Romans 12:21

Commentary on Romans 12:21 (KJV)

Romans 12:21 is a powerful concluding statement to Paul's instructions in chapter 12 concerning practical Christian living, especially in relationships with others, including those who may cause harm or offense. It encapsulates the divine strategy for dealing with evil.

Context

This verse comes at the end of a section (Romans 12:17-21) that specifically addresses how believers should interact with those who wrong them. Paul has just advised against repaying evil with evil and encourages living peaceably with all men (Romans 12:17-18). He explicitly states that vengeance belongs to God, not believers (Romans 12:19), and even instructs believers to care for their hungry or thirsty enemies (Romans 12:20). Verse 21 serves as the climactic principle underlying these specific actions.

Key Themes

• Resisting Evil's Influence: The phrase "Be not overcome of evil" is a warning against allowing negative actions or attitudes from others to dictate our own behavior or corrupt our character. It's a call to maintain spiritual integrity in the face of provocation.
• Overcoming Evil with Good: This is the core command. It presents good, kindness, and love not as passive responses, but as active, conquering forces against evil. Instead of meeting negativity with negativity, the believer is called to counteract it with positive, godly action. This reflects Jesus' teaching on loving enemies.
• The Christian Counter-Cultural Response: The world often operates on the principle of retaliation or matching force with force. This verse presents a radically different, kingdom-oriented approach where evil is disarmed and defeated, not by mirroring it, but by demonstrating the superior power and nature of good.

Linguistic Insights

The key Greek word translated "overcome" is nikaō (νικάω), which means to conquer, prevail, or get the victory. It is used elsewhere in the New Testament to describe Christ's victory over the world (John 16:33) and the believer's victory through faith (1 John 5:4). The verse uses nikaō twice, highlighting the stark contrast: do not be the one being conquered BY evil, but be the one conquering evil WITH good.

Reflection and Application

This verse challenges believers to adopt God's perspective and method in dealing with conflict and injustice. Being overcome by evil means letting anger, bitterness, or a desire for revenge control us, ultimately conforming us to the pattern of evil itself. To overcome evil with good means intentionally choosing kindness, patience, forgiveness, and love, even when undeserved. This is a powerful witness to the transformative power of Christ and demonstrates the nature of God's kingdom. It requires humility and reliance on the Holy Spirit, as it goes against natural human inclinations.