Romans (10) Conquer Evil with Good

Romans 12 is an amazing passage that echoes Jesus’ sermon on the mount. We are to bless those who harm us and overcome evil by doing good. Towards the end of the passage, Paul quotes the Jewish Judger again, after saying that we should not take revenge.

Not avenging yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath, for it hath been written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay”, says the Lord; “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head” (Rom 12:19-20).

Although it does not come through in most English translations, the first word of this statement is “no/not”. This suggests that it is an alternative voice. This voice is concerned about God’s wrath and brings through a different motivation. Paul had been emphasising that we be kind to those who harm us. The motivation for this is love. The alternative voice says that we should be kind to those who harm us, because that will enable God to get them, ie being kind to them we are actually harming them. This sounds like the Jewish Judger to me.

Paul responds to this nasty idea with an emphatic “No”.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Rom 12:21).

The first word of this verse is “no/not”, so Paul is saying that he disagrees with the vengeful sentiment expressed in the previous two verses by Proverbs out of context.