Romans 12:19

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Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.

Verse 18 Read Chapter 12 Verse 20

Ambrose of Milan

AD 397

This is written lest another’s wrath draw you into sin when you want to offer resistance, when you want to be avenged. You can take the fault from him and from yourself if you decide to yield to the other.

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Ambrosiaster

AD 400

Paul warns us to avoid anger, especially because so often anger is the chief cause of sin. Someone who is motivated by wrath will demand more than the cause of the sin merits or will put himself out to do more harm while seeking revenge…. In the end he will destroy someone when he could have corrected and restored him instead. Paul forbids us to seek revenge not only from those under us but also from those who are our equals or superiors…. We are not to seek to avenge ourselves against brethren who may have sinned against us but rather to commit everything to God’s judgment, so that an enemy will find no way of promoting or advancing what is against our interest while we are too angry to notice what is happening. Paul quotes Proverbs [:] to back up his point. If we do not do what God teaches, he will show us contempt. But if we give revenge over to God it benefits us in two ways: it overcomes our anger and tends toward our perfection and justification in God’s sight. Commentary on Paul... Read More

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Cyprian of Carthage

AD 258

Nor let any one think that this occurred by chance, or think that it was fortuitous, since long ago Scripture has laid down, and said. "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

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Diodorus of Tarsus

AD 390

Paul uses the word wrath to describe God’s punishment, not because it is some kind of passion in God but because men would find it difficult to understand God’s judgment if they did not hear it compared to wrath. For since men respond to those who sin against them in wrath and anger, Scripture uses the same words to describe God’s reaction, because then the average person can hear and understand it. .

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George Leo Haydock

AD 1849

Give place to wrath. That we do, says St. Chrysostom, when we leave all to God, and endeavour to return good for evil. (Witham)

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John Chrysostom

AD 407

What the injured man most desires to see is revenge, and God will give it to him in full measure, provided that he does not try to avenge himself. Leave it to God to follow up the wrongs done to you.

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Pope Zephyrinus

AD 217

Who also has thundered through His servants, saying, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay."

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Tertullian of Carthage

AD 220

To a people which was very obdurate, and wanting in faith towards God, it might seem tedious, and even incredible, to expect from God that vengeance which was subsequently to be declared by the prophet: "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.". He who counselled that an injury should be forgotten, was still more likely to counsel the patient endurance of it. But then, when He said, "Vengeance is mine, and I will repay". (Again: ) "Avenge not yourselves; ". , "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord."

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Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation - 2 Peter 1:20