Reflection on Making Shalom: Reading Romans 12 from an International Development Perspective
WCIU Journal: Community and Societal Development Topic
November 16, 2020
By Beth Snodderly
This Reflection is part of the Scripture as International Development series.
Societies experience well-being, safety, health, and peace to the extent that God’s people are influencing (for the good) the way people relate to each other within that society.
Romans 12 lists seven gifts God has given the body of Christ for creating shalom. After listing the gifts and how to use them, Paul gives examples of practical applications of each gift. To notice the correlation of the examples with the gifts, the reader needs to know about the memory aid of chiasm, commonly used in the oral world of the Ancient Near Eastern. A chiastic structure is a form of ancient poetry of “rhyming” similar thoughts, for example, A B C B’ A’. The center of the chiasm is the climax or main point. In Romans 12 the center or hinge verse comes after the list of seven gifts, followed in reverse order with examples of how each gift can be implemented.
Reading Romans 12:5-21 with this literary device in mind helps us see more clearly what a society and inter-personal relationships should look like when God’s people are actively using the gifts God has given them.
CENTER OF CHIASM/HINGE VERSE (verse 9):
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
PREFACE (Romans 12:5-6)
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:
A. Gift of Prophecy (verse 6):
let us prophesy in proportion to our faith.
A' Example of prophecy (“forthtelling”) (verses 19-20):
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
B. Gift of Ministry (verse 7):
let us use it in our ministering;.
B' Example of how to minister to others (verses 17-18):
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
C. Gift of Teaching (verse 7):
[let us use it] in teaching;
C' Example of how to be a good teacher (verse 16):
Be of the same mind toward one another.
Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.
Do not be wise in your own opinion.
D. Gift of Exhorting (verse 8):
[let us use it] in exhortation;
D' Example of an exhortation (verses 14-15):
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
[Compare this to the last Beatitude, Matthew 5:11-12.]
E. Gift of Giving (verse 8):
he who gives, with liberality;
E' Examples of giving (verse 13):
distributing to the needs of the saints,
given to hospitality.
F. Gift of Leadership (verse 8):
he who leads, with diligence;
F' Qualities needed in a leader (verses 11-13):
not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer
G. Gift of Mercy (verse 8)
he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
G' Description of a merciful person (verse 10)
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love,
in honor giving preference to one another
SUMMARY (Rephrases the hinge verse) (verse 21):
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Beth Snodderly is a past president of William Carey International University. She currently serves as editor for the WCIU Journal and the Ralph D. Winter Research Center.