Romans 12:14
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Romans 12:14
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse doesn't just say to bless those who persecute you; it emphasizes "bless, and do not curse," highlighting the active choice to speak well of them, rather than simply refraining from ill-wishing. This isn't about suppressing anger, but about actively offering good wishes, even to those who actively seek your harm.
Paul is laying out practical ways believers should live out their faith, building on the idea of transforming their minds. He's just spoken about showing love to fellow believers and being generous, but now he shifts to how they should treat those outside the community, especially those who are hostile. This instruction to bless persecutors comes right before he talks about rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep, broadening the scope of Christian love to all circumstances and people.
Jesus and Paul call us to do something that feels utterly counter-intuitive: bless our enemies. What does that actually mean, and how is it even possible?
The command to 'bless' those who persecute us is a profound challenge to our natural human instincts.
Beyond Mere Words
The Greek word used here, 'eulogéō', doesn't just mean speaking kind words. It carries the sense of wishing well, speaking favorably, and invoking God's favor. It's about actively desiring good for someone, even when they are actively causing you harm.
A Divine Reflection
This command isn't about ignoring injustice or pretending harm doesn't hurt. Instead, it's about reflecting God's own character. God, in His mercy, blesses even those who rebel against Him. Paul is calling believers to mirror this divine generosity, demonstrating a love that transcends personal offense.
Internal and External
As Bengel notes, this 'blessing' extends beyond outward actions to our inner thoughts. It means cultivating a heart that, by God's grace, refuses to harbor curses or ill will, even in private contemplation.
Why does Paul bring up 'persecution' specifically? Understanding this context reveals the depth and difficulty of this command.
The phrase 'those who persecute you' (hoi diōkontes) sets a crucial backdrop for this instruction. Persecution implies intentional, hostile opposition, often stemming from a desire to harm or suppress.
Not Just Minor Annoyances
Paul isn't talking about everyday disagreements or minor slights. He's addressing situations where believers are actively targeted for their faith. The early church, and Paul himself, knew this reality intimately. While the Roman church might not have been under intense, organized persecution at the moment of writing, such trials were an ever-present reality or a looming threat.
The Ultimate Test of Love
Understand the original words
eulogeō · Greek Verb
To speak well of or invoke divine favor upon someone. Biblically, it involves desiring and praying for the spiritual and physical well-being of others, even one's enemies.
diōkō · Greek Verb/Participle
Those who actively pursue, harass, or cause harm to others because of their faith or identification with Christ.
kataraomai · Greek Verb
To invoke divine judgment or harm upon someone. Scripture strictly forbids this, commanding followers of Christ to respond to evil with godly love instead.
Paul's instruction to bless persecutors, while rooted in Jesus' teachings, gains urgency in light of the growing opposition faced by the early church, culminating in the severe persecutions that would soon erupt in Rome.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry and Teaching
Jesus teaches His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them, as recorded in the Gospels. This teaching forms the foundational principle for later apostolic instruction.
c. AD 40s
Early Church Growth and Scattering
The Christian community experiences significant growth, but also faces increasing opposition and scattered believers through persecution, such as the stoning of Stephen. This necessitates practical guidance on how to live faithfully amidst adversity.
c. AD 50s— this verse
Paul Writes Romans
Paul, likely in Corinth, writes his Epistle to the Romans. He addresses the Roman church, which, while not currently under widespread state-sanctioned persecution, likely experienced social ostracization and private animosity.
c. AD 64
Neronian Persecution Begins
Emperor Nero initiates a brutal persecution of Christians in Rome, blaming them for the Great Fire. This event, occurring shortly after Paul's letter, intensifies the need for the principles of blessing and non-retaliation.
Jesus directly teaches His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them, setting the foundational example for Paul's instruction here.
Luke 6:28This passage records Jesus' command to 'bless those who curse you,' which is a very close parallel to Paul's exhortation in Romans 12:14.
Luke 23:34Jesus' prayer from the cross, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,' powerfully demonstrates this principle in action, even in the face of extreme suffering.
1 Peter 3:9Peter echoes Paul's teaching, urging believers not to repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but instead to offer a blessing, showing a unified message throughout the early church.
Proverbs 25:21-22This Old Testament proverb offers a similar principle, suggesting that performing acts of kindness towards enemies can lead to their shame and ultimately be a way of 'burning coals' upon their head, aligning with the transformative power of blessing.
ellicottRomans 12:14: "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not."
(14) Bless them which persecute you. —Apparently with allusion to Matthew 5:44 . It was probably just about the time that St. Paul was writing this Epistle, or at most a year or two later, that the series of compositions which ultimately took the shape of our present Gospels began. It is not, however, necessary to suppose that St. Paul had actually seen one of these. The record of our Lord’s teaching was no doubt at first pre…
bengelRomans 12:14: "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not."
Romans 12:14 . Διώκοντας , persecuting ) for the sake of Christ.— καὶ μὴ καταρᾶσθε , curse not ) not even in thought.
The verse doesn't just say to bless those who persecute you; it emphasizes "bless, and do not curse," highlighting the active choice to speak well of them, rather than simply refraining from ill-wishing. This isn't about suppressing anger, but about actively offering good wishes, even to those who actively seek your harm.
Paul is laying out practical ways believers should live out their faith, building on the idea of transforming their minds. He's just spoken about showing love to fellow believers and being generous, but now he shifts to how they should treat those outside the community, especially those who are hostile. This instruction to bless persecutors comes right before he talks about rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep, broadening the scope of Christian love to all circumstances and people.
Paul is laying out practical ways believers should live out their faith, building on the idea of transforming their minds. He's just spoken about showing love to fellow believers and being generous, but now he shifts to how they should treat those outside the community, especially those who are hostile. This instruction to bless persecutors comes right before he talks about rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep, broadening the scope of Christian love to all circumstances and people.
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This command is the ultimate test of Christ-like love. It forces believers to consider whether their love is conditional or reflects the unconditional love of God. Blessing those who inflict pain demands a supernatural power, a reliance on God's strength rather than our own.
"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them." — The verse doesn't just say to bless those who persecute you; it emphasizes "bless, and do not curse," highlighting the active choice to speak well of them, rather than simply refraining from ill-wish…