In Paul’s letter to the saints at Rome, in
the section that has been designated the 1st verse of the 12th chapter, we
read: “Therefore I exhort you, brethren, by God’s mercies, to present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, well pleasing to God …”1 The next
expression (tēn logikēn latreían humōn) has been variously rendered (a)
“your spiritual service” (ASV); (b) “your reasonable service” (NKJV); (c) “your
spiritual worship” (ESV); (d) “your spiritual service of worship” (NASB); (e) “your
spiritual act of worship” (NIV 1984); and (f) “your true and proper worship”
(NIV 2011). Which rendering most accurately conveys the sense of the text?
The Greek adjective logikós means “reasonable,” “rational,” or
“spiritual.” The noun latreía is “service or worship” (BAGD 467), with emphasis on
divine service (cf. Rom. 9:4; John 16:2; Heb. 12:28). The verbal form latreúō
means to “serve,” especially the carrying out of religious duties (BAGD 467).
This is not the same concept as what is communicated by the verb proskunéō, which means to
“worship, do obeisance to, prostrate oneself before, do reverence to …” (BAGD
716). Paul is not discussing or describing proskunéō (“worship”) in Rom. 12:1; in fact, this word does not appear
anywhere in Romans.2
Scriptural worship [proskunéō] is something that is done
purposefully, involving concentration, consideration, and reverence (John 4:20-24;
12:20; Acts 8:27). The intentionality of worship
is demonstrated in Acts 24:11, where Paul says he had traveled to
Jerusalem “to worship” [proskunéō]. Obviously worship is something
that is done on purpose; one cannot worship unintentionally or by accident.
While we serve the Lord in all that we do
(Rom. 12:1; Col. 3:17), not everything we do in life constitutes worship (e.g.
reading the newspaper, sleeping, watching a movie, et al.). When we set aside
time and attention for the express purpose of worshiping God, let us do so
according to biblical guidelines (1 Cor. 11:17-29; 14:12-19; 16:1-2; etc.). In
everything else, may we be God’s faithful servants.
--Kevin L. Moore
Endnotes:
1 Unless otherwise noted,
scripture quotations are the author’s own translation.
2 The only biblical record of
Paul’s use of the word proskunéō (“worship”) is Acts 24:11 and 1 Cor. 14:25.
Related Posts: Restoring True Worship, What Are You Getting Out of Worship?
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