Romans 12:9 Meaning: Sincere Love That Hates Evil and Clings to Good
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good.
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
The love unfeigned: abhorring the evil; cleaving to the good;
Let love be unfeigned; abhorring evil; cleaving to good:
Meaning in one sentence
Understand Romans 12:9: love without hypocrisy. Learn why abhorring evil and clinging to good are essential to genuine Christian love.
Context
After eleven chapters of careful doctrine, Paul turns to the shape of everyday Christian life. In chapter 12 he has urged believers to offer themselves as living sacrifices and to use their gifts humbly within Christ’s body. Now he strings together short, direct commands that describe how love acts. Verse 9 sits at the head of that list, as a kind of hinge. It names the quality that makes every other command real: love without a mask. The verses that follow, about honor, diligence, hospitality, blessing enemies, are all ways that sincere love takes on flesh.
Key Words
Three Greek words give this verse its force. The first is agape, the word Paul uses for love. It is not affection or romance but deliberate goodwill, a commitment to the good of the other, whether you feel warm toward them or not.
The second is anupokritos, translated “without hypocrisy” or “unfeigned.” It literally means not wearing a mask. Paul says love must drop every disguise. No pretend kindness that covers a cold heart.
The third is apostugeo, a very strong verb for “abhor.” It carries the sense of horror, of turning away with loathing. The word is rare in the New Testament; Paul could have used a milder word for “hate,” but he chose this one. And then kollao, “cling,” means to be cemented or glued. Together they say: don’t just avoid evil, feel its wrongness. Don’t just admire good, stick to it.
How Christians Read This Verse
Throughout Christian history, readers have noticed the intensity of this verse. John Calvin and Albert Barnes both argued that the “evil” here refers not to sin in general but to the particular malice and unkindness that poisons relationships. If love is sincere, it must recoil from the hardness that would harm another.
Other interpreters, like Adam Clarke and John Gill, read “evil” in a wider sense, everything that opposes God’s good will. Both traditions agree on the main point: genuine love is not a soft, shapeless feeling. It has edges. It hates what destroys people and holds fast to what builds them up.
A common misunderstanding
Living This Out
This verse asks you to look closely at your relationships this week. Where is your love wearing a mask? You say kind things but hold resentment underneath. Paul calls you to drop the pretense.
And where have you grown comfortable with a small evil, a sharp tongue, a cold shoulder, a choice to exclude? He does not ask you to just stop; he asks you to feel the wrongness of it, to turn from it with real distaste. Then he asks you to glue yourself to the good. Think of one person you struggle to love. What would it look like to choose their good this week, not with forced words but with concrete action? That is what sincere love does.
Main takeaway: Sincere Christian love is not passive: it loathes what harms and clings to what helps.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Love means you don’t pretend. If you say you love someone, don’t be mean to them behind their back. And when you see something wrong, you don’t have to like it. Instead, hold tight to what is kind and good.
For ages 9, 12
This verse is short but hard. It says our love should be real, not fake. Sometimes we act nice but feel grumpy inside. Paul says: don’t do that. And he says we should hate what is evil, not people, but the bad things that hurt them. Then we should hold on to what is good as if our life depends on it. That’s what real love looks like.
Questions People Ask
What does “love without hypocrisy” actually mean?
It means your love is not a performance. The Greek word anupokritos comes from the world of theater, actors wore masks. So Paul is saying: take off the mask. Don't say you care when you don't. Let your kindness be real, even when no one is watching.
Does Romans 12:9 tell Christians to hate things?
Yes, but not people. The word “abhor” is directed at evil, not at those who do evil. Paul elsewhere teaches us to love our enemies (Romans 12:14, 20). So this is a hatred of what is wrong, not a hatred of anyone.
What kind of evil is Paul talking about here, all evil or just specific sins?
Some commentators, like Calvin and Barnes, think Paul has in mind the malice and unkindness that can sour relationships. Others take it more broadly as anything contrary to God's will. Either way, it includes the gossip, bitterness, and small cruelties that damage love.
How can I learn to “cling to what is good” in daily life?
The Greek word kollao means to glue or cement. So start small: choose one good habit, a kind word, a patient response, a forgiving thought, and stick to it. Deliberately attach yourself to practices that build others up. Over time, the glue holds.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study