Sometimes The Bible Surprises Me!

[tyndale1946]

I read and study everyday and oft times on here a brother or sister will give me light on something I have been considering... I learn every day... But I must admit sometimes the Bible surprises me... The following verse seem to counteract or cancel out each other... But then I did some deep digging and found that that is not so... Scripture NEVER contradicts scripture... If the right interpretation is applied, then scripture harmonizes... So lets look at the scripture that surprised me

Romans 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Why would you feed and give drink to your enemy, showing him a kindness, then heap coals of fire on his head?... John Gill has a good piece on this and if you would like to read it all refer you there instead of posting it... You may have others you could recommend on this same passage... The following I posted because I thought it would be of interest

In ancient times heated coals would be needed for cooking and as a source of heat and light. On very cold nights it could be the difference between life and death. If you had to carry hot coals you would not carry them by hand as the heat would rush onto the hand and arm. For this reason, people carried them safely on the head in a pottery urn. More to the point, a good person gives coals to their neighbour who is lacking to carry home, be they in physical or spiritual need.

Now be honest has anything in the Bible ever surprised you?... Brother Glen

 

[kyredneck]

Well, I appreciate Brother Gill and agree with him often, but I think he missed it on this one...

21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will reward thee. Prov 25

Romans 12:20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

Elliot's
(20) Thou shalt heap coals of fire.--Comp. Psalm 18:12-14, where the phrase "coals of fire" is used of the divine vengeance. So here, but in a strictly metaphorical sense, it means, "Thou shalt take the best and most summary vengeance upon him." There may be the underlying idea of awakening in the adversary the pangs of shame and remorse.

JFB
in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head—As the heaping of "coals of fire" is in the Old Testament the figurative expression of divine vengeance (Ps 140:10; 11:6, etc.), the true sense of these words seems to be, "That will be the most effectual vengeance—a vengeance under which he will be fain to bend" (So Alford, Hodge, etc.). Ro 12:21 confirms this.

Matthew Henry
The line of our duty is clearly marked out, and if our enemies are not melted by persevering kindness, we are not to seek vengeance; they will be consumed by the fiery wrath of that God to whom vengeance belongeth.

Matthew Poole
Thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head; i.e. either make him relent, or bring down the greater vengeance from God upon him. This is taken out of Proverbs 25:21,22; See Poole on "Proverbs 25:21". See Poole on "Proverbs 25:22".

Meyer's
Romans 12:20. Without οὖν (see the critical notes), but thus the more in conformity with the mode of expression throughout the whole chapter, which proceeds for the most part without connectives, there now follows what the Christian—seeing that he is not to avenge himself, but to let God’s wrath have its way—has rather to do in respect of his enemy. The whole verse is borrowed from Proverbs 25:21-22, which words Paul adopts as his own, closely from the LXX.

 

[tyndale1946]

Well, I appreciate Brother Gill and agree with him often, but I think he missed it on this one...

21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will reward thee. Prov 25

Romans 12:20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

Elliot's
(20) Thou shalt heap coals of fire.--Comp. Psalm 18:12-14, where the phrase "coals of fire" is used of the divine vengeance. So here, but in a strictly metaphorical sense, it means, "Thou shalt take the best and most summary vengeance upon him." There may be the underlying idea of awakening in the adversary the pangs of shame and remorse.

JFB
in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head—As the heaping of "coals of fire" is in the Old Testament the figurative expression of divine vengeance (Ps 140:10; 11:6, etc.), the true sense of these words seems to be, "That will be the most effectual vengeance—a vengeance under which he will be fain to bend" (So Alford, Hodge, etc.). Ro 12:21 confirms this.

Matthew Henry
The line of our duty is clearly marked out, and if our enemies are not melted by persevering kindness, we are not to seek vengeance; they will be consumed by the fiery wrath of that God to whom vengeance belongeth.

Matthew Poole
Thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head; i.e. either make him relent, or bring down the greater vengeance from God upon him. This is taken out of Proverbs 25:21,22; See Poole on "Proverbs 25:21". See Poole on "Proverbs 25:22".

Meyer's
Romans 12:20. Without οὖν (see the critical notes), but thus the more in conformity with the mode of expression throughout the whole chapter, which proceeds for the most part without connectives, there now follows what the Christian—seeing that he is not to avenge himself, but to let God’s wrath have its way—has rather to do in respect of his enemy. The whole verse is borrowed from Proverbs 25:21-22, which words Paul adopts as his own, closely from the LXX.

Ok Kentucky maybe I'm not seeing the whole picture here and the light hasn't come on yet... But wouldn't what you have stated be counterproductive to verse 21?... I'm not arguing my brother just looking for understanding... I'm here to learn... Brother Glen

Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

[TCassidy]

The coals of fire on the head also helps keep the person warm during the cold night time. It is an act of kindness. It is "love your enemy" in action.

 

[kyredneck]

But wouldn't what you have stated be counterproductive to verse 21?

It jibes with v 19, and no I don't think it contradicts v 21, consider Henry's words:

"The line of our duty is clearly marked out, and if our enemies are not melted by persevering kindness, we are not to seek vengeance; they will be consumed by the fiery wrath of that God to whom vengeance belongeth."

Either way, you've overcome evil with good.

 

[Dave G]

I'd like to jump in with my take, if that's OK.
I realize this thread is old, but I'm just now going through the older ones.
Here are the passages:

" If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee." ( Proverbs 25:21-22 )

" Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." ( Romans 12:20-21 )


What I see is that first of all, a believer's actual enemies are not his or her brothers and sisters...they are the enemies of Christ, therefore they are those who hate Him and hate us:

" If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you." ( John 15:18 )

" Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not [his] brother abideth in death.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16 Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" ( 1 John 3:13-17 )


So, believer's love other believers and do good things for them.
But as good neighbors, we are to do good to all:

" As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all [men], especially unto them who are of the household of faith." ( Galatians 6:10 )

But, since they are our enemies and bound for Hell, our actions towards them, while loving, God will hold them accountable for hating us even more...literally heaping coals of fire on their heads while they are in Hell in torments. We overcome evil with good, while they try to overcome good with evil and ultimately lose.

You gentlemen don't really think that God is going to let His children's suffering go unanswered, do you? BTW, that's a rhetorical question, and one that fills me with mixed emotions.

Does God recompense unbelievers for persecuting His children?

" seeing [it is] a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7 and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:" ( 2 Thessalonians 1:6-8 )

Sobering? Yes. I always find it sobering when I read many parts of His blessed word.


He is a revenger of all who are righteous and who suffer for righteousness sake.