Sermon on the Mount it is fitting to add the moral catechesis of the apostolic teachings, such as Romans…”
  13. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 1971 “To the Lord's Sermon on the Mount it is fitting to add the moral catechesis of the apostolic teachings, such as Romans…”
  14. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 1669 “Sacramentals derive from the baptismal priesthood: every baptized person is called to be a "blessing," and to bless. Hence lay people may…”
    • CCC 2636 “The first Christian communities lived this form of fellowship intensely. Thus the Apostle Paul gives them a share in his ministry of…”
  15. Read the Fathers
    • “And let the presbyters be compassionate and merciful to all, bringing back those that wander, visiting all the sick, and not neglecting the widow, the orphan, or the poor, but always "providing for that which is becoming in the sight of God and man;”

      Quoted in Letter to the Philippians, St. Polycarp of Smyrna (early 2nd century), Chapter VI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1