Romans 12:1-2

[sawman]

I would really appreciate some input as to the meaning of this passge.The wording seems awkward where it says"Brothers,I beg you through the mercy of God to offer your bodies as a living sacrafice holy and acceptable to God,your spiritual worship."I feel like God has given this reading to me recently and really wants me to listen.I have very few and limited ways to share things like this and I am somewhat stumped.Thanks to all.

[ricko]

My NAB says "This moral teaching expresses the necessary response to the gift of justification through faith. It is the Christian's personal sacrificial way of serving God. It consists in the humble use of one's gifts for the benefit of the community."
The rest of the chapter talks about those gifts. Hope this helps.

[thistle]

Originally Posted by sawman

I would really appreciate some input as to the meaning of this passge.The wording seems awkward where it says"Brothers,I beg you through the mercy of God to offer your bodies as a living sacrafice holy and acceptable to God,your spiritual worship."I feel like God has given this reading to me recently and really wants me to listen.I have very few and limited ways to share things like this and I am somewhat stumped.Thanks to all.

D-R Bible, Haydock Commentary:

Ver. 1. With this chapter St. Paul begins his second part, in which he gives us most excellent lessons of morality, after which every Christian should aim to form his life, and thus resemble Jesus Christ and his saints. (Haydock) --- That you present your bodies a living sacrifice. And how must this be done? says St. Chrysostom, hom. xx. Let the eye abstain from sinful looks and glances, and it is a sacrifice; the tongue from speaking ill, and it is a sacrifice, &c. --- Your reasonable service, or worship,[1] from you; nothing being more reasonable, than for men to serve God with their souls and bodies, &c. (Witham)

Ver. 2. Take care, lest you imitate the practices of worldlings. Let your heart, your ambition, carry you to heaven: ever despise those things which the world admires, that every one may see by your actions that you are not of the society of worldlings, and have neither regard nor friendship for them. (Calmet) --- Transform yourselves into new men, by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern on all occasions, what is most perfect, most pleasing and acceptable to God. (Bible de Vence)

[drafdog]

Paul speaks of the offering of our bodies as a sacrifice being truly spiritual worship. The late pastor of St. Cecilia parish once talked about what he wanted for a funeral. His coffin should be a garbage pail, because he wanted to be so used up in the ministry to God's people that the only thing left would be garbage.
I hope this helps you understand St. Paul.

Matthew

[Daniel Marsh]

The word for body can also be translated as flesh. Basically, I see the text as saying that we are to put our sin nature ( Gal 5 ) on the cross daily. We are also to walk in the spirit, rather than in the flesh, sin nature. We are also to be filled often with the Holy Spirit ( Eph 5:18 ).

See also, Romans 8, II Peter 1.

[COPLAND 3]

St. John Chrysostom said,

"For when he had said sacrifice, to prevent any from thinking he bade them kill themselves, he forthwith added (Greek order) "living." Then to distinguish it from the Jewish, he calls it "holy, acceptable to God, your reasonable service." For theirs was a material one, and not very acceptable either.......

So Paul also here bids us "present our bodies a living sacrifice." And how is the body, it may be said, to become a sacrifice? Let the eye look upon no evil thing, and it has become a sacrifice; let your tongue speak nothing filthy, and it has become an offering; let your hand do no lawless deed, and it has become a whole burnt offering. Or rather this is not enough, but we must have good works also: let the hand do alms, the mouth bless them that cross one, and the hearing find leisure evermore for lections of Scripture. For sacrifice allows of no unclean thing: sacrifice is a first-fruit of the other actions. Let us then from our hands, and feet, and mouth, and all other members, yield a first-fruit unto God.

Pelagius, even though he was a heretic, makes good sense, saying,

To present your bodies {How much more the soul!} Not the bodies of animals, as under the law, which, in spite of the fact that they were a symbolic offering, were nevertheless offered up healthy and unblemished. As a living sacrifice, holy. That is, pure and free from the total death of sin. Pleasing to God. You should only please God, not people.

[holdencaulfield]

Originally Posted by drafdog

Paul speaks of the offering of our bodies as a sacrifice being truly spiritual worship. The late pastor of St. Cecilia parish once talked about what he wanted for a funeral. His coffin should be a garbage pail, because he wanted to be so used up in the ministry to God's people that the only thing left would be garbage.
I hope this helps you understand St. Paul.

Matthew

Well done.

Originally Posted by Daniel Marsh

The word for body can also be translated as flesh. Basically, I see the text as saying that we are to put our sin nature ( Gal 5 ) on the cross daily. We are also to walk in the spirit, rather than in the flesh, sin nature. We are also to be filled often with the Holy Spirit ( Eph 5:18 ).

See also, Romans 8, II Peter 1.

Well done as well.

[sawman]

Thank-you all for your help.I initially thought this verse refered to the idea that God says in so many places not to offer bulls and rams etc.but present a humble and contrite heart.The idea that the kind of sacrifice God is looking for is us.Your posts help me see how my body can be a sacrifice.It's funny how one can think something all the time and as soon as someone else says it ,it's like seeing it new or fresh,from a different perspective.Again, Thanks!