Fathers

Romans 12

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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. 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. 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. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 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. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 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. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 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. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

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What the Fathers say

Romans 12:4

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office; so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." Again he uses the same ensample as he does to the Corinthians, and that to allay the same passion. For great is the power of the medicine, and the force of this illustration for the correcting of this disease of haughtiness. Why (he means) dost thou think highly of thyself? Or why again does another utterly despise himself? Are we not all one body, both great and small? …

Homily on Romans 21 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

By the example of the body and its members, he overthrows the great exaltation of pride. The body is one, but it has various members performing various functions. In exactly the same way, we who believe comprise one body in Christ as the head, while individually we are members one of another — not only the lesser for the greater, but also the greater for the lesser. Therefore, do not exalt yourselves over one another: as members, you have need of one another.

Commentary on Romans ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

After this admonition the Apostle assigns a reason based on the mystical body's likeness to a natural body. First, he touches on three things in a natural body; first, its unity when he says: for as in one body; second, the multiplicity of members when he says: we have many members; for the human body is an organism consisting of various members; third, the variety of functions when he says: all the members do not have the same act. For the variety of members would serve no purpose unless they were ordered to different functions.

Commentary on Romans ↗