Interpretation of the Bible / Romans 12:11

In Romans 12:11, the Apostle Paul encourages Christians not to be lazy, but to be diligent in everything that requires effort and dedication. He also encourages them to be zealous in spirit in serving the Lord.

Diligence as a christian virtue

The term that the Apostle Paul uses here for diligence is spoudē, which means “zeal,” “enthusiasm,” “effort.” The basic idea behind this term is to do something with determination and passion, without giving up in the face of difficulties.

Elsewhere in Scripture, we find the same call to diligence. For example, Proverbs 13:4 says that “A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” Diligence, then, is a virtue that is valued in the Bible because it is a sign of responsibility and dedication to what God has entrusted to us.

Fervor in the Spirit

The second exhortation Paul gives in this verse is to be fervent in spirit in serving the Lord. The word used here for fervent is zeō, which means ardor, excitement, or passion for something. In the context of the Christian life, the idea is to be enthusiastic and devoted to the work of God, driven by love for Christ and His Church.

In Revelation 3:15-16, the Lord Jesus rebukes the church in Laodicea for their spiritual lukewarmness, saying that He would rather have them be cold or hot than lukewarm. That is, a lack of zeal in the faith is something that displeases the Lord and is detrimental to our spiritual life.