Pentecost Season · Mary's Visitation · Year A
Romans 12:9-16b
Love
May 31, 2026
Overview & Insights
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)
Romans 12:9–21 continues the theme of being a living sacrifice (12:1–2) by loving others. Romans 12:9 and 12:21 form an inclusio for the intervening verses: to love is to avoid evil and cling to good. Although a sequential outline is difficult to identify in 12:9–21, a topical outline does emerge: 1. Love God (12:11–12) 2. Love one’s fellow Christians (12:10, 13, 15, 16) 3. Love one’s enemies (12:14, 17–21)
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Commentary
Romans 12:9-21 Working Preacher
A Luther Seminary commentary on Paul's rapid exhortations for the shape of Christian love.
Romans 12 Enduring Word · David Guzik
A verse by verse evangelical commentary on the chapter and its marks of genuine love.
Romans 12 resources Precept Austin
A deep study page gathering word studies, cross references, and many expositors on Romans 12.
Classic commentaries on Romans 12 BibleHub
A classic aggregator stacking historic verse by verse commentary on Romans 12.
Romans 12, Barnes' Notes StudyLight
Albert Barnes' notes on the whole of Romans 12, verse by verse.
Background & Word Study
Romans Enter the Bible
A Luther Seminary introduction to Paul's letter to the Romans.
Overview: Romans (Part 2) BibleProject
An animated overview covering the second half of Romans, including chapter 12.
Romans 12:9 interlinear BibleHub
The Greek text of Romans 12:9 word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
How are Christians to treat enemies?
Paul calls the church to live in harmony, to bless and not curse, to leave vengeance to God, and to conquer evil by returning good, feeding even the hungry enemy.
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