Romans 12:7 kjv
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Romans 12:7 nkjv
or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;
Romans 12:7 niv
if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;
Romans 12:7 esv
if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;
Romans 12:7 nlt
If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.
Romans 12 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Romans 12:6 | "We have different gifts according to the grace given to us..." | Prophetic utterance; serving; teaching; encouraging; giving; leading; showing mercy. |
| 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 | "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit..." | Variety of gifts; common good; spiritual manifestation. |
| Ephesians 4:11-12 | "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers..." | Equipping the saints; for works of ministry; building up the body of Christ. |
| 1 Peter 4:10 | "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others..." | Good steward of God’s varied grace. |
| Acts 4:31 | "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken..." | Speaking the word of God boldly. |
| Romans 15:15 | "...as I mentioned to you before, again to remind you of something..." | Reminding through grace given to me. |
| 1 Corinthians 7:17 | "Nevertheless, each person should live as the Lord has assigned them..." | Orderly walk; call of God. |
| 2 Timothy 1:11 | "...I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles." | Appointed herald; apostle; teacher. |
| Romans 14:19 | "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification." | Pursuit of peace; mutual upbuilding. |
| Romans 8:28 | "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him..." | God’s purpose; love for God. |
| Galatians 6:10 | "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people..." | Doing good; opportunity; all people. |
| Philippians 2:15 | "...that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault..." | Shining as lights; generation; blameless and pure. |
| Colossians 3:17 | "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus..." | Everything done; word; deed; Lord Jesus. |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:11 | "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." | Encourage one another; build up. |
| 1 Peter 2:18 | "Slaves, in your reverence for God, submit yourselves to your masters..." | Submission to masters; reverence for God. |
| Hebrews 10:24-25 | "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds..." | Spur to love and good deeds; meeting together. |
| Matthew 25:14-30 | Parable of the Talents | Faithful stewardship; increase; reward. |
| John 13:34-35 | "A new command I give you: Love one another..." | Love one another; distinct mark. |
| Romans 6:13 | "Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness..." | Offer yourselves; instruments of righteousness. |
| Acts 1:8 | "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you..." | Holy Spirit's power; witnesses. |
| Romans 12:7 | "If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;" | Serve; teach; specific function. |
Romans 12 verses
Romans 12 7 Meaning
This verse speaks about the importance of serving faithfully in one's specific gift. It emphasizes that ministry, whether teaching or encouragement, is to be performed with sincerity and dedication, bringing honor to God. The core message is about exercising spiritual gifts with genuine intention and responsibility within the community of believers.
Romans 12 7 Context
Romans chapter 12 shifts focus from doctrinal understanding to practical Christian living. Following extensive theological arguments, Paul now instructs believers on how to apply their faith in their daily lives and within the church community. Chapter 12 begins by urging believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices, which leads into a discussion on spiritual gifts. This verse, specifically the latter part of verse 6 and continuing into verse 7, falls within the section that elaborates on the use of these diverse gifts. The immediate context is about using gifts appropriately according to the measure of faith. Historically, the early church faced the challenge of integrating people from vastly different backgrounds and with different abilities, necessitating guidance on functioning together effectively as one body in Christ.
Romans 12 7 Word Analysis
διακονία (diakonia): This Greek word means "service," "ministry," or "help." It is a fundamental concept in the New Testament, referring to the selfless service performed for others, particularly in the church, following the example of Christ who came not to be served, but to serve. It often implies humble and practical assistance.
εἴτε (eite): This is a Greek particle meaning "whether" or "if." It introduces alternative possibilities or conditions, reflecting the diverse nature of spiritual gifts mentioned previously.
διακονῶν (diakonōn): This is the present participle of the verb diakoneō, meaning "to serve." Used here, it describes the continuous action of serving.
εἴτε (eite): Repeated here, introducing another alternative gift.
διδάσκων (didaskōn): This is the present participle of the verb didaskō, meaning "to teach." It refers to the act of imparting knowledge or instruction, a specific ministry within the church.
serving... teaching: These are presented as distinct examples of spiritual gifts. The implication is that one's ministry should be focused on their particular capacity.
let him serve / let him teach: The imperative form "let him" indicates an instruction to faithfully engage in the gift God has given. It’s a call to action based on one's identified function.
according to its proportion: This phrase (from the end of v.6, leading into v.7) is crucial. It means each gift should be exercised within the limits and measure God has allocated to it, avoiding arrogance or misapplication.
Romans 12 7 Bonus Section
The phrase "serving" (diakonia) in verse 7 is the same root word for "deacon" in the New Testament. This connects the concept of spiritual gifts directly to recognized church leadership roles and emphasizes the servant-hearted nature required of all leaders. The pairing of "serving" and "teaching" might also reflect a common dichotomy of gifts in the early church, with some focused more on practical needs and others on instruction and doctrine, both essential for church health. This verse implicitly calls believers to humility and focus, guarding against envy or attempts to operate in gifts not entrusted to them.
Romans 12 7 Commentary
The verse emphasizes the necessity of authentic service and teaching within the Christian community. It’s not enough to possess a gift; one must actively use it. The emphasis on "serving" and "teaching" as distinct roles highlights the organized and functional nature of the Church. Each member has a part to play, and effectiveness comes from exercising that part faithfully and in alignment with God's distribution of gifts. The call is to humble diligence, recognizing that God grants ability and that service should be undertaken with integrity and without ostentation. This builds up the body of Christ as intended.
- Practical application involves identifying one's spiritual gift and actively engaging in ministry related to that gift.
- For those with the gift of teaching, this means preparing lessons, sharing truth accurately, and engaging learners.
- For those with the gift of service (diakonia), it involves practical acts of helping, supporting, and meeting needs within the church and beyond.