Romans 12:14-15
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Paul doesn't just tell us to bless our persecutors; he repeats the command and contrasts it with cursing, emphasizing that this isn't about just holding back angry words but cultivating a genuine, internal goodwill. This directive goes beyond simply refraining from wishing harm; it demands actively desiring God's best for those who wish us ill, reflecting Christ's own selfless love.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
English Standard Version (ESV)
In these verses, Paul is shifting from outward expressions of love to more challenging inward attitudes and outward actions within the community and towards outsiders. He's just spoken about generosity and serving others, and now he dives into how believers should respond to those who mistreat them, urging them to overcome evil with good and to live in harmony rather than pursuing personal ambition. This instruction to "bless those who persecute you" is a radical counter-cultural command, a direct application of Christ-like love that extends even to enemies.
What does it really mean to 'bless' those who hurt you? It's more than just saying nice words.
Paul doesn't just tell us to avoid cursing; he commands us to actively 'bless' our persecutors. This isn't about insincere flattery or ignoring the wrong done.
Active Good Will
The Greek word for 'bless' here implies speaking well of someone, but more deeply, it means to wish them well and pray for their good. It's about invoking God's favor upon them, even when they actively seek to harm you. Think of it as actively desiring their ultimate well-being, which includes their spiritual good.
Beyond Just Not Cursing
Many commentaries emphasize that this blessing goes beyond merely refraining from curses, even in our thoughts. It's a radical call to actively counter malice with benevolence, demonstrating a love that is truly divine and utterly counter-cultural.
Why would Paul specifically mention 'those who persecute you'? Isn't that an extreme case?
Paul's instruction to bless persecutors isn't a niche rule for martyrs; it's a foundational aspect of Christian conduct.
The Ultimate Test of Love
Persecution is the ultimate test of our commitment to God's way. It's easy to be kind to friends. It's challenging, yet profoundly revealing, to extend genuine good will to those who actively oppose you for your faith. This command reveals the depth of God's transforming work in our lives.
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Reflecting God's Heart
Persecutors are often deeply misguided or actively hostile. By blessing them, we reflect God's own heart. As the commentaries note, God shows kindness even to the unthankful and wicked. Our response, empowered by God, should mirror His own generous, forgiving, and redemptive love, even when it seems impossible.
This command sounds impossible! How can we possibly 'bless' those who hurt us?
Paul knows this command is incredibly difficult, even 'wholly opposed to the nature of man.' He doesn't present it as a mere human effort.
God's Power, Not Ours
The ability to bless persecutors doesn't come from our own strength. It stems from the indwelling power of God's Spirit, which enables us to live a life transformed by Christ. This is the 'power of God' that Paul elsewhere says is not wanting for believers who seek it.
A Daily Resistance
Living out this command requires daily reliance on God and a conscious resistance to our natural inclinations. It’s a mark of genuine faith, a sign that we are being shaped into the image of Christ. Even if we don't perfectly fulfill it, the striving and daily resistance against our hostile impulses are what identify us as children of God.
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.
While the church in Rome may not have been under widespread, official persecution when Paul wrote, the seeds of hostility were already sown. This instruction to 'bless those who persecute you' was a radical call to counter-cultural love, anticipating the severe trials that would soon engulf believers throughout the empire.
c. AD 60-62— this verse
Paul writes Romans from Corinth
The Apostle Paul likely penned this letter to the church in Rome while staying in Corinth, a bustling Roman port city, during his third missionary journey. The church in Rome, comprised of both Jewish and Gentile believers, was experiencing internal tensions and external pressures.
c. AD 64
Nero's Persecution Begins
Emperor Nero scapegoated Christians for the Great Fire of Rome, initiating the first empire-wide persecution. This period saw brutal tortures and executions, creating an atmosphere of intense suffering for believers.
c. AD 67
Martyrdom of Peter and Paul
Tradition holds that both apostles met their martyrdom in Rome during Nero's reign. Their deaths underscored the extreme hostility Christians faced.
c. AD 110-120
Plutarch's Writings
The Greek writer Plutarch records the story of a priestess who, when asked to curse Alcibiades, refused, stating her office was to make prayers, not execrations. This reflects a broader cultural awareness of the difference between blessing and cursing.
Jesus directly teaches His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them, setting the foundation for Paul's instruction here.
Luke 6:28This passage mirrors Jesus' command to bless those who curse you, emphasizing the radical nature of God's kingdom and its counter-cultural ethic.
1 Peter 3:9Peter echoes this command, stating that believers are called to bless, for this is what they have been called to inherit, highlighting the divine purpose behind this difficult command.
Proverbs 25:21-22This Old Testament proverb provides a foreshadowing of Paul's teaching, suggesting that showing kindness to an enemy results in 'burning coals' upon their head, leading them to repentance.
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.
Paul doesn't just tell us to bless our persecutors; he repeats the command and contrasts it with cursing, emphasizing that this isn't about just holding back angry words but cultivating a genuine, internal goodwill. This directive goes beyond simply refraining from wishing harm; it demands actively desiring God's best for those who wish us ill, reflecting Christ's own selfless love.
In these verses, Paul is shifting from outward expressions of love to more challenging inward attitudes and outward actions within the community and towards outsiders. He's just spoken about generosity and serving others, and now he dives into how believers should respond to those who mistreat them, urging them to overcome evil with good and to live in harmony rather than pursuing personal ambition. This instruction to "bless those who persecute you" is a radical counter-cultural command, a direct application of Christ-like love that extends even to enemies.
In these verses, Paul is shifting from outward expressions of love to more challenging inward attitudes and outward actions within the community and towards outsiders. He's just spoken about generosity and serving others, and now he dives into how believers should respond to those who mistreat them, urging them to overcome evil with good and to live in harmony rather than pursuing personal ambition. This instruction to "bless those who persecute you" is a radical counter-cultural command, a direct application of Christ-like love that extends even to enemies.
"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." — Paul doesn't just tell us to bless our persecutors; he repeats the command and contrasts it with cursing, emphasizing that this isn't about just holding back angry words but cultivating a genuine, in…
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Last reviewed October 2026
