Romans 12:11-12
(11) Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
(12) Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Paul then provided a series of exhortations concerning a believer’s personal attitudes, attitudes that will make him more attractive to others. In verse 11 the key thought is the last clause—serving (douleuontes; diakonian in v. 7 is trans. “serving”) the Lord—and the first two clauses explain how a believer is to serve as the Lord’s “slave” (doulos; cf. 1:1): never . . . lacking (“not shrinking, not hesitating, not being lazy”) in zeal (en spoude, “diligence,” rendered “diligently” in 12:8), and being fervent in spirit. Keep your spiritual fervor is literally, “being fervent, or boiling (zeontes, used only here and in Acts 18:25 of Apollos) in the spirit” (either the Holy Spirit or one’s inner life). These two commands also balance each other as negative and positive commands (cf. Rom. 12:9). As believers serve God as His slaves they should be enthusiastic and diligent.
The three exhortations in verse 12 can be understood either as independent items or as additional descriptions of how believers should serve the Lord. They are to be joyful in hope, because their hope in Christ is the basis of their rejoicing (5:2-5; 1 Peter 1:6-9). In affliction (thlipsei, “distress, trouble, pressure”; cf. Rom. 8:35) believers are to be patient (hypome nontes, “being steadfast, having endurance”; cf. 5:3). Also Christians should continue in prayer to God for wisdom, guidance, and strength (cf. 1 Thes. 5:17). Being faithful, NIV‘s translation of proskarterountes, should be rendered “persisting in” or “devoted to” (cf. Acts 1:14; 2:42; Col. 4:2).
Excerpt from:
Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
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