1Let every life be placed underassigned to the powershere and throughout, authorities being overlit. rising above [it].some manuscripts: Be placed under every power being over [you].^a For [there] is no powerlit. power is not if not from God, but the [powers] being(existing) have been marshaled(arrayed / drawn up [for battle]) by God;^b 2inasmuch as the [one] setting [oneself] in battle against(opposition to) the power, the [one] having been appointed [on a particular occasion] by God, [he] has set [himself] against [iti.e., the power/authority in battle], but the [ones] having set [themselves] against [it] will receive a judgment(condemnation) for themselves. 3For the [ones] ruling are not a fear to the good work(deed) but to the bad.^c But do [thou] wish not to dread(be frightened by) the power? Do the good [thing], and [thou] will have approval(praise) from it; 4for [it] is a servantHere and throughout, an English cognate term with this word is deacon. of God for thee unto the good [thing]. But if [thou] do the bad [thing], be afraid; for [it] does not carry the daggerThough not technically accurate, it was common to use this Greek word to refer to the gladius, the primary sword of the Roman soldier. in vain;(at random / without a plan) for [it] is a servant of God, a prosecutor(avenger) unto wrath to the [one] practicing the bad [thing].^d 5Wherefore [there is] a compulsion to be placed under [it], not only on account of wrath, but also on account of knowledge.(conscience) 6For an account of this [thing you] perform(perfect) tributes,lit. payments for public servants of God are persisting obstinatelyThis is a circumlocution, using a participle instead of the normal form of the verb. This focuses especially on the state of behavior rather than the particular action. unto this same thing. 7Give back debts to all [people], the tribute to the [one to whom] tribute [is due],^e the dutylit. outcome, end to the [one to whom] the duty [is due], fear to the [one to whom] fear [is due], honor to the [one to whom] honor [is due].

8Oweὀφείλετε can take a direct object, meaning to owe something, or an infinitive, meaning that you ought to do something. Both are used here, but English loses some of the commandment of the latter (i.e., we ought to love each other). nothing to anyone, except to love each other; for the [one] loving another has fulfilled [the] law.^f 9For the [thing], [thou] will notThe verb forms here could almost be imperatives, but the word for negation is οὐ, not μή, which means it must be a future indicative, not an imperative. commit adultery, [thou] will not murder, [thou] will not covet,(desire); lit. set one’s heart uponsome manuscripts end after murder, others add [thou] will not give false witness there; some do both^g and if [there is] any other commandment, in this word [it] is summed up, {in this:} [thou] will love thy nearby [person(neighbor) as] thyself.^h 10Love does not work [at] a bad [thing] for the [one] nearby;This is the adverbial form, not an adjective. love, therefore, [is the] fulfilmentlit. complement of [the] law.ⁱ

11And knowing this [is] the time, that the hour already [has come] to wake(rouse) yousome manuscripts: us; others omit out of sleep^j for now our salvation [is] nearer than when [we] believed [on a particular occasion]. 12The night advanced(made progress / progressed) [on a particular occasion], but the day has approached.^k Let [us] therefore put awaysome manuscripts: throw off [on a particular occasion] the works of darkness,^l {and} let [us] put onhere and in verse 14, (don) the armor of light. 13Let [us] walk gracefully as in [the] day, not with revelries and strong drinks,^m not with beds and licentiousness, not with strife and jealousy; 14but put on the lord Jesus Christ,ⁿ and do not make providencelit. foreknowledge, foresight forlit. of the flesh unto [its] desires.(covets); the same root as the command in verse 9

Cross-references:
^a Let every life…rising above [it]: cf. Titus 3:1
^b For [there] is…marshaled by God: cf. Proverbs 8:15; John 19:11
^c For the [ones]…to the bad: cf. 1 Peter 2:13-14; 3:13
^d a prosecutor unto…the bad [thing]: cf. Romans 12:19
^e Give back debts…tribute [is due]: cf. Matthew 22:21; Mark 12:17; Luke 20:25
^f for the [one]…fulfilled [the] law: cf. Galatians 5:14; 1 Timothy 1:5
^g [thou] will not…one’s heart upon: cf. Exodus 20:13-15, 17; Deuteronomy 5:17-19, 21; Matthew 19:18
^h [thou] will love…[person as] thyself: cf. Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:43; 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8
ⁱ love, therefore, [is…of [the] law: cf. Matthew 22:40
^j knowing this [is]…out of sleep: cf. Ephesians 5:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:6-7
^k The night advanced…day has approached: cf. 1 John 2:8
^l Let [us] therefore…works of darkness: cf. Ephesians 5:11
^m Let [us] walk…and strong drinks: cf. Luke 21:34; Ephesians 5:18
ⁿ put on the…lord Jesus Christ: cf. Galatians 3:27

1Therefore [I] exhorthere and in verse 8, (summon); lit. call to you, brothers, through the mercies(pities, compassions) of God, to place(set) your bodies aside [as] a sacrifice, living, holy, acceptable to God, your intellectual service. 2The imperatives in this verse are in the present tense, giving them imperfective aspect. This means that the command is habitual, over time, or continuing long-term.And do not be corrected(remodeled) to this period of existence,(age, lifetime, era) but be transformed by the renewal of the mind,(thought)^a in order that you may test(prove, approve) what [is] the will of God, the good and acceptable^b and perfect.(complete)^c

3For [I] say, through the grace having been given [on a particular occasion] to me, to every [one] being among you not to be proudlit. to over-think about what [it] is necessary to think, but to think in order to think soundly,lit. safe-think for each [one] just as God distributed(divided) [on a particular occasion] a measure of faith.(belief)^d 4For exactly as in one body [we] have many limbs, on the other hand all the limbs do not have the same job,(business, action, function)^e 5thus [we] many are one body in Christ, but on the other hand, individuallylit. according to the one [we are] limbs of each other.^f 6But having different graces(favors, charisms) according to grace having been given [on a particular occasion] to us, either prophecy according to the proportion of faith, 7or service in service, or the [one] teaching in [his] teaching, 8or the [one] exhorting in [his] exhortation, the [one] sharing in [his] simplicity,(liberality); lit. singleness^h the [one] being set over in [his] haste,here and in verse 11, (zeal, earnestness) the [one] showing mercy in [his] cheerfulness.An English word derived from this Greek word is hilarity.^g

9Love [is] undramatic.(without dissimulation)ⁱ AbhorHere and every imperative marked with a blue asterisk through the end of the chapter, this is a participle with attendant circumstance, indicating an imperative sense. the worthless(knaving, toilsome) [thing], glue* [yourselves] to the good [thing];^j 10[be] affectionate in brotherly love unto each other,^k lead* each other to honor,(worship)^l 11do not shrink* from(be timid toward) haste, boil* with respect to [your] spirit,^m be a slave* to the lord,some manuscripts: to time; others omit this clause 12rejoice* with respect to hope, remain* [in] pressure,(affliction) persist obstinately(adhere firmly, remain faithful)* in prayer,ⁿ 13have a share*(take part in) in the needs of the saints, pursue* hospitality.^o 14Blesshere and in the next clause, (praise) the [ones] pursuing {you},some manuscripts omit “you,” others omit this whole clause bless and do not curse.^p 15RejoiceThis imperative and the next one is a command using the infinitve; this construction has a solemn or formal force beyond the norm for imperatives. with the [ones] rejoicing, wail(lament) with [ones] wailing.(lamenting)^q 16Think* the same [thing] unto each other,^r do not think* lofty(proud) [things] but be led away(be arrested)* with the lowly [ones]. Do not become sensible(wise) beside yourselves.(in your own opinion)^s 17No longer return* a bad [thing] against a bad [thing];^t foresee*(look for) beautiful [things] face-to-face with all men;here and in the next verse, (people)^u 18if possible,lit. powerful [insofar as] the [matter is] out of you, live peaceably* with all men;^v 19do not avenge* yourselves,^w beloved [ones], but give a place to wrath,^x for [it] has been written,^y “To me [is] vengeance, I will repay, says [the] lord.” 20But if thy enemylit. hated or hateful [one] hunger, feedIn a literal sense, by putting small pieces of food in his mouth by hand. him; if [he] thirst, give [something] to him to drink; for, doing [this], [thou] will heap coals of fire upon his head.^z 21Do not be conquered by the bad [one], but conquer the bad [thing] in the good [one/thing].

Cross-references:
^a be transformed by…of the mind: cf. Ephesians 4:23
^b in order that…good and acceptable: cf. Romans 6:11, 13; 1 Peter 2:5
^c to place your…acceptable and perfect: cf. Ephesians 5:10, 17
^d for each [one]…measure of faith: cf. 1 Corinthians 12:11; Ephesians 4:7
^e verse 4: cf. 1 Corinthians 12:12
^f verse 5: cf. 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 4:5
^g 6But having different…in [his] cheerfulness: cf. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 1 Peter 4:10-11
^h the [one] sharing…simplicity cf. 2 Corinthians 9:7
ⁱ Love [is] undramatic: cf. 1 Timothy 1:5; 1 Peter 1:22
^j Abhor the worthless…the good [thing]: cf. Amos 5:15
^k [be] affectionate in…unto each other: cf. 2 Peter 1:7
^l lead each other to honor: cf. Philippians 2:3
^m boil with respect…to [your] spirit: cf. Acts 18:25; Revelation 3:15
ⁿ persist obstinately in prayer: cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
^o pursue hospitality: cf. Hebrews 13:2
^p verse 14: cf. Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:28; Acts 7:60; 1 Corinthians 4:12
^q wail with [ones] wailing: cf. Psalm 35:13
^r Think the same…unto each other: cf. Romans 15:5
^s Do not become…sensible beside yourselves: cf. Proverbs 3:7; Isaiah 5:21; Romans 11:20
^t No longer return…a bad [thing]: cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:15
^u foresee beautiful [things]…with all men: cf. Proverbs 3:4 (LXX)
^v verse 18: cf. Mark 9:50; Hebrews 12:14
^w do not avenge yourselves: cf. Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:39
^x but give a…place to wrath: cf. Romans 13:4; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-7
^y written: Deuteronomy 32:35; cf. Hebrews 10:30
^z verse 20: cf. Proverbs 25:21-22; Matthew 5:44