Romans 12:8

12:8 if it is exhortation, he must exhort; if it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; if it is leadership, he must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness.

Romans 12:1

Consecration of the Believer’s Life

12:1 Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, ¹  by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God ²  – which is your reasonable service.

Colossians 1:3

Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer for the Church

1:3 We always ³  give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,

Titus 2:15

2:15 So communicate these things with the sort of exhortation or rebuke ⁴  that carries full authority. ⁵  Don’t let anyone look down ⁶  on you.

¹ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:13.

² tn The participle and two adjectives “alive, holy, and pleasing to God” are taken as predicates in relation to “sacrifice,” making the exhortation more emphatic. See ExSyn 618-19.

³ tn The adverb πάντοτε (pantote) is understood to modify the indicative εὐχαριστοῦμεν (eucaristoumen) because it precedes περὶ ὑμῶν (peri Jumwn) which probably modifies the indicative and not the participle προσευχόμενοι (proseucomenoi). But see 1:9 where the same expression occurs and περὶ ὑμῶν modifies the participle “praying” (προσευχόμενοι).

⁴ tn Or “reproof,” “censure.” The Greek word ἐλέγχω (elencw) implies exposing someone’s sin in order to bring correction.

⁵ tn Grk “speak these things and exhort and rebuke with all authority.”

⁶ tn Or “let anyone despise you”; or “let anyone disregard you.”