Romans 12:21

“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
King James Version (KJV)

Other Translations of Romans 12:21

Be not ouercome of euill, but ouercome euill with good.
- King James Version (1611) - Compare to scan of original Romans chapter 12

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
- New American Standard Version (1995)

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
- American Standard Version (1901)

Do not let evil overcome you, but overcome evil by good.
- Basic English Bible

Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
- Darby Bible

Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil by good.
- Douay Rheims Bible

Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
- Webster's Bible

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome the evil with goodness.
- Weymouth Bible

Don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
- World English Bible

Nyle thou be ouercomun of yuel, but ouercome thou yuel bi good.
- Wycliffe Bible

Be not overcome by the evil, but overcome, in the good, the evil.
- Youngs Literal Bible

Jesse's comment on 2022-08-11 14:40:00:

Adam Young,

Romans 12:20 comes from Proverbs 25:21-22. Romans 12:9-21 should be taken together and this section has to do with participation in our interaction with others. It gives us 13 precepts of love. The principle is given to us in Romans 12:9 which says, let love be without dissimulation. What in the world is that?

First of all, notice that the word "Let" is in italics. So we can scratch that. There's no command here. And the word dissimulation is the old English word for hypocrisy. There are only three words here, Love without hypocrisy. That's all it says. It's a statement of fact. Love is without hypocrisy.

And the Greek word for hypocrisy (HUPOCRISIS) is a word for an actor who is speaking according to the script. So, love doesn't have hypocrisy in it at all. There's no acting in love. You're either the real thing or you're not. You either have Christ in you or you don't. Love, (Agape love) is without hypocrisy. There's no acting. It's the real thing!

So when you get down to Romans 12:20, it says, "Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head."

Have you ever had an enemy, someone that just hated you, maybe in school? And every time they needed something, can you imagine what their reaction would be when every time they needed something, you helped them out! They say, "Yeah, but I can't stand you and I treat you terrible every time I see you." But you say, That's okay! Do you need some water?" You can just see the steam from the coals!

Adam Young's comment on 2022-08-11 10:28:58:

Reference Romans 12: 20b

It seems the "heap coals of fire on his head" means to get someone's attention. In this way, your actions have gotten an enemy's attention with the possibility of a positive and beneficial outcome. Just seems like and old saying or proverb like hope for the best, prepare for the worst or the devil is a squirrel. (German saying about squirrel.)

Adam's comment on 2021-04-04 08:22:25:

Matthew 12:40 is only 1 piece of evidence as to the timeline

Matthew 28:1 - says it was Sunday Jesus rose

Mark 16:1 - same the same

John 20:1 - same

Luke 24:1 - very early in the morning the first day of the week (Sunday), even more specific.

I think it's solid that Jesus was gone from the tomb by early on Sunday morning.

Theory: maybe Matthew 12:40 doesn't mean Jesus's body in the tomb, but Jesus preaching to spirits in hades in the center of the earth? 1 Peter 3:18-20, Ephesians 4:8-10. Maybe his body was in the tomb from Friday to Sunday morning, but his spirit was in the 'lower parts of the earth' for 3 days and 3 nights. This is only a theory.

Brother Dan's comment on 2021-04-04 05:20:43:

Christians celebrate Easter because Jesus was resurrected on a Sunday, the 1st day of the week.

To meet the 3 days and nights in the earth....Jesus could NOT have died on Friday.

So since he remained in the earth for 3 days and nights...he died before Friday. We also know he rested on Saturday (Sabbath). He even honored the Sabbath in death - very important example for us.

So a possible timeframe is Jesus died on Thursday, late day, and remained in the earth:

Thursday night

Friday morning

Friday night

Saturday morning

Saturday night

Sunday Morning for a period of time

God Bless

Easter or Passover's comment on 2021-04-03 22:38:15:

"Easter" is only found in the Bible once. In Acts, I think concerning James being killed and Peter in prison waiting for Roman holiday (Easter) to be over.

The Lord sprung Peter out of jail that very night!

Yay!!

The Jewish/Christian holiday we celebrate, is:

PASSOVER!!!!!!!!

It was hard for me to get bunnies and Reese eggs out of my head too...

Mishael's comment on 2021-04-03 22:19:46:

Jesus had five half brothers, namely, James (Ya'qov), Simon (Shim'on), Judah (Yehudah), Joses (Yosef) and Thomas (Toma'). And he also had two half sisters, Rachel (Rakhel) and Lea (Le'ah).

James Michael's comment on 2021-04-03 19:20:57:

The truth shall make you free.

Markcus Burch's comment on 2021-04-03 12:44:18:

Mark 6:3, Matthew 13:55-56, Mark 3:31-35.

PRIVRATE NOT SHOWN's comment on 2021-04-03 08:36:15:

Who were Jesus's Brothers and sisters?

Barbara Benish's comment on 2021-04-03 07:52:14:

If Jesus was crucified on Friday and to be in the grave 3 nites and 3 days, why do we celebrate Easter onSunday?

Earl Bowman's comment on 2021-04-02 17:58:48:

Richard, may the Spirit grace us with HIS wisdom and His understanding.

When Christ returns with his saints to rule and judge this world then we will see:

Isaiah 26:9 With my soul I have desired in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I speak early: for when thy JUDGEMENTS are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world WILL LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Revelation 17:16-17 And the ten horns (overcomers, judges) which thou saw on the beast (man who does not have the name of their Father written in their forehead) shall hate the whore (those unfaithful to Christ their husband) and shall make her desolate and naked (judgement), and shall eat her flesh (judgement), and shall burn her with fire (judgement).

(vs 17) For God has put in their hearts to fulfil his will (turn the other cheek, love your enemies), and to AGREE (with him), and give THEIR KINGDOM unto the beast, until the words of God be fulfilled.

Revelations 15:4 ..... for ALL NATIONS shall come and worship before thee; for thy JUDGEMENTS are made manifest.

Psalms 67:7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

Isaiah 52:10 The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of the God.

Carleton's comment on 2021-04-01 17:38:08:

Amen brother Richard. Amen.

These verses are for all of us!

Matthew 16:17

"And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven"

Richard in Christ's comment on 2021-04-01 17:21:16:

Hello,

I feel to reply to your post and expand to what Carleton stated. In this wicked world we live in one of the most important questions we, those who follow Christ, can ask ourselves when a situation occurs is "what would Jesus Christ do"?

It is right that the truth be spread and exposed. What is right and wrong. A big problem is the evil powers of this world own pretty much everything to do with mass communication. T.V., radio, internet, schools, etc and many people are brainwashed and deceived. Only a very small portion can be trusted to follow truth in whatever way. Although the devil mixes lies with truth to make it even harder for people to denote one from the other.

As I have been following what has been going on with the powers that be in the world for probably the last decade. Violence and fighting physically accomplishes nothing but more violence and blood shed. What the evil one wants. People to destroy themselves, by dividing them in any way, for their gain.

We, who follow Christ, are to live in peace. To turn the other cheek. To love and have mercy even on our enemies. Who I do not see as any other "person". It is the devil and the evil powers that be who control people in this world. That is what/who I hate. Not people. As I feel sorrow that they are being led to damnation. Hoping, and praying, one day in their lives they shall see the light and give themselves to the Lord. One more repentant sinner who has been saved.

Here are a couple verses from the OT and NT for you. With Romans 12:21. Reading Romans 12:17-21 gives a better view. Fear not those who can destroy the body, but Him who can destroy both body and soul in Gehenna/Hell.

Matthew 10:27-28.

Ecclesiastes 5:8

Micah 6:8

Matthew 5:39-45

Ephesians 6:11-17

They that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Matthew 26:52.

Jesus Christ is the only way. Not fighting for this, or any, "country". "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord."

With respect. God Bless.

Carleton's comment on 2021-04-01 13:34:08:

Jesus is the Lamb and I want to be like Jesus. Those who want to fight are plenty, those who want to be a lamb are few. The world will be the world to the end, it is corrupt and is close as our very flesh. But Jesus died for me so that I can have power over my lustily flesh to avoid revenge and power to love my neighbor as myself and present the message in this untoward world that Jesus is Calling.

:)

Wise one's comment on 2021-04-01 11:57:33:

Many of you are translating this verse to mean passivity. The main thrust of the Bible, in which everything should be followed, is through love for God. The second is like unto it, that we are doing it for our neighbor (more than regard for ourselves). I am here to tell you, that if you live in the USA, you should not translate this "Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" as be passive and unresponsive! That is not thinking of others. Unfortunately, the people in the USA do not know their history, and do not understand that our forefathers who fought for freedom, believed that overcoming evil was TO FIGHT EVIL. To fight evil is fighting for everybody.

We have become such a wimpy passive soy boy society. You do not live in a communist country or a tyrannical dictatorship, yet. Therefore, to knoweth to do good, by using your God given rights and privileges and thinking of everyone, and doeith it not, to him it is sin.

When you don't protect and fight for your freedom, and you just comply, you are allowing lies to flourish, and allowing the takeover by the Evil One.

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke

Chris's comment on 2020-12-15 15:57:27:

David, as a 14 year old, you're certainly dealing with a lot of internal strife & challenges, & this demonstrates quite an advanced mental & spiritual development in you.

Without knowing all your facts, what I do detect is that you have a strong Will & direction for your life, & when things are not going according to plan, you become troubled & amazed. Though you did state that you're finding out that God has been helping through your problems. However, I don't think you will ultimately be successful by doing things in your wisdom & strength.

For the Christian, it takes a lot of faith in God, to be able to step back & let God lead us, direct us & help us through our difficulties. The natural man says, "I can do it on my own", because that is something inbuilt in us to bring out the "self will & self confidence" we have to know everything & accomplish everything. But as you've found out, there's limitations to what you can do & that your efforts don't always turn out as you would like. It's true that God does expect us to use the wisdom & knowledge He gives us to deal with life's matters, but He also expects us that we know from where this knowledge comes from & to Whom we need to run to when our resources are exhausted. I sense, you are learning this important Truth.

Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." This tells us, at least in respect of the course & end of one's life, that man will always determine how his fate will end. But his 'wisdom' is actually folly because he simply cannot know from within himself something that only God knows & determines for man.

Rather, we must cast ourselves upon the Lord completely. Proverbs 3:5-7, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil." As Christians, we must fully trust Him.

Matthew's comment on 2015-02-23 15:24:12:

So many people act developmentally out of what enacts upon and in them. Act or cause what you want in and around you and you will have to live in that action, and that creation etc..

Missy's comment on 2014-09-23 10:23:38:

I have discovered this is true, if we replace evil with good, we will have peace!!!!! Only Jesus can change the evil people who hurt me!!!! Thank you Jesus

karlito's comment on 2014-06-24 05:23:28:

it is a verse that 's so hard to comply, but we can, through prayers and asking strenght and more patience from our dear God,we can overcome the bad things done or harsh words spoken unto you.

charlotte's comment on 2014-02-09 10:56:54:

10 13 12 my 1st born CHAKELIA went to be with her GOD 2 mts later I had a stroke Family members that should have been there wasn t GOD raised me up with a new look at life I let them take my goodness joy GOD GAVE IT BACK TO ME Thank you JESUS

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