Romans 12:11 Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

◄ Romans 12:11 ►

New International Version
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

New Living Translation
Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.

English Standard Version
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Berean Standard Bible
Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Berean Literal Bible
not lagging in diligence, being fervent in spirit, serving the Lord,

King James Bible
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

New King James Version
not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

New American Standard Bible
not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

NASB 1995
not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

NASB 1977
not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

Legacy Standard Bible
not lagging behind in diligence, being fervent in spirit, serving the Lord,

Amplified Bible
never lagging behind in diligence; aglow in the Spirit, enthusiastically serving the Lord;

Christian Standard Bible
Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord.

American Standard Version
in diligence not slothful; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

Contemporary English Version
Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord.

English Revised Version
in diligence not slothful; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Don't be lazy in showing your devotion. Use your energy to serve the Lord.

Good News Translation
Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion.

International Standard Version
Never be lazy in showing such devotion. Be on fire with the Spirit. Serve the Lord.

Majority Standard Bible
Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

NET Bible
Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord.

New Heart English Bible
not lagging in diligence; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

Webster's Bible Translation
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

Weymouth New Testament
Do not be indolent when zeal is required. Be thoroughly warm-hearted, the Lord's own servants,

World English Bible
not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord,

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
in the diligence not slothful; in the spirit fervent; serving the LORD;

Berean Literal Bible
not lagging in diligence, being fervent in spirit, serving the Lord,

Young's Literal Translation
in the diligence not slothful; in the spirit fervent; the Lord serving;

Smith's Literal Translation
In study not slothful; boiling in the spirit; serving the Lord;

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
In carefulness not slothful. In spirit fervent. Serving the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
in solicitude, not lazy; in spirit, fervent; serving the Lord;

New American Bible
Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

New Revised Standard Version
Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit, serving the LORD;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Be diligent and do not be lazy; be enthusiastic in spirit; be working for your Lord.

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
in what requires diligence, be not slothful; in spirit, be fervent; in service, be devoted to the Lord;

Godbey New Testament
not slothful in business; boiling over in spirit; serving the Lord;

Haweis New Testament
not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord:

Mace New Testament
in business be not slothful, but of an active mind, making the best use of every incident.

Weymouth New Testament
Do not be indolent when zeal is required. Be thoroughly warm-hearted, the Lord's own servants,

Worrell New Testament
in diligence, not slothful; in spirit, fervent, serving the Lord;

Worsley New Testament
not slothful in business: fervent in spirit: serving the Lord.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Love, Zeal, Hope, Hospitality
…10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another. 11Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men,

Galatians 6:9
Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Ephesians 6:7
Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men,

1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Hebrews 6:10-12
For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so. / We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. / Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

1 Peter 4:10-11
As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another. / If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

2 Thessalonians 3:13
But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.

Philippians 2:14-16
Do everything without complaining or arguing, / so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world / as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

1 Thessalonians 1:3
and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 1:6-7
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. / For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.

Proverbs 22:29
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

Proverbs 10:4
Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.

Proverbs 12:24
The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.

Proverbs 13:4
The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.

Treasury of Scripture

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

slothful.

Exodus 5:17
But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.

Proverbs 6:6-9
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: …

Proverbs 10:26
As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

fervent.

Matthew 24:12
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Acts 18:25
This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

Colossians 4:12,13
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God…

serving.

1 Corinthians 7:22
For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

Ephesians 6:5-8
Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; …

Colossians 3:22-24
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: …

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Business Diligence Diligent Fervent Fervor Flag Indolent Quick Required Servants Serve Serving Slothful Slow Spirit Spiritual Thoroughly Work Zeal

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Business Diligence Diligent Fervent Fervor Flag Indolent Quick Required Servants Serve Serving Slothful Slow Spirit Spiritual Thoroughly Work Zeal

Romans 12

1. God's mercies must move us to offer ourselves.
3. No man must think too well of himself;
6. but everyone attend to the calling wherein he is placed.
9. Love, and many other duties are required of us.
19. Revenge is especially forbidden.

Berean Study Bible

Never be lacking in zeal
The phrase "Never be lacking in zeal" calls believers to maintain a fervent and passionate commitment to their faith and service to God. The Greek word for "zeal" here is "spoudē," which conveys a sense of earnestness, diligence, and eagerness. Historically, zeal was a characteristic highly valued in the early Christian community, as it demonstrated a believer's dedication and enthusiasm for the work of the Lord. This exhortation reminds Christians to avoid spiritual complacency and to continually fuel their passion for God's work, reflecting the fervor of the early church as seen in Acts.

but keep your spiritual fervor
The phrase "but keep your spiritual fervor" emphasizes the importance of maintaining an intense and burning spirit in one's service to God. The Greek word for "fervor" is "zeontes," which literally means "boiling" or "seething." This imagery suggests a heart that is on fire for God, filled with the Holy Spirit, and actively engaged in His service. Historically, this fervor was evident in the lives of the apostles and early Christians who faced persecution yet remained steadfast in their faith. This call to spiritual fervor encourages believers to be continually renewed and empowered by the Holy Spirit, ensuring that their passion for God does not wane.

serving the Lord
The phrase "serving the Lord" underscores the ultimate purpose of a believer's zeal and fervor. The Greek word for "serving" is "douleuontes," which implies a sense of servitude or slavery. In a historical context, this reflects the early Christian understanding of being wholly devoted to Christ, as a servant is to a master. This service is not out of obligation but out of love and gratitude for the salvation received through Jesus Christ. The phrase calls believers to prioritize their lives around serving God, aligning their actions and intentions with His will, and reflecting the servanthood of Christ Himself, who came not to be served but to serve.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) In business.--Rather, in zeal; the reference is to the spiritual and not to the practical life, as the English reader might suppose.

Fervent.--In the literal and etymological sense boiling or seething. The temperament of the Christian is compared to water bubbling and boiling over the flame.

In spirit--i.e., not "in the Holy Spirit," but "in that part of you which is spirit."

Serving the Lord.--Some of the extant Graeco-Latin codices, and others known to Origen and Jerome, read here by a slight change of vowels "serving the time"; no doubt wrongly, though the expression might be compared with 1Corinthians 7:29; Ephesians 5:16, et al.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 11. - In business (rather, diligence) not slothful; in spirit fervent (we are to do with our might whatever our hand finds to do; yea, with fervent zeal); serving the Lord. For τῷ Κυρίῳ, (the Lord), some manuscripts have τῷ καιρῷ (the time, or the opportunity), which reading is preferred by some commentators on the ground that it is less likely to have been instituted for the familiar τῷ Κυρίῳ than vice versa. But τῷ Κυρίῳ is best supported, and has an obvious meaning, vie. that in the zealous performance of all our duties we are to feel that we are serving the Lord.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

Do not let
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

[your]
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

zeal
σπουδῇ (spoudē)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4710: (a) speed, haste, (b) diligence, earnestness, enthusiasm. From speudo; 'speed', i.e. despatch, eagerness, earnestness.

subside;
ὀκνηροί (oknēroi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3636: Slothful, backward, hesitating; of things: irksome. From okneo; tardy, i.e. Indolent; irksome.

keep your spiritual fervor,
ζέοντες (zeontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2204: (lit: I boil, am boiling), I burn (in spirit), am fervent. A primary verb; to be hot, i.e. be fervid.

serving
δουλεύοντες (douleuontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1398: To be a slave, be subject to, obey, be devoted. From doulos; to be a slave to.

the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Lord.
Κυρίῳ (Kyriō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

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NT Letters: Romans 12:11 Not lagging in diligence (Rom. Ro)