Romans 12:14-21: a reflection

14Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. 16Be of the same mind one toward another. Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own conceits. 17Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. 18If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. 19Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” 20Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 21Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Paul gives a series of counsels that culminate in a striking command: Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Along the way he says: Bless those who persecute you; repay no one evil for evil; do not avenge yourselves, but leave it to God; if your enemy is hungry, feed him. The whole thrust is against answering evil with evil, and toward answering it with good, overcoming evil not by matching it, but by good.

Notice the command that sums it up: do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. When we are wronged, the natural response is to repay evil with evil, to answer wrong with wrong, to avenge ourselves. But Paul says this is to be overcome by evil, dragged down to its level, letting it conquer us. The better way is to overcome evil with good: to answer wrong not by matching it, but by good, blessing those who curse us, feeding the enemy who wrongs us, leaving vengeance to God. Good, not more evil, is what overcomes evil.

That is a hard but transformative command. When we are wronged, we can be overcome by evil, drawn to answer it with evil, to repay wrong with wrong, and so let the evil conquer us and spread. But Paul calls us to overcome evil with good, not to be dragged down to answering evil with evil, but to answer it with good, refusing revenge, blessing, feeding even the enemy. When you are wronged, do not be overcome by evil, drawn to repay it with evil; overcome evil with good. Do not let the wrong done to you drag you into doing wrong in return; answer it, instead, with good, refusing revenge, blessing rather than cursing, leaving vengeance to God. Evil is not overcome by more evil, which only spreads it, but by good; do not be conquered by evil, matching wrong with wrong, but conquer evil with good, as Paul commands, answering the wrong done to you with good, and so overcoming evil rather than being overcome by it.

Lord, Paul gives counsels that culminate in a striking command: do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good; along the way, bless those who persecute you, repay no one evil for evil, do not avenge yourselves but leave it to God, feed your hungry enemy. Show me the command that sums it up: do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. When I am wronged, the natural response is to repay evil with evil, to answer wrong with wrong, to avenge myself. But Paul says this is to be overcome by evil, dragged down to its level, letting it conquer me. The better way is to overcome evil with good: to answer wrong not by matching it, but by good. That is a hard but transformative command. When I am wronged, I can be overcome by evil, drawn to answer it with evil, and so let the evil conquer me and spread. But you call me to overcome evil with good. When I am wronged, keep me from being overcome by evil, drawn to repay it with evil; help me overcome evil with good. Do not let the wrong done to me drag me into doing wrong in return; help me answer it with good, refusing revenge, blessing rather than cursing, leaving vengeance to you. Evil is not overcome by more evil, but by good; keep me from being conquered by evil, Lord, and help me conquer evil with good, as you command. Help me overcome evil with good.