By renewing his way of thinking, he acquires a sublime conception of the body. He sees in the body a servant of the spirit, on the path of sanctification. This body kneels down to pray. This body labors to fulfill its duty. This body is offered to God as a living sacrifice. Therefore, the martyrs and confessors presented their body as a holy offering, and suffering could not prevent them from doing so.
 | Author: Shenouda III. Rank: Pope AD: 2012 Source: Title: 21 Wer ist der Mensch? Author: Pope Shenouda III, 117th Pope of Alexandria Number of pages: 159 Copyright: Biblical texts are quoted from the 'Einheitsübersetzung der Heiligen Schrift © 1980 Katholische Bibelanstalt Stuttgart'. Used with the kind permission of the Katholische Bibelanstalt Stuttgart. Print: Egyptian Printing Co., Cairo, Egypt Translation: Egyptian Society of Printing, Sister Sausan |
Anyone who seriously and thoughtfully considers the 'mercies of God', as presented to us from [Rom 1] to [Rom 11], can only come to one conclusion – we should present our 'bodies as a living, holy, pleasing sacrifice to God.' Our 'bodies' represent all our members and – in a broader sense – our lives as well.
Complete dedication is our 'reasonable service'. 'Reasonable service' in this sense: If the Son of God died for me, the least I can do is live for Him. 'If Jesus Christ is God and died for me,' said the notable British athlete C. T. Studd, 'then no sacrifice for Him can be too great.' [1] Isaac Watts’ magnificent hymn expresses the same sentiment: 'What I also give Thee in thanks, / the whole world is still too small; / the gratitude for this love here / can only be my own life.'
'Reasonable service' can also be translated as 'spiritual service'. As believers and priests, we do not come with the bodies of slain animals, but with the spiritual sacrifice of a dedicated life to God. We also offer Him our service [Romans 15:16], our praise [Heb 13:15], and our possessions [Heb 13:16].
Complete dedication is our 'reasonable service'. 'Reasonable service' in this sense: If the Son of God died for me, the least I can do is live for Him. 'If Jesus Christ is God and died for me,' said the notable British athlete C. T. Studd, 'then no sacrifice for Him can be too great.' [1] Isaac Watts’ magnificent hymn expresses the same sentiment: 'What I also give Thee in thanks, / the whole world is still too small; / the gratitude for this love here / can only be my own life.'
'Reasonable service' can also be translated as 'spiritual service'. As believers and priests, we do not come with the bodies of slain animals, but with the spiritual sacrifice of a dedicated life to God. We also offer Him our service [Romans 15:16], our praise [Heb 13:15], and our possessions [Heb 13:16].
Footnote
[1] Norman Grubb, C. T. Studd, Cricketer and Pioneer, S. 141.
 | Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-31 Source: Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck |
Be Transformed
[Verse 1]. If you have considered all that God has done for you, how much He loves you and how merciful He is, you can only exclaim: ‘Lord, here I am, fill my life!’ God expects you to show in your life that you understand something of the teaching you have received. You didn’t read these teachings as lessons merely to memorize them. What you have seen are “the mercies of God”. You have experienced them for yourself, and this is what Paul takes for granted when he sets out to teach you how to live as a Christian for God’s honor.
[Verse 1] and [Verse 2] can each be summarized with one word: [Verse 1] is dedication and [Verse 2] is obedience. Since you have accepted the Lord Jesus, God has a right to your whole life. It shouldn’t be difficult for you to present your body “a living and holy sacrifice” when you think of what God has done for you. So Paul points to “the mercies of God”. It is a joy to God’s heart when His mercies are answered with the sacrifice of your body, when dedication and submission are manifested in your life.
At one time you used your body to live for yourself. You were willing to receive honor for yourself because of the things you did and who you were. But your body is no longer yours. In 1 Corinthians 6 you read: “You have been bought with a price”, the price the Lord Jesus paid, and therefore you should “glorify God in your body” [1Cor 6:20]. This is what the “holy” is all about. “Holy” means to be set apart for a certain object. Your body has been set apart with the object of glorifying God in it and with it.
How can you do this? In the way you treat your body and in what you do with it! God wants to see in your life the life of the Lord Jesus when He was here on earth. Then the sacrifice of your body will be pleasing to God as was the case with the Lord Jesus. On several occasions, God has let it be heard several times from heaven about the Lord Jesus: “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased” [Matt 3:17]; [Matt 17:5]. This pleasure is what God is looking for in your life. God would not be pleased by an occasional pious mood or feeling without giving a thought to what you’re really doing. It is a “spiritual service of worship”, or, as it also can be translated, a “rational service”. This means it’s a way of life in which you’re conscious of everything you’re doing and not doing for the Lord. Your decisions are made in His presence.
[Verse 2]. This is important because it’s easy to let yourself be led by what’s common in the world around you. God wants to make His will clear to you. Do you ask for His will in all things? Your whole life, the way you behave, talk, act, dress and treat people, shouldn’t be conformed to this world, but must be changed completely. You don’t have to decide the way in which this change should take place. This happens from the “renewing of your mind”. Your mind used to be self-centered, but by the new life and the attitude from your new life, you now can be God-centered.
Paul wrote this as an exhortation, so it’s not an automatic change. You have to devote yourself to it to let this transformation take place. If you’re recently converted you may count on God’s patience. Not everything in which you were conformed to in this world will immediately be removed from you. God will show this to you step by step. If you have been converted for a longer time, you also need this exhortation. You can’t escape the influence of this world. Therefore, you must always make this transformation true. Is that what you want to do? That’s what it comes down to.
Only then will you be able to “prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect”. Knowing His will is an absolute necessity to show God’s mercies in your life. What a rich life will be yours if you learn to look at it this way!
[Verse 1] and [Verse 2] can each be summarized with one word: [Verse 1] is dedication and [Verse 2] is obedience. Since you have accepted the Lord Jesus, God has a right to your whole life. It shouldn’t be difficult for you to present your body “a living and holy sacrifice” when you think of what God has done for you. So Paul points to “the mercies of God”. It is a joy to God’s heart when His mercies are answered with the sacrifice of your body, when dedication and submission are manifested in your life.
At one time you used your body to live for yourself. You were willing to receive honor for yourself because of the things you did and who you were. But your body is no longer yours. In 1 Corinthians 6 you read: “You have been bought with a price”, the price the Lord Jesus paid, and therefore you should “glorify God in your body” [1Cor 6:20]. This is what the “holy” is all about. “Holy” means to be set apart for a certain object. Your body has been set apart with the object of glorifying God in it and with it.
How can you do this? In the way you treat your body and in what you do with it! God wants to see in your life the life of the Lord Jesus when He was here on earth. Then the sacrifice of your body will be pleasing to God as was the case with the Lord Jesus. On several occasions, God has let it be heard several times from heaven about the Lord Jesus: “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased” [Matt 3:17]; [Matt 17:5]. This pleasure is what God is looking for in your life. God would not be pleased by an occasional pious mood or feeling without giving a thought to what you’re really doing. It is a “spiritual service of worship”, or, as it also can be translated, a “rational service”. This means it’s a way of life in which you’re conscious of everything you’re doing and not doing for the Lord. Your decisions are made in His presence.
[Verse 2]. This is important because it’s easy to let yourself be led by what’s common in the world around you. God wants to make His will clear to you. Do you ask for His will in all things? Your whole life, the way you behave, talk, act, dress and treat people, shouldn’t be conformed to this world, but must be changed completely. You don’t have to decide the way in which this change should take place. This happens from the “renewing of your mind”. Your mind used to be self-centered, but by the new life and the attitude from your new life, you now can be God-centered.
Paul wrote this as an exhortation, so it’s not an automatic change. You have to devote yourself to it to let this transformation take place. If you’re recently converted you may count on God’s patience. Not everything in which you were conformed to in this world will immediately be removed from you. God will show this to you step by step. If you have been converted for a longer time, you also need this exhortation. You can’t escape the influence of this world. Therefore, you must always make this transformation true. Is that what you want to do? That’s what it comes down to.
Only then will you be able to “prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect”. Knowing His will is an absolute necessity to show God’s mercies in your life. What a rich life will be yours if you learn to look at it this way!
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
 | Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-23 Source: Title: Rom Author: Ger de Koning |
The apostle having closed the part of his epistle wherein he argues and proves various doctrines which are practically applied, here urges important duties from gospel principles. He entreated the Romans, as his brethren in Christ, by the mercies of God, to present their bodies as a living sacrifice to Him. This is a powerful appeal. We receive from the Lord every day the fruits of his mercy. Let us render ourselves; all we are, all we have, all we can do: and after all, what return is it for such very rich receivings? It is acceptable to God: a reasonable service, which we are able and ready to give a reason for, and which we understand. Conversion and sanctification are the renewing of the mind; a change, not of the substance, but of the qualities of the soul. The progress of sanctification, dying to sin more and more, and living to righteousness more and more, is the carrying on this renewing work, till it is perfected in glory. The great enemy to this renewal is, conformity to this world. Take heed of forming plans for happiness, as though it lay in the things of this world, which soon pass away. Do not fall in with the customs of those who walk in the lusts of the flesh, and mind earthly things. The work of the Holy Ghost first begins in the understanding, and is carried on to the will, affections, and conversation, till there is a change of the whole man into the likeness of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. Thus, to be godly, is to give up ourselves to God.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
 | Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source: Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry |
We ought to walk as meet for these gifts which we have received from God. This means that in return for God's mercy we should present our bodies as living holy sacrifice, and to use the members of our bodies totally for good works not for sinful deeds. The living and holy sacrifice required to be presented is the sacrifice of worship which we offer by our minds which obtained the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.
We notice here that such worship that we should present to God should be presented by all our bodies, souls and spirits. It is not worship by the body only, but spiritual reasonable worship revealed in the body. The body takes part in this worship by presenting its members to be tools of righteousness not of transgression. Man as a whole should take part in worshipping God (spiritual reasonable and physical worship). Peter the apostle says, "... to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." [1Pet 2:5] And David the prophet says, "Offer to God thanksgiving." [Ps 50:14] (See also [Rom 6:13], [Rom 6:16], [Rom 6:19])
- By the mercies of God: Notice here these words refer to the mercy, which is one of God's attributes in dealing with mankind. He has dealt with us with all mercy and compassion, as the apostle Paul says in his Second Epistle to the Corinthians, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation." [2Cor 1:3-4]
We notice here that such worship that we should present to God should be presented by all our bodies, souls and spirits. It is not worship by the body only, but spiritual reasonable worship revealed in the body. The body takes part in this worship by presenting its members to be tools of righteousness not of transgression. Man as a whole should take part in worshipping God (spiritual reasonable and physical worship). Peter the apostle says, "... to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." [1Pet 2:5] And David the prophet says, "Offer to God thanksgiving." [Ps 50:14] (See also [Rom 6:13], [Rom 6:16], [Rom 6:19])
- By the mercies of God: Notice here these words refer to the mercy, which is one of God's attributes in dealing with mankind. He has dealt with us with all mercy and compassion, as the apostle Paul says in his Second Epistle to the Corinthians, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation." [2Cor 1:3-4]
 | Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-12 Source: Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373 |
These must be "the bodies "which he "beseeches "the Romans to "present "as "a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.".
For matters of this kind belong not to religion, but to superstition, being studied, and forced, and of curious rather than rational ceremony;
 | Author: Tertullian of Carthage Rank: Author AD: 220 |
Just as with the former law of Moses, all the priests … must first offer a rational sacrifice to God for themselves, and only then for the people. In his prayer, the priest asks in the first place for forgiveness of his own sins and a cleansing of his own soul and body from all sinful thoughts and actions. Then each priest offers these prayers to God in accordance with the measure of his own purity of soul. .
 | Author: Philoxenus of Mabbug Posted on: 2022-11-13 |
How is the body to become a sacrifice? Let the eye look on no evil thing, and it has already become a sacrifice. Let the tongue say nothing filthy, and it has become an offering. Let your hand do nothing evil, and it has become a whole burnt offering. But even this is not enough, for we must have good works also. The hand must do alms, the mouth must bless those who curse it, and the ears must find time to listen to the reading of Scripture. Sacrifice allows of no unclean thing. It is the first fruits of all other actions.
 | Author: John Chrysostom Rank: Bishop AD: 407 |
Idolatry is not confined to casting incense upon an altar with finger and thumb or to pouring libations of wine out of a cup into a bowl. Covetousness is idolatry, or else the selling of the Lord for thirty pieces of silver was a righteous act. Lust involves sacrilege, or else men may defile with common harlots those members of Christ which should be “a living sacrifice, acceptable to God.”
 | Author: Jerome Rank: Priest AD: 420 |
Then again, Paul exhorts us "to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
 | Author: Irenaeus of Lyons Rank: Bishop AD: 202 |
How can the person who is conformed to this age, who is not transformed in the newness of his mind and who does not walk in the newness of this life but instead follows the life of the old man, obey Paul, who commanded you to present your body as a sacrifice living, holy and pleasing to God? How can you be a priest for God, having been anointed for this very purpose of offering a gift to God, not a gift that is completely alien or fraudulent because it consists of what is external to you but a gift which is truly yours because it consists of what is internal to you, which is the man inside you helping you to be perfect and blameless according to the word of the Lamb, free from all stain and dishonor? How will you place these offerings before God if you do not listen to the law which forbids an unholy man to be a priest? On Virginity
 | Author: Gregory of Nyssa Rank: Bishop AD: 394 |
And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.".
And again: "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the mercy of God, that ye constitute your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God; and be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed in the renewing of your spirit, that ye may prove what is the will of God, good, and acceptable, and perfect."
 | Author: Cyprian of Carthage Rank: Bishop AD: 258 |
If the body, which is less than the soul and which the soul uses as a servant or a tool, is a sacrifice when it is used well and rightly for the service of God, how much more so is the soul when it offers itself to God? In this way, aflame in the fire of divine love and with the dross of worldly desire melted away, it is remolded into the unchangeable form of God and becomes beautiful in his sight by reason of the bounty of beauty which he has bestowed upon it.
 | Author: Augustine of Hippo Rank: Bishop AD: 430 |
Paul pleads with them through the mercy of God, by which the human race is saved…. This is a warning that they should remember that they have received God’s mercy and that they should take care to worship the one who gave it to them. God’s will is our sanctification, for bodies subject to sin are considered not to be alive but dead, since they have no hope of obtaining the promise of eternal life. It is for this purpose that we are cleansed from our sins by God’s gift, that henceforth we should lead a pure life and stir up the love of God in us, not making his work of grace of no effect. For the ancients killed sacrifices which were offered in order to signify that men were subjected to death because of sin. But now, since by the gift of God men have been purified and set free from the second death, they must offer a living sacrifice as a sign of eternal life. For now it is no longer the case that bodies are sacrificed for bodies, but instead of bodies it is the sins of the body which must be put to death. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
 | Author: Ambrosiaster Rank: Author AD: 400 |
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
