Romans 12:11 BSB — MannaFest

Romans 12:11

Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

in diligence not slothful; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

KJV

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

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Commentary

3 voices

Origen of Alexandria

COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS (253)

In diligence not slothful. Above he admonished that the one who presides ought to be in diligence; but now he gives this commandment to all in common, lest any of us hear from the Lord: Wicked and slothful servant. Fervent in spirit. This too has to do with being unslothful and diligent. For he wills that we, who live under the law of the spirit, should have nothing slack in us, nothing lukewarm, but should carry out everything with fervor of spirit and warmth of faith. Serving the Lord.

The record, by era

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

Not slothful - The word rendered “slothful” refers to those who are slow, idle, destitute of promptness of mind and activity; compare Mat 25:16. In business - τῇ σπουδῇ tē spoudē. This is the same word which in Rom 12:8 is rendered “diligence.” It properly denotes haste, intensity, ardor of mind; and hence, also it denotes industry, labor. The direction means that we should be diligently occupied in our proper employment.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Another reading--"serving the time," or "the occasion"--which differs in form but very slightly from the received reading, has been adopted by good critics [LUTHER, OLSHAUSEN, FRITZSCHE, MEYER]. But as manuscript authority is decidedly against it, so is internal evidence; and comparatively few favor it. Nor is the sense which it yields a very Christian one.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

10 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
τῇ	tēa	<the>	G3588 →
σπουδῇ	spoudēa	in diligence	G4710 →
μὴ	mē	not	G3361 →
ὀκνηροί,	oknēroi	lagging,	G3636 →
τῷ	tō	<the>	G3588 →
πνεύματι	pneumati	in spirit	G4151 →
ζέοντες,	zeontes	being fervent,	G2204 →
τῷ	tō	the	G3588 →
κυρίῳ	kuriō	Lord	G2962 →
δουλεύοντες,	douleuontes	serving,	G1398 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
leads to
- Proverbs 10:12
  Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.
- Colossians 3:14
  And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.
- Proverbs 17:9
  Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
- James 5:20
  consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
- 1 Peter 1:22
  Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.
Through
Proverbs 13:4
The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
leads to
- Proverbs 12:24
  The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.
- Proverbs 12:11
  The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks judgment.
- 2 Peter 1:5–11
  For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;

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Roman legionary equipment surveyed by Paul as Christian discipline (Eph 6:10–18). Six pieces of armor and a seventh element — prayer — that is posture, not armor. Every piece carries an OT echo.

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The Sermon on the Mount. Carl Bloch, 1877

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The Living Sacrifice, MannaFest

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About Romans

The Crucifixion — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

Romans: the study guide →Read chapter 12 →The featured study →

Continue: Romans 12 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About Romans

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Romans