Romans 12:9

"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."

Key Reflection

This passage emphasizes the importance of performing Christian duties with a joyful and generous spirit. Those who exhort should do so with zeal, those who give should do so freely and abundantly, rulers should govern diligently, and those who show mercy should do so with genuine cheerfulness, reflecting Christ’s love and service in all actions.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 9. Let love. The apostle proceeds to specify the duties of Christians in general, that they might secure the beauty and order of the church. The first which he specifies is love. This word here evidently refers to benevolence, or to good-will toward all mankind. In Ro 12:10, he specifies the duty of brotherly love; and there can be no doubt that he here refers to the benevolence which we ought to cherish towards all men, A similar distinction is found in 2 Pe 1:7, "And to brotherly kindness add charity," i.e., benevolence, or good will, and kind feelings to others. Without dissimulation. Without hypocrisy. Let it be sincere and unfeigned.

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