Bible Study 2

Romans 12:1-2

This scripture is special to my heart because it has become the foundation of my Christian walk.  It lets me know that I am not the same as before even though I my feel the same.  It tells me a requirement from God in order to effectively work toward pleasing God.  It let me know that I can do what’s necessary to live a Godly life.  It is rational and logical to believe that it can be done.

Romans 12

 1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The key words I identified to help the share the meaning of this scripture is:

1. Beseech
2. Brethren
3. Mercies
4. Sacrifice
5. Holy
6. Acceptable
7. Reasonable
8. Service

• I will start by defining these words as we understand them now. 
• Then I will give you the Greek/Hebrew meanings of the words so you can understand the way that they were used in the original context. 
• Lastly I will expand on the original scripture so that you can see some of the revelation that I received with it. 

Note:  This is by no means a declaration of what this verse means.  This is meant to help you to get a better understanding on the overall meaning.

Beseech:

1. To address an earnest or urgent request to; implore: beseech them for help.

2. To request earnestly; beg for: beseech help. See Synonyms at beg.

—Synonyms 1. pray, petition, supplicate, adjure. 1, 2. entreat, importune.

To make an earnest or urgent request:

appeal, beg, crave, entreat, implore, plead, pray, sue, supplicate.

Archaic: conjure.

See ask.

*[Note: by the definitions that I have seen, this word means more than just to ask for.  There is an intensity and purposeful directive to the request.]

Concordance definition of Beseech: G3870

1) to call to one's side, call for, summon

2) to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc.

a) to admonish, exhort

b) to beg, entreat, beseech

1) to strive to appease by entreaty

c) to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort

1) to receive consolation, be comforted

d) to encourage, strengthen

e) exhorting and comforting and encouraging

f) to instruct, teach

From G3844 and G2564; to call near, that is, invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation): - beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort (-ation), intreat, pray.

*[Note: As this was translated in the bible, it shows that this word was used many ways, to call, ask, exhort…… This is good to understand because it broadens your persective on the meaning.  Beseech in context shows me that Paul, with great purpose and intent, demanded with passion and empathy for us to do something.  He was imploring us to action by way of asking.]

Brethren:

1.	fellow members.

2.	Archaic. brothers.

—Synonyms 1, 2. See brother.

• pl. also breth·ren (brěth'rən) One who shares a common ancestry, allegiance, character, or purpose with another or others, especially:

1. A kinsman.
2. A fellow man.
3. A fellow member, as of a fraternity, trade union, or panel of judges on a court.
4. A close male friend; a comrade.
5. A fellow African-American man or boy.
6. Abbr. Br. or Bro. A member of a men's religious order who is not in holy orders but engages in the work of the order.
7. A lay member of a religious order of men.
8. pl. also brethren A fellow member of the Christian church.

• pl. also brethren Something, such as a corporation or institution, that is regarded as a member of a class: "A station that ... relies on corporate contributions or advertising to survive runs the risk of becoming virtually indistinguishable from its commercial brethren" (W. John Moore).

•  

9. Abbr. Br. or Bro. A member of a men's religious order who is not in holy orders but engages in the work of the order.
10. A lay member of a religious order of men.
11. pl. also brethren A fellow member of the Christian church.

*[Note: The word brethren encompass all people in the general sense because Gods principles are for all people and work for all people.  It shows me, not only the scope of who he was talking to at that moment, but also his intention to include all that would read this later.]

Concordance definition of Brethren: G80

1.  a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother

2.  having the same national ancestor, belonging to the same people, or countryman

3.  any fellow or man

4.  a fellow believer, united to another by the bond of affection

5.  an associate in employment or office

6.  brethren in Christ

a) his brothers by blood

b) all men

c) apostles

d) Christians, as those who are exalted to the same heavenly place

From G1 (as a connective particle) and δελφύς delphus (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like [H1]): - brother.

*[Note:  As we see the word brethren was translated from a word simply meaning brother to sibling.]

Mercies/Mercy:

1.	compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence: Have mercy on the poor sinner.

2.	the disposition to be compassionate or forbearing: an adversary wholly without mercy.

3.	the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment, esp. to send to prison rather than invoke the death penalty.

4.	an act of kindness, compassion, or favor: She has performed countless small mercies for her friends and neighbors.

5.	something that gives evidence of divine favor; blessing: It was just a mercy we had our seat belts on when it happened.

—Idiom

6.	at the mercy of, entirely in the power of; subject to: They were at the mercy of their captors. Also, at one's mercy. —Synonyms 1. forgiveness, indulgence, clemency, leniency, lenity, tenderness, mildness.

1. That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries, and to forbear punishment, or inflict less than law or justice will warrant. In this sense, there is perhaps no word in our language precisely synonymous with mercy. That which comes nearest to it is grace. It implies benevolence, tenderness, mildness, pity or compassion, and clemency, but exercised only towards offenders. Mercy is a distinguishing attribute of the Supreme Being.

The Lord is long-suffering and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty. Num 14.

2. An act or exercise of mercy or favor. It is a mercy that they escaped.

I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies. Gen 32.

3. Pity; compassion manifested towards a person in distress.

And he said, he that showed mercy on him. Luke 10.

*[Note: Mercies- in this context shows a demand that our focus be put on God’s compassion, patience, and ability to judge us righteously but exercising grace when punishment is deserved.]

Concordance definition of Mercies: G2378

From G3627; pity: - mercy.

*[Note:  the origin of mercies in this scripture came from mercy or pity.]

Sacrifice

1.	the offering of animal, plant, or human life or of some material possession to a deity, as in propitiation or homage.

2.	the person, animal, or thing so offered.

3.	the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.

4.	the thing so surrendered or devoted.

5.	a loss incurred in selling something below its value.

6.

Also called sacrifice bunt, sacrifice hit. Baseball. a bunt made when there are fewer than two players out, not resulting in a double play, that advances the base runner nearest home without an error being committed if there is an attempt to put the runner out, and that results in either the batter's being put out at first base, reaching first on an error made in the attempt for the put-out, or being safe because of an attempt to put out another runner.

–verb (used with object)

7.	to make a sacrifice or offering of.

8.	to surrender or give up, or permit injury or disadvantage to, for the sake of something else.

9.	to dispose of (goods, property, etc.) regardless of profit.

10.	Baseball. to cause the advance of (a base runner) by a sacrifice.

–verb (used without object)

11.	Baseball. to make a sacrifice: He sacrificed with two on and none out.

12.	to offer or make a sacrifice.

—Related forms

sac·ri·fice·a·ble, adjective

sac·ri·fic·er, noun

—Synonyms 8. relinquish, forgo, renounce.

SAC'RIFICE,

1. To offer to God in homage or worship, by killing and consuming, as victims on an altar; to immolate, either as an atonement for sin, or to procure favor, or to express thankfulness; as, to sacrifice an ox or a lamb. 2 Sam 6.

2. To destroy, surrender or suffer to be lost for the sake of obtaining something; as, to sacrifice the peace of the church to a little vain curiosity. We should never sacrifice health to pleasure, nor integrity to fame.

3. To devote with loss.

Condemn'd to sacrifice his childish years to babbling ignorance and to empty fears.

4. To destroy; to kill.

*[Note: Sacrifice in this since is focused on the ability to give up all,  not the act of giving up all.]  

Concordance definition for Sacrifice :

From G2380; sacrifice (the act or the victim, literally or figuratively): - sacrifice.

Holy

1. Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to the Supreme Being, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character; and man is more or less holy, as his heart is more or less sanctified, or purified from evil dispositions. We call a man holy,when his heart is conformed in some degree to the image of God, and his life is regulated by the divine precepts. Hence, holy is used as nearly synonymous with good, pious, godly.

Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Pet 1.

2. Hallowed; consecrated or set apart to a sacred use, or to the service or worship of God; a sense frequent in Scripture; as the holy sabbath; holy oil; holy vessels; a holy nation; the holy temple; a holy priesthood.

3. Proceeding from pious principles,or directed to pious purposes; as holy zeal.

4. Perfectly just and good; as the holy law of God.

5. Sacred; as a holy witness.

Holy of holies, in Scripture, the innermost apartment of the Jewish tabernacle or temple, where the ark was kept, and where no person entered, except the high priest, once a year.

Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, the Divine Spirit; the third person in the Trinity; the sanctifier of souls.

Holy war, a war undertaken to rescue the holy land, the ancient Judea, from the infidels; a crusade; an expedition carried on by Christians against the Saracens in the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth centuries; a war carried on in a most unholy manner.

*[Note: Holy represented us presenting ourselves like God created us.  In His image and his likeness with his character.  The standard is based on what he outlined in the Word.]

Concordance definition of Holy: G40

From - (an awful thing) compare G53, [H2282]; sacred (physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated): - (most) holy (one, thing), saint.

Acceptable

ac·cept·a·ble  / - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ak-sep-tuh-buhl] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–adjective

1.	capable or worthy of being accepted.

2.	pleasing to the receiver; satisfactory; agreeable; welcome.

3.	meeting only minimum requirements; barely adequate: an acceptable performance.

4.	capable of being endured; tolerable; bearable: acceptable levels of radiation.

---

[Origin: 1350–1400; ME < LL acceptābilis. See accept, -able]

1. That may be received with pleasure; hence pleasing to a receiver; gratifying; as an acceptable present.

2. Agreeable or pleasing in person; as, a man makes himself acceptable by his services or civilities.

*[Note: Acceptable by whose standard is what came up in my spirit.  Not my standard or that of my peers, pastor, or other people.  It is what is well pleasing to God and God only.]

Concordance definition of Acceptable

From G2095 and G701; fully agreeable: - acceptable (-ted), wellpleasing.

Reasonable

RE'ASONABLE, a.

1. Having the faculty of reason; endued with reason; as a reasonable being. [In this sense, rational is now generally used.]

2. Governed by reason; being under the influence of reason; thinking, speaking or acting rationally or according to the dictates of reason; as, the measure must satisfy all reasonable men.

3. Conformable or agreeable to reason; just; rational.

By indubitable certainty, I mean that which does not admit of any reasonable cause of doubting.

A law may be reasonable in itself, though a man does not allow it.

4. Not immoderate.

Let all things be thought upon, that may with reasonable swiftness add more feathers to our wings.

5. Tolerable; being in mediocrity; moderate; as a reasonable quantity.

6. Not excessive; not unjust; as a reasonable fine; a reasonable sum in damages.

*[Note: Reasonable is simply what can be, what is within reason, what is rational]

Concordance definition of Reasonable: G3050

From G3056; rational (“logical”): - reasonable, of the word.

Service

SERV'ICE,

1. In a general sense, labor of body or of body and mind, performed at the command of a superior, or the pursuance of duty, or for the benefit of another. Service is voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary service is that of hired servants, or of contract, or of persons who spontaneously perform something for another's benefit. Involuntary service is that of slaves, who work by compulsion.

2. The business of a servant; menial office.

3. Attendance of a servant.

4. Place of a servant; actual employment of a servant; as, to be out of service.

5. Anything done by way of duty to a superior.

This poem was the last piece of service I did for my master king Charles.

Dryden.

6. Attendance on a superior.

Madam, I entreat true peace of you,

Which I will purchase with my duteous service. Shak.

7. Profession of respect uttered or sent.

Pray do my service to his majesty. Shak.

8. Actual duty; that which is required to be done in an office; as, to perform the services of a clerk, a sheriff or judge.

9. That which God requires of man; worship; obedience.

God requires no man's service upon hard and unreasonable terms. Tillotson.

10. Employment; business; office; as, to qualify a man for public service.

11. Use; purpose. The guns are not fit for public service.

12. Military duty by land or sea; as a military or naval service.

13. A military achievement.

14. Useful office; advantage conferred; that which promotes interest or happiness. Medicine often does no service to the sick; calumny is sometimes of service to an author.

15. Favor.

To thee a woman's services are due. Shak.

16. The duty which a tenant owes to his lord for his fee. Personal service consists in homage and fealty, &c.

17. Public worship or office of devotion. Divine service was interrupted.

18. A musical church composition consisting of choruses, trios, duets, solos, &c.

19. The official duties of a minister of the gospel, as in church, at a funeral, marriage, &c.

20. Courses; order of dishes at table.

There was no extraordinary service seen on the board. Hakewill.

21. In seamen's language, the material used for serving a rope, as spun yarn, small lines, &c.

22. A tree and its fruit, of the genus Sorbus. The wild service is of the genus Crataegus.

 Service of a writ, process, &c. the reading of it to the person to whom notice is intended to be given, or the leaving of an attested copy with the person or his attorney, or at his usual place of abode.

Service of an attachment, the seizing of the person or goods according to the direction.

The service of an execution, the sevying of it upon the goods, estate or person of the defendant.

*[ Note- Service as we understand it means work but in this sense it stands for worship, ministry, and divine assignment]

Concordance definition of Service: G2999

From G3000; ministration of God, that is, worship: - (divine) service.

As I look at the scriptures and context each word, this is what I comprehend from study.  The goal of this is to help open up your vision of what the Word of God is saying in this scripture.

I [the Apostle Paul] beseech [beg, plead, pray with purpose and intensity] you [those who read this and are told of this] therefore [wherefore or certainly], brethren [All people, kinsmen], by [under these conditions] the mercies [love, grace, patience, and compassion] of God [The Supreme Authority/Being], that ye [focusing in on you] present [yield, provide freely, offer] your [ you yourself] bodies [entire self leaving no part of you out] a living [lifetime, full of life] sacrifice [offering], holy [pure, blameless, sacred], acceptable [fully agreeable, well pleasing], unto [to] God [The Supreme Authority/Being], which is your [simply your- drop which is] reasonable [within your ability to do, not excessive by standard] service [worship].

So let’s look at this again to see what is being said.  Paul wants to inspire us with passion in his words to do what he knows we should.  Though we may feel the request is may be too hard for us with in our willingness to make the effort or ability for success, he encourages us because of what we know God does for us.  (God will sacrifice because of his love for us no matter what the cost is.)  By this standard he request us to get ourselves together and present, commit, dedicate our flesh, spirit, mind and all that we know to Him, in a way that would be acceptable to Him (God).  He closes this scripture by this is the minimum that we could do for God to show Him we worship and place Him first.

Now that I have shared what I received out of this scripture, please compare these thoughts to other versions of the bible and see if you can understand the different perspectives that are illustrated. 

Again my goal is to help rightly divide the word of truth.  I stay close to the King James Version and look at every word in the text that is translated.  By doing this I can keep from adding my opinion in the midst and get to the root meeting.

Amplified Version:

 1I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.

New Living Translation.

 1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

^{Analytical-Literal Translation}

Rom 12:1  Therefore, I call on [or, plead with] you*, brothers [and sisters], through the compassions of God, to present your* bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God [which is] your* intelligent, sacred service.