Preface: We present ourselves to God as His instruments. He gives us gifts with which to execute the spiritual life, as well as guidance.

Bible Summary: Present your bodies as a living sacrifice to God. We are one body in Christ. Love one another as brothers. Overcome evil with good.

This should be the most extensive examination of Romans 12 available, where you will be able to examine in depth every word of the original text.

Brief Overview:

Outline of Chapter 12:

Preface

Introduction

         vv.     1–

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Chapter Summary

Addendum

Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines:

         Preface               Preface

         Preface               Brief Overview

         Preface               Quotations

         Introduction         Titles and/or Brief Descriptions of Romans 12 (by Various Commentators)

         Introduction         Brief, but insightful observations of Romans 12 (various commentators)

         Introduction         Fundamental Questions About Romans 12

         Introduction 

         Introduction         The Prequel to Romans 12

         Introduction         The Principals of Romans 12

         Introduction         The Places of Romans 12

         Introduction         By the Numbers

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Romans 12

         Introduction         Outlines and Summaries of Romans 12 (Various Commentators)

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Romans 12 from the Summarized Bible

         Introduction 

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         Introduction         The Big Picture (Romans –)

         Introduction 

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         Introduction         Changes—additions and subtractions

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         v.       6              The Edification Complex of the Soul (a graphic)

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         Summary            A Set of Summary Doctrines and Commentary

         Summary            Why Romans 12 is in the Word of God

         Summary            What We Learn from Romans 12

         Summary            Jesus Christ in Romans 12

         Summary            A Brief Review of Romans 12

         Summary 

         Addendum          Heritage Bible Footnote for Romans 12:1

         Addendum          Footnote for Romans 12:1 (Christian Community Bible)

         Addendum          Footnote for Romans 12:4 (Christian Community Bible)

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         Addendum          A Complete Translation of Romans 12

         Addendum          Doctrinal Teachers Who Have Taught Romans 12

         Addendum          Word Cloud from the Kukis Paraphrase of Romans 12

         Addendum          Word Cloud from Exegesis of Romans 12

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An Introduction to Romans 12

I ntroduction: Romans 12

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Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:                       I will use the Westcott-Hort Greek text as the basis for my English translation. I use that test primarily because e-sword has a nice module by Rob Wolfram which has the interlinear English text, Strong’s #’s, and the Greek morphology. The e-sword tab is IWH+P. I do not use their English text for my translation. Also, throughout, I take in consideration alternate readings.

As a young Christian, I was quite interested in the alternative readings. After many decades of study, I have found that, as with the Hebrew text, disputed readings rarely have any affect on the interpretation of a text (apart from perhaps a half-dozen fairly well-known alternate readings, like the end of the book of Mark).

I will compare the Greek text to English translations of the Latin and Syriac (= Aramaic) texts, using the Douay-Rheims translation and George Lamsa’s translation from the Syriac. I often update these texts with non-substantive changes (e.g., you for thou, etc.).

In general, the Latin text is an outstanding translation from the Hebrew text into Latin and very trustworthy (I say this as a non-Catholic). Unfortunately, I do not read Latin—apart from some very obvious words—so I am dependent upon the English translation of the Latin (principally, the Douay-Rheims translation).

The Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls are irrelevant, as they preceded the writing of the New Testament by over 200 years.

Underlined words indicate differences in the text.

Ancient texts:

Westcott-Hort Text (Greek)    I keep on exhorting therefore you (all), brothers, through the compassions of the God, to present the bodies of you (all) a sacrifice, a living (one), holy in the God, pleasing, the reasonable service of you (all). And you (all) will not conform to the generation, this (one), but keep on changing (your thinking) to the renovation of the mind, to test you (all) what [is] the will of the God, the good and the pleasing and the complete [will].

Complete Apostles’ Bible      Therefore, brothers, I exhort you through the compassions of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, well pleasing to God, which is your intelligent service.

And do not fashion yourselves after this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and well pleasing and perfect will of God.

Douay-Rheims 1899 (Amer.) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercy of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God, your reasonable service.

And be not conformed to this world: but be reformed in the newness of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and the acceptable and the perfect will of God.

Holy Aramaic Scriptures        .

Original Aramaic NT              I beg you therefore, my brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God by a logical service.

And do not imitate this world, but be transformed by the renovation of your minds, and you shall distinguish what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.

Lamsa Peshitta (Syriac)         .

Significant differences: 

English Translations:          I have included translations which I disagree with and footnotes that I do not necessarily agree with. If I believe that the author is too far from the truth, I may even address that at the footnote. However, nearly all of the correct commentary will be found following the Greek text box and the translation of each phrase.

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             For this reason I make request to you, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you will give your bodies as a living offering, holy, pleasing to God, which is the worship it is right for you to give him. 

And let not your behaviour be like that of this world, but be changed and made new in mind, so that by experience you may have knowledge of the good and pleasing and complete purpose of God.

Bible in Worldwide English     God has been kind to you. So I ask you, brothers, give your bodies to him like a living sacrifice. That is, a holy sacrifice. It will please God. And it is what you should do for him.

Do not be like the people of this world, but have a new mind. Then you will prove for yourselves what God wants you to do. That will be good. It will please God. And it will be all right.

Easy English                          .

Easy-to-Read Version–2008  So I beg you, brothers and sisters, because of the great mercy God has shown us, offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him--an offering that is only for God and pleasing to him. Considering what he has done, it is only right that you should worship him in this way. Don't change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.

God’s Word™                         Brothers and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God's compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him. This kind of worship is appropriate for you. Don't become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants-what is good, pleasing, and perfect.

Good News Bible (TEV)         So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God---what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.

J. B. Phillips                           .

The Message                         .

NIRV                                      .

New Life Version                    .

Radiant New Testament        .

New Simplified Bible              .

Thought-for-thought translations; dynamic translations; paraphrases:

Casual English Bible              .

Contemporary English V.       Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That's the most sensible way to serve God. Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.

Goodspeed New Testament  .

The Living Bible                     .

New Berkeley Version           .

New Living Translation           .

The Passion Translation        Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? I encourage you to surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship. 

Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.

Plain English Version             .

UnfoldingWord Simplified T.  .

Williams’ New Testament      I beg you, therefore, brothers, through these mercies God has shown you, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies as a living sacrifice, devoted and well-pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. Stop living in accordance with the customs of this world, but by the new ideals that mold your minds continue to transform yourselves, so as to find and follow God's will; that is, what is good, well-pleasing to Him, and perfect.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          .

Beck’s American Translation .

Breakthrough Version            So I encourage you, brothers, through God's compassion to offer your bodies as a sacrifice, living, sacred, very satisfying to God, your logical sacrifice ritual. And don't be conformed to this span of time, but be transformed with the renewing of your way of thinking for the "for you to be proving what is the thing that God wants" part, the good, very satisfying, and complete thing.

Common English Bible           .

Len Gane Paraphrase           I implore you, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present yourselves as a holy, living sacrifice [which is] acceptable to God [and] your spiritual service [to Him]. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may discern what [is] the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.

A. Campbell's Living Oracles Wherefore, brethren, I beseech you, by the tender mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind; that you may approve the will of God, which is good, and acceptable, and perfect.

New Advent (Knox) Bible       .

NT for Everyone                     .

20^th Century New Testament I entreat you, then, Brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, for this is your rational worship. Do not conform to the fashion of this world; but be transformed by the complete change that has come over your minds, so that you may discern what God's will is--all that is good, acceptable, and perfect.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

An Understandable Version   .

Berean Study Bible                .

Christian Standard Bible        .

Conservapedia Translation    .

Revised Ferrar-Fenton           .

Free Bible Version                 So I encourage you, my brothers and sisters, because of God’s compassion* for you, to dedicate your bodies as a living offering that is holy and pleasing to God. This is the logical way to worship. Don’t follow the ways of this world; instead be transformed by the spiritual renewal of your mind so you can demonstrate what God’s will really is—good, pleasing, and perfect.

The Heritage Bible                          I comfort you therefore, brothers, through the compassion of God, to stand your bodies alongside of him a living sacrifice, holy, fully agreeable to God, your logical¹ ministry to God.

And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may test what is the inherent good, and the fully agreeable, and the perfect will of God,...

The footnote for this verse is placed in the Addendum.

International Standard V        Dedicate Your Lives to God

I therefore urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God, for this is the reasonable way for you to worship. [Lit. to God, your reasonable worship] Do not be conformed to this world, but continually be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may be able to determine what God’s will is—what is proper, [Or good] pleasing, and perfect.

Lexham Bible                         A Life Dedicated to God

Therefore I exhort you, brothers, through the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.

And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may approve what is the good and well-pleasing and perfect will of God.

Montgomery NT                     .

NIV, ©2011                             .

Riverside New Testament      . recognize

Leicester A. Sawyer’s NT      .

The Spoken English NT         .

UnfoldingWord Literal Text    .

Urim-Thummim Version         .

Weymouth New Testament    I plead with you therefore, brethren, by the compassionsof God, to present all your faculties to Him as a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to Him. This with you will be an act of reasonable worship.

And do not follow the customs of the present age, but be transformed by the entire renewal of your minds, so that you may learn by experience what God's will is--that will which is good and beautiful and perfect..

Wikipedia Bible Project          So I urge you, my brothers and sisters, because of God’s compassion for you, to dedicate your bodies as a living, holy offering that will please God, which is the sensible way to worship him. Do not follow the ways of this world; rather be changed as your mind is spiritually renewed so you can demonstrate God’s will: good, satisfying, and entirely complete.

Worsley’s New Testament 

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)     Christian life: be concerned for others

• I beg you, dearly beloved, by the mercy of God, to give yourselves as a living and holy sacrifice pleasing to God; that is the kind of worship for you, as sensible people. Don’t let yourselves be shaped by the world where you live, but rather be transformed through the renewal of your mind. You must discern the will of God: what is good, what pleases, what is perfect. 6:11; 15:16; 1P 2:5 Eph 4:23;

2Cor 3:18; 5:17; Phil 1:10

The footnote for v. 1 is placed in the Addendum.

New American Bible (2011)   .

New Catholic Bible                 .

New Jerusalem Bible             .

NRSV (Anglicized Cath. Ed.) .

Revised English Bible–1989   .

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           .

Eth Cipher Translation           .

Hebraic Roots Bible               .

Holy New Covenant Trans.    So, brothers, with God’s tender feelings, I beg you to offer your bodies as a living, holy, pleasing sacrifice to God. This is true worship from you. Don’t act like people of this world. Instead, be changed inside by letting your mind be made new again. Then you can determine what is good, pleasing, and perfect — what God wants.

The Scriptures 2009              I call upon you, therefore, brothers, through the compassion of Elohim, to present your bodies a living offering – set-apart, well-pleasing to Elohim – your reasonable worship.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim.

Tree of Life Version                .

Weird English, Olde English, Anachronistic English Translations:

Accurate New Testament       [I] call (near) so you* Brothers through the cares [of] the god {you*} to present the bodies [of] you* sacrifice living pure pleasing [to] the god the reasonable service [of] you* and not be conformed! [to] the age this but be transformed! [by] the renewal [of] the mind to the+ to test you* What? {is} The Will [of] the god The [Thing] Good and Pleasing and Complete...

Alpha & Omega Bible            .

Awful Scroll Bible                   I call- yous -by then brothers, through the Compassions of God, to set- you all's bodies -before as a living sacrifice, awful, well-accommodating to God, your considerable service.

And be not fashioned-together to this-same age, however, be you being formed-after the renewing of you all's mind, for yous to decree what is the good and the well-accommodating, and the complete purpose of God.

Concordant Literal Version    I am entreating you, then, brethren, by the pities of God, to present your bodies a sacrifice, living, holy, well pleasing to God, your logical divine service,

and not to be configured to this eon, but to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, for you to be testing what is the will of God, good and well pleasing and perfect."

exeGeses companion Bible   THE HOLY METAMORPHOSIS

So I beseech you, brothers,

through the compassions of Elohim,

that you present your bodies a living sacrifice,

holy, well-pleasing to Elohim

- your logical liturgy.

And be not configured to this eon:

but metamorphosed by the renewing of your mind,

to prove what that good

and well-pleasing

and completed/shalamed will of Elohim is.

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           .

Orthodox Jewish Bible           I appeal to you, therefore, Achim b'Moshiach, through the rachamei Hashem (mercies of G-d), to present your geviyah (BERESHIS 47:18), all of your being as a korban chai (living sacrifice), kadosh (holy) and acceptable to Hashem (BERESHIS 8:21), which is your spiritual avodas kodesh service.

Stop allowing yourself to be conformed to the Olam Hazeh, but be transformed by your hitkhadshut (regeneration, renewal) of your mind, so that you may ascertain what is the ratzon Hashem (the will of G-d), what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of G-d.

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. .

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Amplified Bible                .

An Understandable Version   So, I urge you, brothers, because God is so merciful [to us], to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, [fully] dedicated and very pleasing to God. For this is a reasonable [or spiritual] way for you to worship [or serve] Him. And you people must not be conformed to [the values and standards of] this age, but you should become transformed [i.e., changed in attitude and action] by having your mind renewed [i.e., to think in a totally different way]. Then you will be able to determine [and practice] God’s will, the thing that is good, and acceptable and perfect.

Benjamin Brodie’s trans.       Therefore, I urge you, brethren [Christians], because of the mercies from God, to place your bodies [persons] at His disposal [filling of the Spirit] as a living [as opposed to animal] sacrifice, holy [spiritual], acceptable [well-pleasing] to God: your rational [mental] worship;

Also, stop being conformed to this age [thinking according to Satan's world system], but be continually transformed [doctrinal saturation in the soul] by the renewal of the mind [daily Bible study], for the purpose of proving what the will of God is: intrinsically good [according to divine norms and standards] and acceptable [well pleasing] and complete [nothing is missing from His plan].

The Expanded Bible              .

Jonathan Mitchell NT             Consequently, brothers, I am repeatedly calling you folks alongside to exhort, implore and encourage you, through God's compassions to stand your bodies alongside (or: to set or place your bodies beside) [the] Well-pleasing, Set-apart (Holy; Different-from-the-usual), Living Sacrifice by God (or: in God; for God; to God; with God), [this being] your sacred service which pertains to thought, reason and communication (or: your reasoned and rational service; the logical and Word-based service from you folks).

And stop constantly conforming yourselves to (or, as passive: So then, quit being repeatedly molded by, fashioned for or patterned together with) this age [with other MSS: and not to be continuously configured to this age, or not to constantly remodel yourself for this age], but on the contrary, be progressively transformed (transfigured; changed in form and semblance) by the renewing (or: in the renewal; for the making-back-up-new again) of your mind [with other MSS: from The Mind; of the intellect; pertaining to the faculties of perceiving and understanding; of the mindset, disposition, inner orientation and world view] into the [situation and condition for] you folks to be habitually examining in order to be testing and, after scrutiny, distinguishing and approving what [is] God's will (design; purpose; resolve; intent): the good and well-pleasing, even perfect (finished, complete and destined)! (or: = the thing [that is] virtuous, satisfying and able to succeed in its purpose.)

P. Kretzmann Commentary    .

Syndein/Thieme                     .

Translation for Translators     .

The Voice                               .

Bible Translations with Many Footnotes:

Lexham Bible                         .

NET Bible®                             .

New American Bible (2011)   .

The Passion Translation        .

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. I beseech you thereforeˎ brethrenˎ through the compassions of God,

    To present your bodies a livingˎ holy sacrifice, |unto God| acceptable,^f—

Your rationalʹ divine service;

And be not^g configuring yourselves unto this ageˎ

But be^h transforming yourselves by the renewing of your mindˎ

To the end ye may be provingⁱ what is the thing willed by God—the good and acceptable and perfect.

^f Or (WH): “acceptable unto God.”

^g Or (WH): “and not to be.”

^h Or (WH): “But to be.”

The Spoken English NT         Living for God
So, brothers and sisters, let me^a appeal to you on the basis of God’s mercy. Present your bodies as a living, holy and pleasing sacrifice to God. That’s your true priestly service.^b

And don’t get drawn into the pattern of this world. Instead, be transformed by the total renewal of your mind. That way you’ll be able to discern God’s will: the things he sees as good, pleasing, and perfect.

Wilbur Pickering’s New T.     The will of God
Now then, brothers, I exhort you, in view of God’s compassions, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,¹ holy, satisfying to God—your intelligent duty.

Yes, stop conforming to the pattern of this world; rather, be transformed by the renewing of your mind so as to be able to experience the good and satisfying and perfect will of God.²

(1) Any animal in the Old Testament had to die in order to become a sacrifice, so what does Paul mean by a ‘living’ one? In 1Corinthians 15:31 he said that he died every day. Paul could not have been referring to actual physical death, obviously, since Hebrews 9:27 affirms that it is appointed to men to die only once (no re-incarnation). He may well have faced possible death often enough, but I suppose he is referring to dying to himself. I suppose this is also the meaning of our Lord’s words in Luke 9:23-24—“If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever desires tosave his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” In that day a cross was an instrument of death. We must die to our own will in order to embrace God’s. To present the body is presumably a metonym for presenting one’s whole self.

(2) ‘The pattern of this world’ belongs to Satan, so it must be rejected in order to do God’s will.

WEB — Messianic Edition       .

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

A Faithful Version                  .

Analytical-Literal Translation  Therefore, I call on [or, plead with] you_p, brothers [and sisters], through the compassions of God, to present your_p bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God [which is] your_p intelligent, sacred service. And [you_p are] to stop conforming yourselves to this age, but [are] to continue being transformed by the renewal of your_p mind, in order for you_p to be proving what [is] the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Berean Literal Bible                .

Bill Puryear translation           .

C. Thomson updated NT        .

Charles Thomson NT             Because of him, and by him, and for him are all things; to him be the glory forever, Amen; therefore I exhort you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living, holy, acceptable sacrifice to God as your rational, religious service; and be not conformed to this world; but transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may know experimentally what the will of God is, which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 11:36 is included for context.

Context Group Version          I urge you (pl) therefore, brothers, by the generosity (pl) of God, to present your (pl) bodies, a living sacrifice, special, acceptable to God, [which is] your (pl) logical public service. And don't be formed according to this age: but be transfigured by the renewing of your (pl) mind, that you (pl) may prove what the will of God is--that [which is] good and acceptable and whole {fully formed, mature}.

English Standard Version      . testing

Far Above All Translation       So I exhort you, brothers, being moved by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, a holy one, pleasing to God, as your rational service, and not to be conformed to this age, but to be transformed to the renewal of your mind, in order to determine what the will of God is, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

Green’s Literal Translation    .

James Allen translation          .

Legacy Standard Bible           .

Literal New Testament           I EXHORT THEREFORE YOU, BRETHREN, BY THE COMPASSIONS OF GOD, TO PRESENT YOUR BODIES A SACRIFICE LIVING, HOLY, WELL PLEASING TO GOD, INTELLIGENT SERVICE YOUR.

AND NOT FASHION YOURSELVES TO THIS AGE, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF MIND, YOUR FOR TO PROVE BY YOU WHAT [IS] WILL OF GOD THE GOOD AND WELL PLEASING AND PERFECT.

Literal Standard Version        .

Modern English Version         .

Modern Literal Version 2020  Therefore brethren, I am encouraging you° through the mercies of God, to present your° bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, well pleasing to God, which is your° logical divine service. And not to fashion yourselves to this age, but to be transfigured by the renewal of your° mind, *that* you° may be proving in you° what is the will of God: the good and well pleasing and mature.

New American Standard B.    .

New European Version          .

New King James Version       .

New Matthew Bible                .

NT (Variant Readings)           .

Niobi Study Bible                   . Compare headings with NKJV

R. B. Thieme, Jr. translation  I urge you therefore, brethren, by the grace blessings [from the justice of God], that you place your bodies under orders as a living, holy sacrifice. This is well-pleasing to our God—your rational and spiritual worship [or, service].

Also stop being conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renovation of your thought [or, thinking], that you may prove what the will of God is, namely the good, the well-pleasing and the complete.

R. B. Thieme, Jr. trans2         Therefore, I (command) urge, encourage, exhort, seek to persuade you, NOW, believers in the Royal Family of God, by means of God’s rational compassionate sympathetic mercies of grace blessing from the Justice of God, that you constantly place your bodies under orders as a living holy sacrifice, by using the rebound procedure constantly and the resultant Filling of God the Holy Spirit, this is acceptable and well pleasing to our God; which is your rational and spiritual service or worship.

Also Do Not or Stop being conformed or molded to this age or period of time of human viewpoint or cosmic thinking of Good and Evil, but be constantly transformed by the renovation of your understanding or thinking, that you might prove what the purpose, plan or will of God is, namely the good of intrinsic value achievement or production of Divine Good which is well pleasing to God and complete as the result of Maturity Adjustment to the Justice of God.

Revised Geneva Translation  .

Ron Snider translation           Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a sacrifice that is living, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Updated Bible Version 2.17   . fashioned

A Voice in the Wilderness      .

Webster’s Translation           .

World English Bible                .

Worrell New Testament         .

The gist of this passage: 

Translation: Therefore, I keep on exhorting you (all), [my] brothers,...

Paul uses the word oun (ον) [pronounced oon], which means, so [then], certainly; then, therefore, accordingly, consequently, and [so], but, now; these things being so. Strong’s #3767. Paul is making these statements in Romans 12 based upon what?

Let me remind you of the structure of this epistle so far. After chapter 8, Paul parenthetically spoke about the Jews and the gentiles and this new age (although he did not emphasize dispensations). Since Romans 9–11 are parenthetical, notice what Paul wrote at the end of Romans 8:

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His Own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the One who died—more than that, Who was raised—Who is at the right hand of God, Who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:31–34; ESV; capitalized)

Regardless of present-day struggles, if God is for us, who can be against us? God did not even spare His Own Son, but gave Him up for us that we might be preserved. And Jesus Who died is now at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us. So, regardless of the struggles and difficulties that we face here on earth, God is on our side and Jesus is interceding for us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For Your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." (Romans 8:35–36; ESV; capitalized)

Is there anything that can separate us from the love of Christ? The answer that we should shout out is nothing!

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37–39; ESV; capitalized)

In all these things which we face, we are more than conquerors—not because of what we have done, but through Him Who loved us. Therefore nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!

So, therefore, based upon all this, we draw some conclusions. Furthermore, these things are based upon also what we have studied in Romans 9–11, which is all about the relationships between God, the Jews and the gentiles in this present age.

Therefore, Paul exhorts us.

Romans 12:1a Therefore, I keep on exhorting you (all), [my] brothers,...

What Paul does is the present active indicative of parakaleô (παρακαλέω) [pronounced pahr-ahk-ahl-EH-oh], which means, to exhort, to console; to encourage; to call [near, for]; to invite, to invoke; to (be of good) comfort, to desire, to (give) exhort (-ation), to entreat. Strong’s #3870. So Paul keeps on exhorting, he keeps on invoking, he keeps on encouraging us—royal family of God.

Translation: ...by means of the mercies of the God,...

Paul keeps on exhorting and encouraging us, based upon the oiktirmói (οἰκτιρμοί) [pronounced oyk-tir-MOY] of God. Based upon what? Compassions, pities, mercies; bowels in which compassion resides, hearts of compassion; emotions, longings, manifestations of pity. Strong’s #3628. God does not have emotions and He does not pity us, so what is Paul on about here?

This is an anthropopathism, which is taking a human emotion which we understand and applying it to God, even though He does not have that human emotion, so that we can best understand God’s actions and motivations. They are brought down to a level that we can understand.

Look at us—weak, frail, nearly helpless in this world—and we are up against the wiles of the devil and the disapprobation of the unbelieving world. So, what are God’s compassions, mercies and manifestations of pity all about?

God has provided us with a grace system of perception and He has provided us with logistical grace and He has provided us with the spiritual life. Regardless of what difficulties we face, we have our marvelous portfolio of invisible assets. This all belongs to us because of God’s compassions, mercies and manifestations of pity.

Regardless of what we face in life, we have logistical grace and the spiritual assets of the Christian life.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His Own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the One who died—more than that, Who was raised—Who is at the right hand of God, Who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:31–34; ESV; capitalized)

Translation: ...to place your bodies, a living sacrifice,...

To understand what Paul is referring to, we consider what he wrote in Romans 8:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For Your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." (Romans 8:35–36; ESV; capitalized)

Do you see how Paul is progressing in this one sentence, keeping in mind what he has just written in the same epistle.

In some circumstances, believers are martyred; believers are killed. Even in these circumstances, we present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. Paul is saying, “Do not be afraid of what you are being threatened with. Do not live your life in fear. If necessary, offer yourself up as a living sacrifice to God.”

This does not mean that you, as a believer, will be martyred. That is a very small percentage of believers. But we are to put ourselves out there as God’s representatives. But this is not something that we do ignorantly. This is not something that we do in some great wave of emotion.

Translation: ...separated by means of the God,...

God has set us apart in this life. He has set us apart with logistical grace and with our portfolio of invisible assets.

Translation: ...pleasing [Him], to your reasonable [and spiritual] service.

Our life should be pleasing to God, offering up our reasonable and spiritual service.

For centuries, blood offerings have been offered up among the Jewish people to God. The true Lamb of God has been offered up for us, and now we are to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to Him. With the animal sacrifices, a pleasing odor arose to God. Now it is our lives which are pleasing to Him. This is our reasonable spiritual service.

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I keep on exhorting you (all), [my] brothers, by means of the mercies of the God, to place your bodies, a living sacrifice, separated by means of the God, pleasing [Him], to your reasonable [and spiritual] service. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

What exactly is this reasonable spiritual service? How to we offer it to God? Paul answers this in v. 2.

Translation: And, you (all), do not conform to this world [or to this generation],...

The world, the generation that we live in, the culture which we are a part of—these things act as a constant influence upon us, trying to guide and manipulate us in hundreds of ways. But Paul writes, Do not be conformed to this word, do not march in step with you generation, do not become indistinguishable from your culture.

How do we not conform when we have a natural desire to conform or to belong?

Translation: ...but, rather, keep on changing your thinking by the means of the renovation of your mind,...

The key is changing our thinking. The present passive imperative of metanoéô (μετανοέω) [pronounced meh-tah-noh-EH-oh], which means, change one’s thinking, change one’s mind, relent, repent; turn around (in your thinking); change direction; exercise the mind, think. Strong’s #3340. The present tense means that we keep on doing this. The imperative mood means that this is a mandate from God. The passive voice means that we allow this to take place in us. This passive voice means, this is not something we can do. Most of the time when speaking of a change of mind, we can understand, “We used to think one thing; now we will think the opposite.” The choice is a matter of human will. But, the passive voice sayings that you just cannot do it by force of human will.

This is done by the instrumental of anakainôsis (ἀνακαίνωσις) [pronounced an-ak-AH-ee-noh-sis], which means, a renewal, renovation, complete change for the better. Strong’s #342.

Now what is being changed? Our noús (νούς) [pronounced noose]. This is our mind, the intellect, understanding, reasoning (ability), mind (divine or human. Strong’s #3563.

How does this renovation of our thinking take place? It takes place by means of gap. It takes place by Operation Z. God has given us a grace system in which we function.

We know this as the grace apparatus for perception, a term and concept developed by R. B. Thieme, Jr.

Translation: ...for the purpose of testing you (all),...

All of this has been done that we might be tested. Remember, God tests us for our edification, not for His. We learn from being tested. Sometimes we do not like the results of these tests, but that gives us something to strive for.

Translation: ...[to know] what [is] the will of the God,...

We are tested to see if we know the will of God; if we understand the will of God; if our actions are in line with the will of God.

Translation: ...[which is] the good and the pleasing and the complete [will of God]. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Because all of these words are neuter singular nouns in the nominative case, they describe the will of God, from v. 2c. God’s will is divine good; it is pleasing and acceptable; and it is complete and mature.

What we want is for our knowledge of the will of God to match up with these words: divine good, pleasing and acceptable, complete and mature.

Romans 12:2 And, you (all), do not conform to this world [or to this generation], but, rather, keep on changing your thinking by the means of the renovation of your mind, for the purpose of testing you (all), [to know] what [is] the will of the God, [which is] the good and the pleasing and the complete [will of God]. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Romans 12:1–2 Therefore, I keep on exhorting you (all), [my] brothers, by means of the mercies of the God, to place your bodies, a living sacrifice, separated by means of the God, pleasing [Him], to your reasonable [and spiritual] service. And, you (all), do not conform to this world [or to this generation], but, rather, keep on changing your thinking by the means of the renovation of your mind, for the purpose of testing you (all), [to know] what [is] the will of the God, [which is] the good and the pleasing and the complete [will of God]. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Romans 12:1–2 Because of all this (because of Romans 9–11), I keep on encouraging all of you, royal family of God, by means of the grace abilities give you by God, to place your lives as separated to God, as if a living sacrifice, to do that which is pleasing, which is your reasonable spiritual service as believers. Furthermore, do not be conformed to this generation or to this world, but rather be transformed in your thinking by the renovation of your mind through Bible doctrine, that you might be tested for approval by God to know and act in accordance with the good, pleasing and complete will of God. (Kukis paraphrase)

——————————

Vv. 3–8 all belong to the same paragraph. Some have vv. 4–8 as a singular sentence. Other break this up into several sentences (as many a six). Dividing this passage into vv. 3–5 and 6–8 is not ideal, given what other translations do.

My slavishly literal translation is almost incomprehensible. I found the second half of the final verse to be very difficult.

Here is how others have translated this passage:

Ancient texts:

Westcott-Hort Text (Greek)    For I keep on saying through the grace the [grace] given to me to everyone in the being in you (all), not to keep on thinking (too highly of oneself), by which [thinking], there keeps on being necessary to keep on having understanding; but to keep on understanding to the being of a sound mind, to each one as the God has distributed a measure of faith. For, just as in one body many members we keep on having, now the members all not to her keep on having a practice. Thus the many, the one body we keep on being in Christ; now against the one, of one another, members.

Complete Apostles Bible        For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself too highly, beyond what you should think, but to think soberly, as God has imparted to each one a measure of faith.

For just as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,

so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

Douay-Rheims 1899 (Amer.) For I say, by the grace that is given me, to all that are among you, not to be more wise than it behoveth to be wise, but to be wise unto sobriety and according as God hath divided to every one the measure of faith.

For as in one body we have many members, but all the members have not the same office:

So we, being many, are one body in Christ; and every one members one of another:...

Holy Aramaic Scriptures        .

Original Aramaic NT              I say to all of you by the grace that is given to me, that you should not have self-esteem beyond what is necessary to have self-esteem, but you should have self-esteem and modesty as God distributes faith to every person by a measure.

For just as we have many members in one body, and all those members do not have one function,

So also, we who are many, are one body in The Messiah, and each one of us is a member of the other.

Lamsa Peshitta (Syriac)         .

Significant differences: 

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             But I say to every one of you, through the grace given to me, not to have an over-high opinion of himself, but to have wise thoughts, as God has given to every one a measure of faith. 

For, as we have a number of parts in one body, but all the parts have not the same use, 

So we, though we are a number of persons, are one body in Christ, and are dependent on one another;...

Bible in Worldwide English     God has given me this gift. So I say this to every one of you. Do not think you are better than you really are. But think of yourself as you are. You are what you are because God has given you something when you believed.

In a body there are many parts, but all the parts do not do the same thing.

In the same way, we are many people. But we are one body because we are all joined together in Christ. Each one of us is a part of all the others.

Easy English                          .

Easy-to-Read Version–2008  God has given me a special gift, and that is why I have something to say to each one of you. Don't think that you are better than you really are. You must see yourself just as you are. Decide what you are by the faith God has given each of us. Each one of us has one body, and that body has many parts. These parts don't all do the same thing. In the same way, we are many people, but in Christ we are all one body. We are the parts of that body, and each part belongs to all the others.

God’s Word™                         Because of the kindness that God has shown me, I ask you not to think of yourselves more highly than you should. Instead, your thoughts should lead you to use good judgment based on what God has given each of you as believers. Our bodies have many parts, but these parts don't all do the same thing. In the same way, even though we are many individuals, Christ makes us one body and individuals who are connected to each other.

Good News Bible (TEV)         And because of God's gracious gift to me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you should. Instead, be modest in your thinking, and judge yourself according to the amount of faith that God has given you. We have many parts in the one body, and all these parts have different functions. In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body.

J. B. Phillips                           .

The Message                         .

NIRV                                      .

New Life Version                    .

Radiant New Testament        .

New Simplified Bible              .

Thought-for-thought translations; dynamic translations; paraphrases:

Casual English Version          .

Contemporary English V.       I realize how kind God has been to me, and so I tell each of you not to think you are better than you really are. Use good sense and measure yourself by the amount of faith that God has given you. A body is made up of many parts, and each of them has its own use. That's how it is with us. There are many of us, but we each are part of the body of Christ, as well as part of one another.

Goodspeed New Testament  .

The Living Bible                     .

New Berkeley Version           .

New Living Translation           .

The Passion Translation        God has given me grace to speak a warning about pride. I would ask each of you to be emptied of self-promotion and not create a false image of your importance. Instead, honestly assess your worth by using your God-given faith as the standard of measurement, and then you will see your true value with an appropriate self-esteem.  In the human body there are many parts and organs, each with a unique function.  And so it is in the body of Christ. For though we are many, we’ve all been mingled into one body in Christ. This means that we are all vitally joined to one another, with each contributing to the others.

Plain English Version             .

UnfoldingWord Simplified T.  Because God has kindly appointed me to be his apostle, which I did not deserve, I say this to every one of you: Do not think you are better than you really are. Instead, think about yourselves in a sensible way, a way that is the same as the way in which God has allowed you to trust in him. Although a person has one body, it consists of many parts. All of the parts are necessary for the body, but they do not all function the same way. Similarly, we, although we are many, are united into one group because we are joined to the Messiah, and we belong to one another. So no one should act as though he is more important than the others!

Williams’ New Testament      Now through the unmerited favor God has shown me I would say to every one of you not to estimate himself above his real value, but to make a sober rating of himself, in accordance with the degree of faith which God has apportioned to him. For just as we have many parts united in our physical bodies, and the parts do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are united in one body through union with Christ, and we are individually parts of one another.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          .

Beck’s American Translation .

Breakthrough Version            You see, through the generosity given to me, I say to everyone who is among you not to be focusing high beyond what it is necessary to be focusing on, but to be focusing for the "to be properly focused to each one" part as God divided out an amount of trust; for exactly as in one body we have many body parts, but all the body parts don't have the same repetitive action, so we, the many, are one body in the Anointed King, but the body throughout one another is body parts, people who have distinctive gifts in line with the generosity given to us. V. 6a is included for context.

Common English Bible           .

Len Gane Paraphrase           For I say to everyone among you, through the grace given to me, don't cherish the thought that you are more important than what you should think [about yourself] but have sober thoughts, since God has dispensed to everyone a measure of faith.

For as we have many body parts on one body and all body parts do not have the same function.

In the same way the many of us are in one body, in Christ, and every one a part of one other.

A. Campbell's Living Oracles Also, by the favor which is given to me, I charge every one of you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think modestly, as God has distributed to every one a portion of his faith. For, as in one body we have many members, but all the members have not the same office; so we, the many, are one body under Christ, and individually members of one another..

New Advent (Knox) Bible       .

NT for Everyone                     .

20^th Century New Testament In fulfillment of the charge with which I have been entrusted, I bid every one of you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think, but to think till he learns to think soberly--in accordance with the measure of faith that God has allotted to each. For, just as in the human body there is a union of many parts, and each part has its own function, So we, by our union in Christ, many though we are, form but one body, and individually we are related one to another as its parts.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

An Understandable Version   .

Berean Study Bible                .

Christian Standard Bible        .

Conservapedia Translation    .

Revised Ferrar-Fenton Bible  .

Free Bible Version                 Let me explain to all of you, through the grace given to me, that no one should think of themselves better than they ought to. You should think about yourselves realistically, according to the degree of trust God has shared with you.

Just as there are many parts to the body, but they don’t all do the same thing, so we are one body in Christ, even though we are many—and we all belong to one another.

The Heritage Bible                          Because I say, through the grace given to me to everyone being among you, not to have high thoughts alongside what he ought to think, but to exercise your mind into a saved mind, in the manner God has apportioned to everyone a measure of faith,

Because exactly as we have many members in one body, and all members absolutely do not have the same action,

In this way we being many are one body in Christ, and each one members of one another.

International Standard V        For by the grace given to me I ask every one of you not to think of yourself more highly than you should think, rather to think of yourself with sober judgment on the measure of faith that God has assigned each of you. For we have many parts in one body, but these parts do not all have the same function. In the same way, even though we are many people, we are one body in the Messiah [Or Christ] and individual parts connected to each other.

Lexham Bible                         .

Montgomery NT                     .

NIV, ©2011                             .

Riverside New Testament      .

Leicester A. Sawyer’s NT      .

The Spoken English NT         .

UnfoldingWord Literal Text    .

Urim-Thummim Version         .

Weymouth New Testament    For through the authority graciously given to me I warn every individual among you not to value himself unduly, but to cultivate sobriety of judgement in accordance with the amount of faith which God has allotted to each one. For just as there are in the one human body many parts, and these parts have not all the same function; so collectively we form one body in Christ, while individually we are linked to one another as its members.

Wikipedia Bible Project          Let me say to everyone of you there, through the grace given to me: no one should think of themselves better than they ought to. You should think sensibly, to the extent of the trust God has given you. Just as there are many parts to the body, and they do not all do the same thing, so we are one body in Christ, even though we are many—and we each belong to one another.

Worsley’s New Testament    For by the grace conferred on me I charge every one among you, not to think of himself above what he ought to think: but to think with sobriety, according as God hath divided to every man the measure of faith. For as in one body we have many members, and all the members have not the same office: so we who are many, are one body in Christ, and every one members of each other.

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)           The grace that God has given me allows me to tell each of you: don’t pretend too much but think with sober judgement each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

2Cor 10:13; Phil 2:3

• See, the body is one, even if formed by many members, but not all of them with the same function. The same with us; being many, we are one body in Christ, depending on one another. Let each one of us, there - fore, serve according to our different gifts. Are you a prophet? Then give the insights of faith. Let the min is ter fulfill his office; let the teacher teach, the one who encourages, convince.

You must, likewise, give with an open hand, preside with dedication, and be cheerful in your works of charity. Vv. 3–8 in the Christian Community Bible.

1Cor 12:12; 10:17; Eph 5:30

Footnote for v. 4 is placed in the Addendum.

New American Bible (2011)   .

New Catholic Bible                 .

New Jerusalem Bible             .

NRSV (Anglicized Cath. Ed.) .

Revised English Bible–1989   .

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           .

Eth Cipher Translation           For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as Elohiym has dealt to every man the measure of faith.  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Mashiach, and everyone members one of another.

Hebraic Roots Bible               .

Holy New Covenant Trans.    Through God’s help in time of need which has been given to me, I am telling each one of you: don’t think you are better than you really are. Instead, be modest in the way you think. God distributed a measure of faith to each person. In one body we have many parts. These parts don’t all do the same thing. In the same way, many people are one body in Christ. Each part is a member of the other parts.

The Scriptures 2009              .

Tree of Life Version                .

Weird English, Olde English, Anachronistic English Translations:

Accurate New Testament       [I] say for through the favor the [one] being given [to] me [for] every the [man] being in you* not to think (beyond) against what is (necessary) to think but {I say him} to think to the+ {him} to continue (sensibly) [to] each [man] as The God divides measure [of] faith

as for in one body many parts [We] have The but Parts All not the her has~ act

so The Many [Men] One Body are in christ The [Thing] but in One [Man] [of] one another Parts {is}.

Alpha & Omega Bible            .

Awful Scroll Bible                   For I instruct, through the Grace being bestowed to me, to everyone being from-among yous, to be off from thinking-more of yourselves than you ought to think, however, to think on to reason-soundly, as to God apportions each a measure of confidence.

For wholly-according-to-which, we hold many members from-within one body, but all the members hold not the same use,

the same-as-this, we being many, are one body from-within the Anointed One, even accordingly, one member is to another.

Concordant Literal Version    For I am saying, through the grace which is given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to be overweening, beyond what your disposition must be, but to be of a sane disposition, as God parts to each the measure of faith."

For even as, in one body, we have many members, yet all the members have not the same function, thus we, who are many, are one body in Christ, yet individually members of one another."

exeGeses companion Bible   THE CHARISMATA

For through the charism given to me

I word to everyone being among you,

to not superexalt more than he need superexalt;

but to think to being soundminded,

as Elohim imparted to each the measure of trust.

Philippians 2:1-8

For exactly as we have many members in one body

and all members have not the same function:

thus we many are one body in Messiah

and each members one of another.

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           .

Orthodox Jewish Bible           For I say to all who are among you through the chesed (unmerited favor, grace) given to me, that you should avoid a false sense of superiority in your thinking; rather exercise shlitah atzmi (self-control), thinking with seichel, as G-d has measured to each a measure of emunah.

For just as in one body we have many members (natural capacities), and all the members do not have the same function,

So we all are one body in Moshiach, and are individually members one of another.

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. .

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Amplified Bible                .

An Understandable Version   And because of God’s unearned favor shown to me [i.e., in appointing me to be an apostle], I am telling every person among you not to think he is more important than he really is. Instead, he should have a sensible estimate [of his gifts] in harmony with the degree of faith God has given to each person. For there are many parts to a single human body and all of these parts do not have the same function. In the same way, though we [Christians] are many, we are one [spiritual] body in [fellowship with] Christ, and each one of us is part of [all] the others.

Brodie’s Expanded Trans.     For I say to everyone who is among you [Christians], through the grace which has been given to me: Stop thinking too highly of yourself, beyond what he ought to think, but make it a practice to think, having a sane and rational mind [spiritual common sense], as God has assigned to each person a standard of doctrinal truth.

For just as we have many members in one body [due to the baptism of the Spirit], and all members do not have the same function [activities and responsibilities], So we [believers in Jesus Christ], the many, are one body in Christ [the Church], and individual parts [no loss of personality], one belonging to others of the same kind [fellow believers].

The Expanded Bible              .

Jonathan Mitchell NT             For, through the grace and favor being suddenly given to me, I am saying to (or: for) everyone being among you folks not to be continually over-opinionated or elated (to be constantly hyper-thinking to the point of being haughty, arrogant or having a sense of superiority; to be habitually over-thinking issues; to constantly mind things above; to be overweening) beyond what is necessary (binding; proper), but rather to think (mind; be disposed) into the disposition to be sane and of a sound mind, as God divides and distributes (or: parted) to, in and for each one a measure of faith (a meted amount of firm persuasion; a measured portion of trust; a [specific or allotted] ration of confidence and loyalty).

For you see, just as (or: according to what is encompassed) in one body we continuously have (constantly hold and possess) many members, yet all the members do not have the same mode of acting (do not constantly hold the same function),

thus we, the many, are and continue to exist being one body within Christ (in union with [the] Anointed), yet individually (or: the situation being in accord with one), members of one another (or: but still, [being] on one level, [are] members whose source is, and who belong to, each other).

P. Kretzmann Commentary    .

Syndein/Thieme                     .

Translation for Translators     .

The Voice                               .

Bible Translations with Many Footnotes:

Lexham Bible                         A Variety of Gifts in the Body of Christ

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone who is among you not to think more highly of yourself than what one ought to think, but to think sensibly [Literally “so as to be sensible”], as God has apportioned a measure of faith to each one. Vv. 4–5 will be placed with the next passage for context.

NET Bible®                             .

New American Bible (2011)   .

The Passion Translation        .

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. For I say

<Through the favour which hath been given me>

    Unto everyʹ one who is among you,—

Not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think,

But so to think as to think soberly—

    As ||unto each one|| |God| hath dealt a measure of faith.

For <just as |in oneʹ body| we have |manyʹ members|ˎ^j

    Yet ||all the members|| have not the |same| office>

||So|| ||weˎ the many|| are |oneʹ body| in Christˎ

    Yet ||severally|| members |one of another|.

^j 1 Co. xii. 12.

The Spoken English NT         I also say to every one of you, through the grace that’s been given to me: don’t get bigger ideas about yourself than you should. Instead, be clear-headed. Think in terms of God giving each of you a portion of faith.

After all, we have many parts in our one body-and the parts don’t all have the same function.

And in the same way, there are lots of us, yet we are one body in Christ. Each one of us is a member with^c all the others.

c.Lit. “of.”

Wilbur Pickering’s New T.     Be sensible
Based on the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to set your sights higher than you should, but set them sensibly, as God has apportioned a measure of faith to each. Because just as in one body we have many parts, but all the parts do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.

WEB — Messianic Edition       .

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

A Faithful Version                  . sound-mindedness

Analytical-Literal Translation  For I say, through the grace, the one having been given to me, to every [one] being among youp, stop thinking too highly of yourselves beyond what it is necessary to be thinking, but be thinking [so as] to be thinking sensibly, to each as God apportioned a measure of faith. For just as we have many body parts in one body, but all the body parts do not have the same function, so we, the many, are one body in Christ, but parts each one of one another.

Berean Literal Bible                For through the grace having been given to me, I say to everyone being among you, not to be high-minded above what it behooves you to think, but to think so as to be sober-minded, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.  For just as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function,  so we, the many, are one body in Christ; and individually members one of another.

Bill Puryear translation           .

C. Thomson updated NT        .

Charles Thomson NT             For by virtue of the favour which is granted to me, I charge every one who is among you not to have an overweening opinion of himself, but to bend his thoughts to the attaining of a sober and modest demeanour, as God hath distributed a portion of faith to every one. Vv. 4–5 will be placed with the next passage for context.

Context Group Version          For I say, through the favor that was given me, to everyone that is among you (pl), not to think of himself more highly than he should; but to think as to think dispassionately, according as to the measure of trust God has dealt to each. For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don't have the same function {or deeds}: in the same way we, who are many, are one body in the Anointed, and severally members one of another.

English Standard Version      .

Far Above All Translation       .

Green’s Literal Translation    . right-minded

James Allen translation          .

Legacy Standard Bible           .

Literal New Testament           .

Literal Standard Version        For I say, through the grace that was given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think above what it ought to think; but to think so as to think wisely, as to each God dealt a measure of faith, for as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same office, so we, the many, are one body in Christ, and members of one another—each one.

Modern English Version         .

Modern Literal Version 2020  For* I say, through the grace which was given to me, to everyone who is among you°, not to have high-notions more than what it is essential to be mindful of. But to be mindful of this grace, *that* he should be sensible, as God divided to each one a measure of faith. For* just-as we have many members in one body, and all the members do not have the same function; so we, the many, are one body in Christ, and every one members of one another.

New American Standard        .

New European Version          .

New King James Version       .

New Matthew Bible                .

NT (Variant Readings)           . Check titles

Niobi Study Bible                   .

R. B. Thieme, Jr. translation  For I say through the grace which has been given to me, to everyone who is among you, stop thinking of self in terms of arrogance beyond what you ought to think; but think in terms of sanity for the purpose of being rational without illusion, as the God has assigned to each one a standard of thinking from doctrine.

For just as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function.

So we, the many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts one of another.

R. B. Thieme, Jr. trans2         For I say or communicate through the grace (the policy of God for mankind and for blessing for believers) which has been given to me, to everyone, all believers in the Church Age, who is among you who have the potential for becoming invisible hero’s and part of the pivot, STOP persisting in over thinking of self in terms of arrogance in your thinking, beyond the point of what you ought to think, but think objectively in terms of sanity for the purpose of being rational without illusion about self or others, as the God has assigned to each one of us a standard of thinking from Bible Doctrine the Royal Family Honor Code.

For just as we, Royal Family of God, have many parts, in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function,

so we, the many, in the Royal Family of God, are, in reality, one body in Christ because of Baptism of God the Holy Spirit, and individually many parts one of another.

Revised Geneva Translation  .

Ron Snider translation           For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a niche with respect to his faith. For just as we have many bodily parts in one body but the bodily parts do not all have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

Updated Bible Version 2.17   .

A Voice in the Wilderness      .

Webster’s Translation           .

World English Bible                .

Worrell New Testament         .

The gist of this passage: 

3-5

Translation: For, by the grace given to me, I keep on saying, to everyone being among you (all),...

God has given a great deal of grace to Paul, which gives him great authority and leeway when it comes to addressing various congregations throughout the Roman Empire. He has never met the congregation in Rome, and yet, he is able to make statements about them personally and collectively, as if he knew them all intimately.

Paul speaks also from a position of grace, meaning, he is not trying to lord anything over the people of Rome. He is not saying, “I am great, I know better; I am superior to you—and so here are my edicts. Paul speaks to them from a position of humility.

Nevertheless, Paul addresses all the congregation of Rome, and he addresses their thinking and their mental attitude.

Translation: ...to not keep on thinking (too highly of oneself) more than what is necessary to keep on thinking;...

Paul warns the people of Rome to not think too highly of themselves, beyond what is necessary to think. That is, you can have thoughts about yourself; you can realistically and honestly appraise yourself in the Christian life; however, this should not lead you to thinking too highly of yourself.

Translation: ...but to keep on thinking for the purpose of being of sound mind...

Instead, the people of Rome are to keep on thinking in terms of having a sound mind, in terms of putting a moderate estimate upon themselves, in terms of having self-control. This is where their thinking needs to be.