Teks -- Romans 12:11 (NET)

12:11 Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Rom 12:11 - Slothful

Slothful ( oknēroi ).

Old adjective from okneō , to hesitate, to be slow. Slow and "poky"as in Mat 25:26.

Vincent: Rom 12:11 - Slothful

Slothful ( ὀκνηροί )

From ὀκνέω to delay .

Vincent: Rom 12:11 - In business

In business ( τῇ σπουδῇ )

Wrong. Render, as Rev., in diligence ; see on Rom 12:8. Luther, " in regard to zeal be not lazy."

Vincent: Rom 12:11 - Fervent

Fervent ( ζέοντες )

See on Act 18:25.

Vincent: Rom 12:11 - The Lord

The Lord ( τῷ Κυρίῳ )

Some texts read καιρῷ the time or opportunity , but the best authorities give Lord .

Wesley: Rom 12:11

Whatsoever ye do, do it with your might.

Wesley: Rom 12:11 - In every business diligently and fervently serving the Lord

Doing all to God, not to man.

JFB: Rom 12:11 - not slothful in business

The word rendered "business" means "zeal," "diligence," "purpose"; denoting the energy of action.

JFB: Rom 12:11 - serving the Lord

That is, the Lord Jesus (see Eph 6:5-8). Another reading--"serving the time," or "the occasion"--which differs in form but very slightly from the received reading, has been adopted by good critics [LUTHER, OLSHAUSEN, FRITZSCHE, MEYER]. But as manuscript authority is decidedly against it, so is internal evidence; and comparatively few favor it. Nor is the sense which it yields a very Christian one.

Clarke: Rom 12:11 - Not slothful in business

Not slothful in business - That God, who forbade working on the seventh day, has, by the same authority, enjoined it on the other six days. He who neglects to labor during the week is as culpable as he is who works on the Sabbath. An idle, slothful person can never be a Christian

Clarke: Rom 12:11 - Fervent in spirit

Fervent in spirit - Τῳ πνευματι ζεοντες· Do nothing at any time but what is to the glory of God, and do every thing as unto him; and in every thing let your hearts be engaged. Be always in earnest, and let your heart ever accompany your hand

Clarke: Rom 12:11 - Serving the Lord

Serving the Lord - Ever considering that his eye is upon you, and that you are accountable to him for all that you do, and that you should do every thing so as to please him. In order to this there must be simplicity in the Intention, and purity in the Affections

Instead of τῳ Κυριῳ δουλευοντες, serving the Lord, several MSS., as DFG, and many editions, have τῳ καιρῳ δουλευοντες, serving the time - embracing the opportunity. This reading Griesbach has received into the text, and most critics contend for its authenticity. Except the Codes Claromontanus, the Codex Augiensis, and the Codex Boernerianus, the first a MS. of the seventh or eighth century, the others of the ninth or tenth, marked in Griesbach by the letters DFG, all the other MSS. of this epistle have Κυριῳ, the Lord; a reading in which all the versions concur. Καιρῳ, the time, is not found in the two original editions; that of Complutum, in 1514, which is the first edition of the Greek Testament ever printed; and that of Erasmus, in 1516, which is the first edition published; the former having been suppressed for several years after it was finished at the press. As in the ancient MSS. the word Κυριῳ is written contractedly, ΚΩ, some appear to have read it καιρῳ instead of Κυριῳ ; but I confess I do not see sufficient reason after all that the critics have said, to depart from the common reading.

Calvin: Rom 12:11 - Not slothful in business, etc

11.Not slothful in business, etc This precept is given to us, not only because a Christian life ought to be an active life; but because it often becomes us to overlook our own benefit, and to spend our labors in behalf of our brethren. In a word, we ought in many things to forget ourselves; for except we be in earnest, and diligently strive to shake off all sloth, we shall never be rightly prepared for the service of Christ. ³⁹²

By adding fervent in spirit, he shows how we are to attain the former; for our flesh, like the ass, is always torpid, and has therefore need of goals; and it is only the fervency of the Spirit that can correct our slothfulness. Hence diligence in doing good requires that zeal which the Spirit of God kindles in our hearts. Why then, some one may say, does Paul exhort us to cultivate this fervency? To this I answer, — that though it be the gift of God, it is yet a duty enjoined the faithful to shake off sloth, and to cherish the flame kindled by heaven, as it for the most part happens, that the Spirit is suppressed and extinguished through our fault.

To the same purpose is the third particular, serving the time: for as the course of our life is short, the opportunity of doing good soon passes away; it hence becomes us to show more alacrity in the performance of our duty. So Paul bids us in another place to redeem the time, because the days are evil. The meaning may also be, that we ought to know how to accommodate ourselves to the time, which is a matter of great importance. But Paul seems to me to set in opposition to idleness what he commands as to the serving of time. But as κυρίῳ , the Lord, is read in many old copies, though it may seem at first sight foreign to this passage, I yet dare not wholly to reject this reading. And if it be approved, Paul, I have no doubt, meant to refer the duties to be performed towards brethren, and whatever served to cherish love, to a service done to God, that he might add greater encouragement to the faithful. ³⁹³

Defender: Rom 12:11 - business

This term refers not just to making a living, but to all aspects of life (compare Ecc 9:10; Col 3:23; Eph 6:7).

Defender: Rom 12:11 - serving

The Greek word is douleuo, in contrast to the other words speaking of "serving" in this chapter (see note on Rom 12:7). The service here is that required of slaves. Before conversion, we were bond-servants to sin, but Jesus has purchased us with His blood, so we are now His bond-servants (1Pe 1:18, 1Pe 1:19; 1Co 6:19, 1Co 6:20; Rom 6:16)."

TSK: Rom 12:11 - slothful // fervent // serving

slothful : Exo 5:17; Pro 6:6-9, Pro 10:26, Pro 13:4, Pro 18:9, Pro 22:29, Pro 24:30-34, Pro 26:13-16; Ecc 9:10; Isa 56:10; Mat 25:26; Act 20:34, Act 20:35; Eph 4:28; 1Th 4:11, 1Th 4:12; 2Th 3:6-12; 1Ti 5:13; Heb 6:10,Heb 6:11

fervent : Mat 24:12; Act 18:25; Col 4:12, Col 4:13; Jam 5:16; 1Pe 1:22, 1Pe 4:8; Rev 2:4; Rev 3:15, Rev 3:16

serving : 1Co 7:22; Eph 6:5-8; Col 3:22-24, Col 4:1; Tit 2:9, Tit 2:10; Heb 12:28

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Rom 12:11 - Not slothful in business // Fervent in spirit // Serving the Lord

Not slothful in business this clause may be expounded by Ecc 9:10 : q.d. In all the duties of thy particular and general calling, in every thing that respects the glory of God, thine own or neighbours’ good, take heed of slothfulness: see Mat 25:26,27 Heb 6:12 .

Fervent in spirit this is added to the former, as the cure of it. Zeal and fervency will drive away sloth. This spiritual warmth is often recommended to us in Scripture; see Gal 4:18 Rev 3:19 . See examples of it in Psa 69:9 Joh 2:17 4:34 Act 18:25 .

Serving the Lord i.e. diligently performing all things that are required to his service and honour: see Psa 2:11 Eph 6:7 . Some copies read it, serving the times, in such a sense as it is in Eph 5:16 , and Col 4:5 .

Gill: Rom 12:11 - Not slothful in business // Fervent in spirit // Serving the Lord

Not slothful in business,.... Meaning not worldly business, or the affairs of life; though slothfulness in this respect is scandalous to human nature, and especially in persons under a profession of religion; men should diligently pursue their lawful callings for the support of themselves and families, and the interest of Christ: but spiritual business, the affairs of piety and religion, the service of God, private and public, to which we should not be backward, nor slothful in the performance of; such as preaching, hearing, reading, praying, and other ordinances of God; yea, we should be ready and forward to every good work, and particularly, and which may be here greatly designed, ministering to the poor saints in their necessity; in doing which we show that kind, tender, affectionate, brotherly love, and give that honour and respect, at least that part of it, which is relief, required in the foregoing verse; see Heb 6:10. Remarkable is that saying of R. Tarphon ^m,

"The day is short, and the work great, והפועלים עצלים, "and workmen slothful", and the reward much, and the master of the house is urgent.''

Fervent in spirit; in their own spirits, for the glory of God, the honour of Christ, and the cause of religion, in imitation of Christ himself, and as Phinehas and Elijah were; which fervency of spirit is opposed to that lukewarmness of soul, Rev 3:16, that coldness of affection, and leaving of the first love, Rev 2:4, so much complained of, and resented by Christ in his people: or else in the Spirit of God; for there may be fervency in men's spirits, which comes not from the Spirit of God, as in the Jews, and particularly Saul, before his conversion, who had "a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge", Rom 10:2; but when "the love of God is shed abroad in the heart" by the Spirit of God, Rom 5:5, this will make a man's spirit fervent in the service of God, for which the apostle would have these believers concerned. A disciple of the wise men among the Jews is ⁿ said to be רתח, "fervent", because the law is as a boiling pot unto him; much more should a disciple of Christ be fervent, who has the Gospel of Christ, the love of God, and the grace of the Spirit to inflame his soul with true zeal and fervour.

Serving the Lord; some copies read, "serving time": the likeness of the words, καιρος and κυριος, especially in an abbreviation, may have occasioned this different reading; which should it be followed, is not to be understood in an ill sense, of temporizing, or time serving, of men's accommodating themselves, their sentiments and conduct, according to the times in which they live, in order to escape reproach and persecution; but of redeeming the time, improving every season to do good, and taking every opportunity of serving God. But as the reading our version follows is confirmed by authentic copies, and by the Syriac, and other Oriental versions, it is best to adhere to it: by "the Lord" is here meant either God, Father, Son, and Spirit, who are the alone object of divine service and religious worship; or the Lord Jesus Christ, who most frequently goes by the name of Lord in the New Testament; and who is the one Lord, whose we are and whom we should continually serve, being under the greatest obligations to him, not only as our Creator, but as our head, husband, and Redeemer. Very rightly does the apostle premise fervency in spirit to serving the Lord; for without the Spirit of God there is no true worshipping and serving of him, and which ought to be done with fervency as well as with constancy. The Syriac version renders it, "serve our Lord".