Romans 12 13

Romans 12:13 kjv

Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Romans 12:13 nkjv

distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

Romans 12:13 niv

Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Romans 12:13 esv

Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Romans 12:13 nlt

When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Romans 12 verses

Romans 12 13 Meaning

Romans 12:13 urges believers to actively engage in practical love within their community and beyond. It comprises two complementary commands: first, sharing resources to meet the essential needs of fellow believers, emphasizing communal responsibility; and second, diligently practicing hospitality, which extends this care to strangers and travelers. This verse calls for proactive and intentional demonstrations of Christian love, translating inward spiritual transformation into outward compassionate action.

Romans 12 13 Context

Romans 12 opens a new section of Paul's epistle, shifting from doctrinal exposition (chapters 1-11) to practical application and ethical living for believers. Verses 1-2 establish the foundational call to present oneself as a "living sacrifice," transformed by the renewing of the mind. Verses 3-8 discuss spiritual gifts and the unity-in-diversity of the Body of Christ. Romans 12:9-21 then provides a list of specific, short exhortations detailing how transformed believers are to live out genuine love ("agape") in their relationships. This verse, Romans 12:13, follows commands on brotherly love, honor, diligence, and endurance, preceding injunctions about prayer and blessing enemies. It encapsulates practical expressions of love within the community of faith and extends beyond it.

Historically, in the Greco-Roman world, hospitality (xenia) was an important social custom, often with expectations of reciprocity. However, Christian hospitality, as Paul defines it, transcends this, prioritizing unconditional love and care for the needy, even for those who cannot repay. Travelers often faced danger and lacked safe lodging, making the Christian call to philoxenia (love of strangers) a radical and vital expression of faith, sometimes providing refuge for fellow believers fleeing persecution or for itinerant evangelists. This focus on sharing resources among "saints" (believers) also distinguished early Christians, showcasing a deep communal bond that contrasted with the often self-serving individualistic tendencies of contemporary society and patronage systems.

Romans 12 13 Word analysis

• contributing (κοινωνέω - koinōneō): From koinos (common), this Greek verb means "to share," "to have a part in," "to participate in," or "to distribute." It goes beyond mere charitable giving, implying a deep sense of partnership and fellowship. It reflects the idea of "community" and mutual participation in meeting one another's needs, rooted in the shared life of Christ.
• to the needs (χρεία - chreia): This Greek noun denotes "necessity," "want," "exigency," or "need." It refers to fundamental, essential requirements for survival and well-being, not superficial desires. The emphasis is on supplying what is truly lacking or indispensable.
• of the saints (ἅγιος - hagios): Meaning "holy," "set apart," or "sacred." In the New Testament, hagios frequently refers to all believers in Christ, those sanctified by God and called into His covenant community. It underscores the shared identity and spiritual kinship among Christians, making mutual support an internal family responsibility.
• practicing (διώκω - diōkō): This verb carries the strong sense of "to pursue," "to chase after," "to eagerly strive for," or "to give oneself to with great zeal." It implies an active, intentional, and persistent effort, not a passive waiting for opportunities. Believers are called to proactively seek out and create occasions to be hospitable.
• hospitality (φιλοξενία - philoxenia): A compound Greek word from philos (loving) and xenos (stranger, guest). It literally means "love of strangers" or "friendliness to guests." In the ancient world, it was an essential virtue due to the dangers and lack of safe lodging for travelers. For Christians, it transformed into a selfless act of welcoming those outside their immediate social circle, especially fellow believers traveling for ministry, those persecuted, or simply the lonely and vulnerable.
• "contributing to the needs of the saints": This phrase emphasizes the active and participatory nature of Christian communal care. It is a shared responsibility to ensure that no member of the body of Christ lacks basic necessities. This sharing flows from the Spirit-filled transformation, reflecting God's own generosity.
• "practicing hospitality": This is an active command for zealous pursuit of welcoming others. It underscores that Christian hospitality is not merely a polite social custom but a deliberate act of love that requires initiative and effort, extending the grace and fellowship experienced within the community to outsiders, or to brothers and sisters on their journey.

Romans 12 13 Bonus section

The specific choice of the Greek word philoxenia for "hospitality" is particularly significant in a Hellenistic context where xenia (guest-friendship) was common but often conditional and status-based. Christian philoxenia, however, transcended these societal norms by emphasizing philos (love) toward any xenos (stranger or guest), irrespective of social standing, origin, or ability to reciprocate. This form of hospitality was a hallmark of the early church and served multiple purposes: supporting itinerant teachers and missionaries, providing refuge for those persecuted, and presenting a living testimony to the world of Christ's unconditional love. This verse is not just a call to individual acts of kindness, but to a collective ethos within the church, creating a community known for its open hands and open doors.

Romans 12 13 Commentary

Romans 12:13 is a direct command flowing from the call to spiritual renewal and genuine love. It presents two fundamental, intertwined actions: sharing with fellow believers in need and actively extending welcome to strangers. "Contributing to the needs of the saints" calls the church to function as a genuine family where resources are not hoarded but freely shared to alleviate the necessities of others. This is an expression of true brotherly love (Rom 12:10) and an essential outworking of unity in the Body of Christ. It reflects a deeper participation in one another's lives and burdens, embodying the generosity of God.

Simultaneously, "practicing hospitality" is not merely about inviting friends over for dinner but actively pursuing opportunities to welcome those who are unfamiliar, traveling, or without a place of comfort and safety. The original Greek word διώκω (diōkō) emphasizes a diligent and eager pursuit, suggesting that hospitality is not passive but an intentional effort to open one's home and life. This extends Christian love beyond immediate familiarity, offering a tangible demonstration of God's inclusive grace and fulfilling Christ's command to love one's neighbor, even when that neighbor is a stranger or marginalized. Both commands illustrate practical, sacrificial love, demonstrating a transformed heart committed to serving others as a natural outflow of worship.