How does Romans 12:19 reinforce the message in Proverbs 20:22? Passage Texts Proverbs 20:22: “Do not say, ‘I will avenge this evil!’ Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.” Romans 12:19: “Do not take revenge, my beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: ‘Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.’” Core Parallel Themes • Both forbid personal retaliation. • Both direct the believer to trust God’s timing and justice. • Both promise that God Himself will act. How Romans 12:19 Reinforces Proverbs 20:22 • Expands the command—Paul echoes Solomon yet adds the reminder to “leave room for God’s wrath,” underscoring that justice is God’s exclusive domain. • Grounds the principle in written revelation—Paul cites Deuteronomy 32:35, showing that this is not a new ethic but the timeless will of God already expressed in the Law and affirmed by Wisdom literature. • Shifts from passive waiting to active faith—Proverbs calls for waiting; Romans explains that waiting involves consciously relinquishing the right to retaliate so God’s righteous judgment may be displayed. • Anchors the promise in God’s character—Solomon assures, “He will save you.” Paul specifies how: God repays every wrong, guaranteeing that no sin escapes divine reckoning. • Extends the application to Christian community life—Romans 12 moves immediately into “overcome evil with good” (v. 21), pushing believers beyond non-retaliation into proactive love, which fulfills the spirit of Proverbs by displaying God’s grace while still honoring His justice. Practical Application • Refuse personal payback—silence the impulse to plot or speak revenge. • Consciously hand the offense to the Lord in prayer, trusting His omniscience and perfect timing. • Replace vengeance with constructive acts of kindness (Romans 12:20; cf. Matthew 5:44). • Rest in God’s final accounting, whether justice arrives in this life or at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). • Cultivate patience: waiting on the Lord is an act of faith that resists the urgency of wounded pride. Further Scriptural Echoes • Deuteronomy 32:35—“Vengeance is Mine; I will repay.” • Psalm 37:7-9—“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him… He will bring forth your righteousness as the light.” • 1 Peter 2:23—Christ “entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.” • 1 Thessalonians 5:15—“See that no one repays evil for evil.” Together, Proverbs 20:22 and Romans 12:19 form a seamless call: surrender retaliation, wait confidently, and trust the Lord who both saves the righteous and repays the wicked. |