With this chapter St. Paul begins his second part, in which he gives us most excellent lessons of morality, after which every Christian should aim to form his life, and thus resemble Jesus Christ and his saints. (Haydock) — That you present your bodies a living sacrifice. And how must this be done? says St. Chrysostom, hom. xx. Let the eye abstain from sinful looks and glances, and it is a sacrifice; the tongue from speaking ill, and it is a sacrifice, &c. — Your reasonable service, or worship,[1] from you; nothing being more reasonable, than for men to serve God with their souls and bodies, &c. (Witham)
Verses 1-2 The apostle having closed the part of his epistle wherein he argues and proves various doctrines which are practically applied, here urges important duties from gospel principles. He entreated the Romans, as his brethren in Christ, by the mercies of God, to present their bodies as a living sacrifice to Him. This is a powerful appeal. We receive from the Lord every day the fruits of his mercy. Let us render ourselves; all we are, all we have, all we can do: and after all, what return is it for such very rich receivings? It is acceptable to God: a reasonable service, which we are able and ready to give a reason for, and which we understand. Conversion and sanctification are the renewing of the mind; a change, not of the substance, but of the qualities of the soul. The progress of sanctification, dying to sin more and more, and living to righteousness more and more, is the carrying on this renewing work, till it is perfected in glory. The great enemy to this renewal is, conformity to this world. Take heed of forming plans for happiness, as though it lay in the things of this world, which soon pass away. Do not fall in with the customs of those who walk in the lusts of the flesh, and mind earthly things. The work of the Holy Ghost first begins in the understanding, and is carried on to the will, affections, and conversation, till there is a change of the whole man into the likeness of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. Thus, to be godly, is to give up ourselves to God.
Rom 12:1-3 Paul exhorteth to holiness and conformity to God’s will; and to think soberly of the gifts allotted every man respectively. Rom 12:4,5 We are all members of one body in Christ, Rom 12:6-8 and should diligently exercise our several gifts for the common benefit. Rom 12:9-18 Sundry practical duties recommended, Rom 12:19-21 Revenge is specially forbidden, and to do good for evil enjoined.
Yourselves: in times past, other bodies than our own, now our own must be offered. Spiritual. The fourth part of this Epistle, which after the finishing of the chief points of Christian doctrine, consisteth in declaring of precepts of Christian life. And first of all he giveth general precepts and grounds: the chiefest whereof is this that every man consecrate himself wholly to the spiritual service of God, and do as it were sacrifice himself, trusting to the grace of God. By this preface he showeth that God’s glory is the utmost end of all our doings. In times past the sacrifices were presented before the altar, but now the altar is everywhere. In times past, dead sacrifices were offered, but now we must offer such as have the spirit of life in them.
(1.) The body must be presented to him, v. 1. The body is for the Lord, and the Lord for the body, 1 Cor 6 13, 14. The exhortation is here introduced very pathetically: I beseech you, brethren. Though he was a great apostle, yet he calls the meanest Christians brethren, a term of affection and concern. He uses entreaty; this is the gospel way: As though God did beseech you by us, 2 Cor 5 20. Though he might with authority command, yet for love's sake he rather beseeches, Philem 8, 9. The poor useth entreaty, Prov 18 23. This is to insinuate the exhortation, that it might come with the more pleasing power. Many are sooner wrought upon if they be accosted kindly, are more easily led than driven. Now observe,
Take care, lest you imitate the practices of worldlings. Let your heart, your ambition, carry you to heaven: ever despise those things which the world admires, that every one may see by your actions that you are not of the society of worldlings, and have neither regard nor friendship for them. (Calmet) — Transform yourselves into new men, by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern on all occasions, what is most perfect, most pleasing and acceptable to God. (Bible de Vence)
Hitherto the apostle hath discoursed of matters of faith; in this and the following chapters he sets down precepts of holy life. he useth the word in the plural number, to amplify and set forth the manifold mercies of God, in election, justification, adoption, &c.: q.d. Seeing you Gentiles have received so many and so great mercies from God; seeing he hath preferred you to his ancient people the Jews, and hath chosen and called you, when he hath rejected them; as you value these mercies, let the consideration of them engage you to all manner of holiness and new obedience. that you give, dedicate, and offer up, as spiritual priests. yourselves, or, your whole man; a part is put for the whole; the body is named, because it is the soul’s instrument in the service of God. the sacrifices of old were presented alive to God, and their blood was shed at the feet of the altar: a beast that died of itself, or was torn by wild beasts, was not so much as to be eaten, Exo 22:31 Lev 22:8. Conformable hereunto, God will have us offer up ourselves i.e. we must be quickened and alive to God, and not dead in sins and trespasses. as the sacrifices under the law were to be without blemish or defect, Exo 12:5 Lev 1:10 Deu 15:21. or, well pleasing uuto God. So were the appointed sacrifices under the law, Lev 1:9; so was the sacrifice of Christ the Lamb of God, Eph 5:2; and so are all spiritual sacrifices under the gospel, Php 4:18 Heb 13:16. or, which is agreeable to reason; nothing is more reasonable, than that you should devote yourselves to God in this manner. Some think this is added, to show a difference between the sacrifice here required, and that of the Jews, which was of unreasonable beasts. Others, by reasonable service, understand spiritual service, and expound this place by 1Pe 2:5, where you read of spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Others think, that by reasonable you must understand such service as is according to the word of God; and this suits best with the Greek phrase in the text, λογικην λατρειαν. The same word is used, 1Pe 2:2, and there it is rendered the milk of the word, and not reasonable milk. And so the service or worship here spoken of is opposed to that will worship, of which you read in Col 2:23.
We may observe here, according to the scheme mentioned in the contents, the apostle's exhortations,