Pentecost Season · Proper 17 · Year A
Romans 12:9-21
Love
August 30, 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
Commentary on Romans 12:9-21 Working Preacher
The Lutheran home commentary on this Year A reading by a named seminary scholar.
Romans 12 - Living the Christian Life Enduring Word · David Guzik
A verse-by-verse evangelical study of sincere love and the refusal of revenge.
Romans 12:9 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentaries gathered verse by verse on the marks of genuine love.
Romans 12:9 Verse-by-Verse Commentary StudyLight
A large library of expositors stacked verse by verse for a further voice on the passage.
Background & Word Study
Romans 12 (Matthew Henry Complete) Bible Study Tools
Matthew Henry's full exposition of the chapter for a classic devotional reading of Christian love.
Romans 12:9 Interlinear BibleHub
The Greek of the passage word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers, including the word for love without hypocrisy.
Enter the Bible: Romans Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary's book introduction to Romans for the letter's practical exhortations.
Book of Romans Overview BibleProject
An animated overview of Romans that frames the community life shaped by the gospel.
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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