Romans 12:9-11 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Having spoken of faith and its fruits, Romans 12:3, he comes now to speak of love. Let love be without dissimulation Not in pretence, but in reality; not in word and tongue only, but in deed and in truth, 1 John 3:18. In consequence of loving God because he hath first loved you, sincerely love and desire the temporal and eternal welfare of all mankind; and let all your expressions of mutual friendship be as free as possible from base flattery and vain compliment. Abhor that which is evil In every instance; and cleave to that which is good Both inwardly and outwardly, whatever ill-will or danger may follow: practise benevolence and every other virtue with the greatest determination and perseverance of mind. Be kindly affectioned one to another Or, as the very expressive words of the original, τη φιλαδελφια, εις αλληλους φιλοστοργοι, may be rendered, In love to one another, as brethren in Christ, show that kindness of affection which near relations bear to one another. So Macknight, who justly observes, “the force of the word φιλοστοργοι, can hardly be reached in any translation.” It is compounded of a word signifying that affection which animals, by instinct, bear to their young; and so teaches us, that Christian charity must be warm and strong, like that, and joined with delight, which the word also implies. In honour preferring one another That is, let each, in his turn, be ready to think better of his brethren than of himself, which he will do, if he habitually consider what is good and excellent in others, and what is evil or weak in himself. It may imply also the preventing others in every office of respect and kindness; and, out of regard to their advantage, giving up, with as good a grace as possible, any thing in which our own honour or personal interest may be concerned. The original words, however, τη τιμη αλληλους προηγουμενοι, are interpreted by some, In every honourable action going before, and leading on one another. Not slothful in business That is, being diligent and industrious in your particular callings; or in your endeavours to advance the glory of God, and the good, especially the spiritual good, of one another, as the singular phraseology of the original, τη σπουδη μη οκνηροι, is thought by many to imply: “not slothful in the concerns of God and one another,” says Dr. Whitby; “in care for each other be not slothful,” Macknight; “perform not your duty slothfully, unwillingly, and heavily, but diligently,” Baxter; “whatsoever you do, do it with your might,” Wesley. Although it is proper that Christians should attend to, and be diligent in prosecuting their temporal business, yet it does not appear that was the chief thing the apostle had in view in this passage. Fervent in spirit Zealous and earnest, especially in all the duties of religion, and in every business diligently and fervently serving the Lord; doing all to God, and not to man; making God's will your rule, and his glory your end, in all your actions.