Romans 12:7
in Romans 12if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
or ministry, let us give ourselves to our ministry; or he that teacheth, to his teaching;
KJV
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
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This verse in Romans 12
Commentary
15 notes on this verseAfter these there follows: Or ministry, in ministering. We can recall all these things to that rule which was stated above, that is: Not to be wise beyond what one ought to be wise; so that, for example, we may say that he who ministers ought not, in ministering, to be wise beyond what he ought to be wise; and he who teaches, in teaching, not to be wise beyond what he ought to be wise; and he who exhorts, in exhortation, not to be wise beyond what he ought to be wise.
This site's exposition
if it is serving, let him serve
on Romans 12:7-8
Serving is diakonia, practical help, and teaching stands beside it with no ranking. Each remaining gift is paired with the manner proper to it: giving with generosity, leading with diligence, mercy with cheerfulness. Seven gifts are named, each with its own spirit.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
The minister is strengthened for the service of the church to the extent that he believes he ought to serve, lest he labor beyond his faith and exhaust himself in serving to his ruin.… Likewise Paul says that the teacher is aided in his teaching …
A commentator
Desert FathersThe Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks · Written before 500.
proposed
A brother asked a hermit, 'Tell me something good that I may do it and live by it.' The hermit said, 'God alone knows what is good. But I have heard that one of the hermits asked the great Nesteros, who was a friend of …
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusINTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS · Written before 458.
proposed
"Service" means the preaching of the Word; "teaching" means instruction in the commands of God.
"Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering." Here he names a comprehensive thing. For the Apostleship even is called a ministry, and every spiritual work is a ministry. This is indeed a name of a peculiar office (viz. the diaconate); however, it is used in a general sense. "Or he that teacheth, on teaching." See with what indifference he places them, the little first and the great afterwards, again giving us the same lesson, not to be puffed up or elated.
The Medieval Church1 voice
In regard to administering the sacraments he adds: or ministry, in ministering, i.e., if one has received the grace or office of the ministry, such as the bishop or priest who are called God's ministers—you shall be called the priests of the Lord, the ministers …
8 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
There is a ministry and a special gift in the church order, such as the ministry of the seven deacons. But here by the name "ministry" understand generally every spiritual work. Whatever ministry, he says, you have received, "abide" in the fulfillment of it (this …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Ministering - As deacons. He that teacheth - Catechumens; for whom particular instructers were appointed. He that exhorteth - Whose peculiar business it was to urge Christians to duty, and to comfort them in trials.
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministry,....
Preaching refers to the eternal condition of the children of men, points directly at a future state. Now those that preach the word must do it according to the proportion of faith -- kata ten analogian tes pisteos, that is, [1.] As to the manner of our prophesying, it must be according to the proportion of the grace of faith.
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Or ministry - διακονίαν diakonian. This word properly means service of any kind; Luk 10:40. It is used in religion to denote the service which is rendered to Christ as the Master.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Having then gifts differing according to the grace given to us--Here, let it be observed, all the gifts of believers alike are viewed as communications of mere grace. whether--we have the gift of prophecy--that is, of inspired teaching (as in Ac 15:32).
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Or ministry, let us wait on--"be occupied with." our ministering--The word here used imports any kind of service, from the dispensing of the word of life (Ac 6:4) to the administering of the temporal affairs of the Church (Ac 6:1-3).
Or ministry - Διακονια simply means the office of a deacon; and what this office was, see in the note on Act 6:4 (note), where the subject is largely discussed. Or he that teacheth - The teacher, διδασκαλος, was a person whose office it was to instruct others, who thereby catechizing, or simply explaining the grand truths of Christianity.
The words behind it
11 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εἴτε | eite | or | G1535 → | 65 times |
| διακονίαν | diakonian | service | G1248 → | 34 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| διακονίᾳ, | diakonia | service, | G1248 → | 34 times |
| εἴτε | eite | or | G1535 → | 65 times |
| ὁ | ho | the [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| διδάσκων | didaskon | teaching | G1321 → | 96 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| διδασκαλίᾳ, | didaskalia | teaching, | G1319 → |
εἴτεor
eiteG1535 →65 times
διακονίανservice
diakonianG1248 →34 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇthe
teaG3588 →19766 times
διακονίᾳ,service,
diakoniaG1248 →34 times
εἴτεor
eiteG1535 →65 times
ὁthe [one]
hoG3588 →19766 times
διδάσκωνteaching
didaskonG1321 →96 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇthe
teaG3588 →19766 times
διδασκαλίᾳ,teaching,
didaskaliaG1319 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ephesians 4:11And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
it leads to
- Jeremiah 3:15
Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
- 1 Corinthians 12:28–29
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.
- Ephesians 2:20
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
- 2 Timothy 4:5
But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
- Acts 20:28
Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
- Jeremiah 3:15
Through
1 Timothy 5:17Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for…
- Hebrews 13:17
Through
2 Timothy 4:2Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14
And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.
- 1 Timothy 4:15–16
Be diligent in these matters and absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies20
On this verse
On this chapter
- An Eye for an Eye in the Law of Moses
- The Armor of God
- Hospitality in Israel and the Early Church
- Love Your Enemies
- The Gifts of the Spirit: 1 Corinthians 12-14
- Take Up Your Cross
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About Romans
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Desert Fathers, The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 21; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS; Theodoret of Cyrus, INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.