Bless those who persecute you.
This directive is a radical call to love and grace, reflecting Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:44). In the Roman context, Christians faced persecution from both Jewish authorities and the Roman Empire. Blessing persecutors was countercultural, challenging the natural human inclination towards retaliation. This command aligns with the example of Christ, who prayed for His persecutors (Luke 23:34). The Greek word for "bless" (eulogeo) implies speaking well of or invoking divine favor upon someone, suggesting a proactive stance of goodwill. This principle is rooted in the understanding that vengeance belongs to God (Romans 12:19) and that believers are called to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).

Bless and do not curse.
The repetition of "bless" emphasizes the importance of this attitude. In biblical times, a curse was a powerful pronouncement of harm or misfortune, often believed to invoke divine judgment. By instructing believers not to curse, Paul underscores the transformative power of the gospel, which calls for a departure from the old ways of responding to hostility. This echoes the teachings of Proverbs 25:21-22, where kindness to an enemy is likened to heaping burning coals on their head, potentially leading to repentance. The call to refrain from cursing also reflects the nature of God, who desires all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), and it aligns with the broader biblical narrative of redemption and reconciliation.

1. Paul the Apostle
The author of the Book of Romans, Paul was a key figure in the early Christian church, known for his missionary journeys and theological teachings.

2. The Roman Church
The recipients of the letter, the Roman Christians were a diverse group of Jewish and Gentile believers living in the heart of the Roman Empire.

3. Persecutors
While not named specifically, this term refers to those who oppose or harm Christians, a common experience for early believers.

4. The Early Christian Community
The broader context of the letter, this community faced various challenges, including persecution and the need for unity.

5. The City of Rome
As the capital of the Roman Empire, Rome was a significant cultural and political center, influencing the lives of its inhabitants, including Christians.Understanding Bless in the Greek Context
The Greek word for "bless" is "euloge?," meaning to speak well of or invoke divine favor. This implies an active choice to wish well upon those who harm us.

The Challenge of Non-Retaliation
Christians are called to resist the natural urge to retaliate against those who persecute them. Instead, they are to respond with kindness and prayer.

Reflecting Christ's Love
By blessing persecutors, believers demonstrate the transformative power of Christ's love, which transcends human instincts and societal norms.

Practical Steps to Blessing Persecutors
This can include praying for their well-being, speaking kindly about them, and seeking opportunities to show them kindness.

The Role of the Holy Spirit
Relying on the Holy Spirit is crucial for believers to genuinely bless those who persecute them, as it is beyond human strength to do so consistently.(14) Bless them which persecute you.--Apparently with allusion to Matthew 5:44. It was probably just about the time that St. Paul was writing this Epistle, or at most a year or two later, that the series of compositions which ultimately took the shape of our present Gospels began. It is not, however, necessary to suppose that St. Paul had actually seen one of these. The record of our Lord's teaching was no doubt at first preserved and circulated in the Church orally, and it would be in this form that St. Paul first became acquainted with the precept to which he here seems to allude. There is, perhaps, another reference to the Sermon on the Mount in 1Corinthians 7:10. Such references occur (as we should expect) more frequently in the Epistle of St. James.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Bless
Εὐλογεῖτε (Eulogeite)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2127: (lit: I speak well of) I bless; pass: I am blessed. From a compound of eu and logos; to speak well of, i.e. to bless.

those who
τοὺς (tous)
Article - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

persecute
διώκοντας (diōkontas)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1377: To pursue, hence: I persecute. A prolonged form of a primary verb dio; to pursue; by implication, to persecute.

you.
ὑμᾶς (hymas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

Bless
εὐλογεῖτε (eulogeite)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2127: (lit: I speak well of) I bless; pass: I am blessed. From a compound of eu and logos; to speak well of, i.e. to bless.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

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

curse.
καταρᾶσθε (katarasthe)
Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2672: To curse. Middle voice from katara; to execrate; by analogy, to doom.


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NT Letters: Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you (Rom. Ro)