This is one of the Bible’s most practical passages. It mentions about 21 things to do, and 7 things not to do. Its meaning is mostly straightforward. The hard part is living it out.

Overall, good Christian living is about love (v 9), and, as the passage makes clear, it needs to be a sincere, practical and resilient love. In a loving church, the Christians will have a mutual commitment to, and respect for, each other (v 10). Love will be hard work sometimes: for example, when entertaining visitors or refugees, when helping at a food bank or when there is opposition or suffering. This love needs to develop stamina, if we are to keep keen in the Lord’s service, including praying for others. Paul knows what it’s like. We need to refuel spiritually and to allow our hope of glory to cheer us up (vs 11–13)! 

Love means doing good to our enemies too, never retaliating or seeking revenge (vs 17,19,20). Our response to evil in the world is not to add to it, but to abhor it and replace it with good (vs 9,20,21). We want to be a blessing to everyone, even to those who reject us. Love includes sympathising with people, not being superior, and living at peace with everyone we can (vs 14–16,18).