Deeper ReflectionGenuine love moves us to love unbelievers, even those who treat
us badly and we consider our enemies. In verses 14 and 17 to 21,
Paul instructs Christians using four sets of “do not…but instead…”
exhortations. We consider the first two exhortations today and the
remaining two tomorrow.First,
do not curse our persecutors, but instead bless them (v.14). To curse our persecutors is to invoke on them divine punishments, even disasters. Since God is ultimately the Giver of all blessings, a major way for Christians to bless our persecutors is to pray for God’s mercy and grace upon them. Blessing our persecutors is a powerful demonstration of genuine love which shuns evil and clings to what is good (Rom 12:9), and it clearly manifests the renewed way of thinking which characterises believers (Rom 12:2).
19Second,
do not repay evil for evil (v.17),
but instead live peaceably with all (v.18). The world views retaliation against adversaries as natural and justified, but Paul echoes here
20 our Lord Jesus’ teaching to love our enemies (Matt 5:38-48). Christians are not only to be peacekeepers (Mk 9:50), but also peacemakers (Matt 5:9).
21 Notably, Paul includes two qualifications — “If possible” suggests that peace with enemies cannot always be achieved;
22 and “so far as it depends on you” implies that another party can, in fact, disrupt the peace.
23 The Christian, however,must never be that party responsible for causing disharmony.
24When the church refrains from cursing or retaliating against her enemies,
but blesses them and, as far as possible, lives peaceably with all, we are
acting together in love towards those outside the church.
19 Douglas J. Moo, The Epistle to the Romans, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1996), 780.
20 Paul also teaches against retaliation in 1 Thessalonians 5:15; and so does Peter (1 Pet 3:9).
21 James R. Edwards, Romans, Understanding the Bible Commentary Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2011), 298.
22 For example, one cannot compromise the Gospel to keep peace: Pate, 251
23 William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, vol. 12-13, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), 420-421.
24 John A. Witmer, “Romans,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 490.
