BLESS AND CURSE NOT
Romans 12:14
TRANSLATIONS
NOTE --- The word "you" or "your" which is found in the first phrase
in most translations has been added to the text in the belief it is implied. Some
scholars contend, however, that the meaning of the text is more general than
specific ..... that we should bless ALL persecutors, not just our own.
WORD STUDY
The Greek word eulogeo appears 44 times in the pages of the New Testament
writings. It means "speak well of, bless, invoke blessings upon." "The verb is a present
imperative which commands an habitual action, 'Be constantly blessing'" (Wuest, p. 216).
Our word "eulogy" comes from this Greek word. Some passages which can be read in connection
with this are: Luke 6:28a; I Cor. 4:12; I Peter 3:9; James 3:8-10.
The Greek word kataraomai appears only six times in the NT. It means "to wish
evil upon, curse, to doom or condemn another." "But I say to you, love your enemies, and
pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in
heaven" (Matt. 5:44-45).
COMMENTARY
"The great principle here commended to us is that we are to meet enmity with its opposite,
and to conquer by love. It is a poor thing if a Christian character only gives back like a
mirror the expression of the face that looks at it" (Maclaren, p. 285).
"The Christian must meet persecution with a prayer for those who persecute him. Long ago
Plato had said that the good man will choose rather to suffer evil than to do evil. As Augustine
said: 'The Church owes Paul to the prayer of Stephen.' Many a persecutor has become a
follower of the faith he once sought to destroy, because he has seen how a Christian can
forgive" (Barclay, p. 181-82).
"But God by his word not only restrains our hands from doing evil, but also subdues the
bitter feelings within; and not only so, but he would have us to be solicitous for the well-being
of those who unjustly trouble us and seek our destruction" (Calvin, p. 469).
"This is one of the most severe and difficult duties of the Christian religion; and it is a duty which
nothing else but religion will enable men to perform" (Barnes, p. 285).
"The spirit of Christ is to return good for evil" (Lipscomb, p. 228).
"The natural man curses his unjust persecutors, the regenerate man prays for them that they
may repent, and that God may pardon them" (Lenski, p. 774).
"The repetition of the word bless shews the importance of this precept" (MacKnight,
p. 438).