12:1 Your bodies refers to the whole person in contact with the world, not just the physical body. • because of all he has done for you: As described in chs 1–11. • This is truly the way to worship him (or This is your spiritual worship; or This is your reasonable service): This phrase has at least three possible meanings: (1) Our sacrifice is reasonable in light of all God’s mercies; (2) our sacrifice is spiritual, not the offering of an animal but of ourselves in spiritual service; or (3) our sacrifice is intelligent, offered with complete awareness of God’s goodness to us.

12:1–15:13 This section of Romans sets out the moral and ethical demands of the Good News. God’s gift of salvation in Christ requires a response. God is not satisfied simply with forgiving our sin; he wants to transform our lives. Most of what Paul teaches concerning the moral duties of believers is paralleled in other letters. However, it also seems clear that he has chosen issues pertinent to the situation in Rome—most notably, the dispute between people who are weak in faith and people who are strong in faith (14:1–15:13).