Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to read "abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good" as simply "hate bad things, like good things." But the Greek words here are far stronger, suggesting a deep loathing and sticking to things, almost as if glued. This isn't a passive preference, but an active, intense posture of the heart against corruption and toward all that reflects God.
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul has just finished discussing how believers should use their spiritual gifts within the church body. Now, he pivots to general exhortations applicable to all Christians, beginning with the foundational principle of genuine love that must be active and discerning. This love should lead believers to intensely hate what is wrong and passionately embrace what is right, setting the stage for the subsequent instructions on how to live that out in community.
Love is more than just a feeling; it's a deliberate choice. Paul kicks off this section by demanding a love that's real, not just for show.
Love Without Hypocrisy
The word translated 'genuine' here (anupokritos) literally means 'un-hypocritical' or 'undisguised.' Paul isn't just saying 'try to love' – he's calling for authenticity. This means our love for God, for fellow believers, and even for those outside the faith, needs to be real, not a performance.
Loving well means knowing what to embrace and what to push away. Paul gives us a clear, two-part directive.
Embracing Good, Rejecting Evil
Paul presents a powerful contrast: 'Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.' This isn't a passive suggestion; it's an active command.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
anypokritos · Greek Adjective
Literally 'without hypocrisy,' referring to a love that is sincere, genuine, and unfeigned. It is a love that does not pretend or hide behind masks, but acts from a pure heart.
apostygeō · Greek Verb
A strong, intense hatred or loathing. In a moral context, it signifies a total rejection of all that is wicked and contrary to God’s nature.
agathos · Greek Adjective
Refers to that which is morally excellent, beneficial, and in alignment with God’s will. It is the standard by which all actions and desires are to be measured.
agapē · Greek Noun
A deep, self-sacrificial, and unconditional love, which characterizes God’s love for humanity and is the commanded response of Christians toward others. It seeks the highest good of the object of that love, regardless of merit.
This passage directly echoes Romans 12:9 by urging that love should not be in word or talk but in deed and truth, emphasizing the genuine, active nature of true love.
Proverbs 8:7This verse is cited in the scholarly context as a parallel, highlighting that genuine love for good is intrinsically linked to a profound aversion to evil, framing these as essential qualities of wisdom.
Hebrews 12:14While Romans 12:9 commands to 'hold fast to what is good,' Hebrews 12:14 exhorts believers to 'strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord,' suggesting a similar active pursuit of positive qualities.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22This passage parallels the 'abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good' command by urging believers to 'test everything; hold fast to what is good,' and to 'abstain from every form of evil,' reinforcing the need for discernment and adherence to good while rejecting evil.
Philippians 4:8This verse broadens the scope of what is good to focus on, instructing believers to think about whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable, which complements Romans 12:9's call to cleave to the good.
vincentRomans 12:9: "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."
Love (ἡ ἀγάπη)The article has the force of your. See on loveth, John 5:20.Without dissimulation (ἀνυπόκριτος)Rev., without hypocrisy. See on hypocrites, Matthew 23:13.Abhor (ἀποστυγοῦντες)Lit., abhorring. The only simple verb for hate in the New Testament is μισέω. Στυγέω, quite frequent in the classics, does not occur except in this compound, which is found only here. The kindred…
gillRomans 12:9: "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."
Let love be without dissimulation,.... The apostle having given out suitable exhortations to the officers of this church, ministers and deacons, proceeds to stir up to the exercise of grace, and the discharge of such duties as were common to all the members of the church; and begins with "love", which is the cement of saints, and the bond of perfectness, without which all the gifts that men…
It's easy to read "abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good" as simply "hate bad things, like good things." But the Greek words here are far stronger, suggesting a deep loathing and sticking to things, almost as if glued. This isn't a passive preference, but an active, intense posture of the heart against corruption and toward all that reflects God.
Paul has just finished discussing how believers should use their spiritual gifts within the church body. Now, he pivots to general exhortations applicable to all Christians, beginning with the foundational principle of genuine love that must be active and discerning. This love should lead believers to intensely hate what is wrong and passionately embrace what is right, setting the stage for the subsequent instructions on how to live that out in community.
Paul has just finished discussing how believers should use their spiritual gifts within the church body. Now, he pivots to general exhortations applicable to all Christians, beginning with the foundational principle of genuine love that must be active and discerning. This love should lead believers to intensely hate what is wrong and passionately embrace what is right, setting the stage for the subsequent instructions on how to live that out in community.
"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good." — It's easy to read "abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good" as simply "hate bad things, like good things." But the Greek words here are far stronger, suggesting a deep loathing and sticking…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026