Romans 12:21

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Read Chapter Compare

PREVIOUS Romans 12:20 NEXT Romans 13:1

Images for Romans 12:21

Romans 12:21 in Other Translations

KJV

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

ESV

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

NLT

21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

MSG

21 Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

CSB

21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

Romans 12:21 Meaning and Commentary

Romans 12:21

Be not overcome of evil
Neither of the evil one, Satan, who is very busy to stir up the corruption of nature to an hatred of enemies, and to seek revenge; but give no place nor heed unto him, resist him, and he will flee from you, ( James 4:7 ) ; "put on the whole armour of God", ( Ephesians 6:11 ) , whereby you may defend yourselves, that he cannot touch you: nor of the evil of sin that dwells in you; "for whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage", ( 2 Peter 2:19 ) ; nor of the evil of the man that has done you an injury, as you will be, if you return evil for evil, or take any steps and measures to avenge yourselves; for then not you, but he that has done you the wrong, will be the conqueror:

but overcome evil with good;
overcome the evil man, and the evil he has done you, by doing good to him, by feeding him when hungry, by giving him drink when thirsty, by clothing him when naked, and by doing other offices of kindness and humanity to him; which is most likely to win upon him, and of an enemy to make him your friend: and if not, however it will show that you are conquerors, yea, "more than conquerors", ( Romans 8:37 ) , through the grace and strength of him that has loved you, over Satan, over the corruptions of your own hearts, and over the malice and wickedness of your enemies.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Romans 12:21 In-Context

19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.