Romans 12:7

7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;

Romans 12:7 in Other Translations

7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;

7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.

7 if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching;

7 if service, in service; if teaching, in teaching;

Romans 12:7 Meaning and Commentary

Romans 12:7

Or ministry, [let us wait] on our ministry
The word (diakonia) sometimes signifies the whole ecclesiastical ministry, even the office of apostleship, as well as the ordinary ministration of the Gospel; see ( Acts 1:17 ) ( 6:4 ) ; but here "deaconship", or the office of ministering to the poor saints, as in ( Acts 6:1 ) ( 1 Corinthians 16:15 ) , being a distinct office from prophesying: or preaching the word, and should be used, exercised, and attended to with diligence, care, and constancy; for such who are appointed to this office, are chosen not only to a place of honour, but of service and business, in which they should behave with prudence, sobriety, and humility:

or he that teacheth, on teaching.
The gift of prophesying or preaching is subdivided into "teaching" and "exhorting"; the one belongs to "teachers" or doctors, the other to "pastors"; as the distinction is in ( Ephesians 4:11 ) , not that different officers and offices are intended, but different branches of the same office; and one man's talent may lie more in the one, and another man's in the other; and accordingly each should in his preaching attend to the gift which is most peculiar to him: if his gift lies in teaching, let him constantly employ himself in that with all sobriety and "teaching" does not design an office in the school, but in the church; it is not teaching divinity as men teach logic, rhetoric, and other arts and sciences, in the schools; but an instructing of churches and the members thereof in the doctrines of the Gospel, in order to establish and build them up in their most holy faith; see ( 1 Corinthians 12:28 ) ( Ephesians 4:11 Ephesians 4:12 ) ; it chiefly lies in a doctrinal way of preaching, in opening, explaining, and defending the doctrines of Christ, as distinct from the practical part of the ministry of the word, and the administration of ordinances, in which the pastor is employed as well as in this.

Romans 12:7 In-Context

5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;

7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;

8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

Cross References

• 1. S Ephesians 4:11