Romans 12:21 (DRB)

Passage

Be not overcome by evil: but overcome evil by good.

Nearby Context

Romans 12:19 Revenge not yourselves, my dearly beloved; but give place unto wrath, for it is written: Revenge is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.

Romans 12:20 But if the enemy be hungry, give him to eat; if he thirst, give him to drink. For, doing this, thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.

Romans 12:21 Be not overcome by evil: but overcome evil by good.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "overcome", "evil", and "good". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "overcome" and "evil", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The prior verse says "But if the enemy be hungry give...", giving immediate footing for "overcome" and "evil". In Romans context, the local focus is righteousness by faith, union with Christ, life in the Spirit, and God's covenant faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "overcome" and "evil" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.