Romans 12:11 (KJV)

Passage

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

Nearby Context

Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Romans 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Romans 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "Spirit", "slothful", "business", "fervent", "serving", and "lord". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "Spirit" and "slothful", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 10's "Be kindly affectioned one to another with..." into verse 12's "Rejoicing in hope patient in tribulation continuing...", so "Spirit" and "slothful" belong inside that flow. 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 "Spirit" and "slothful" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.