Diodorus of Tarsus — Commentary on Scripture

Romans 12:6

“Prophecy” means primarily the explanation of things which are unclear, whether future or past, whether present or hidden. “Prophecy” may also refer to the interpretation of a prophet’s words.

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Romans 12:8

“Exhortation” means the type of sermon in which we call those who are still in ignorance to faith in Christ. We do not at that point lay out the full meaning of the Christian life but give them the hope that if they believe in Christ they will enjoy everlasting blessings.

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Romans 12:13

The point here is that we should honor the saints and take care of their needs until they no longer have them.

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Romans 12:19

Paul uses the word wrath to describe God’s punishment, not because it is some kind of passion in God but because men would find it difficult to understand God’s judgment if they did not hear it compared to wrath. For since men respond to those who sin against them in wrath and anger, Scripture uses the same words to describe God’s reaction, because then the average person can hear and understand it.

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Romans 12:20

Paul is not suggesting that we do anything wicked; on the contrary, he is wisely and cleverly checking and containing the violence of the one who is angry.

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Romans 13:1

The book of Proverbs teaches us that kings do not come to rule apart from the dispensation and will of God: “Through me kings reign and princes decree justice.”

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Romans 13:2

Those who disobey the king have committed a crime and will face judgment.

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Romans 13:11

When we realized what the advantages of good works are, the message of salvation became easier to understand than it was when we first believed. For when we believed in Christ we did not immediately acquire an exact understanding of what we should be doing, nor was it clear to us what we should stop doing and what we should continue doing.

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Romans 13:12

The “day” is the time of this life which remains to us, in which we can do good works. The “night” is the future, in which it will no longer be possible to work. Then we shall lie in the darkness, having lost the chance to do good works.

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Romans 13:14

This means that we should imitate Christ in what we do and show him to others in the way we behave.

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Romans 14:4

A servant of Christ is anyone whom Christ has accepted. He is then no longer under the law. Who are you, therefore, to judge someone by the law when he is a stranger to it?

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Romans 14:14

This means that nothing is common or unclean when eaten with faith in Christ.

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Romans 15:20

Paul was not trying to avoid the other apostles, but he thought it was wrong and unfair to steal the credit for what someone else had done.

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