John Calvin Commentary Romans 12:9

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good." — Romans 12:9 (ASV)

Let love be, etc. Proceeding now to speak of particular duties, he fittingly begins with love, which is the bond of perfection. And regarding this, he urges what is especially necessary: that all disguises must be cast aside, and that love must arise from pure sincerity of mind.

It is indeed difficult to express how clever almost all people are at pretending a love they do not really have. For they not only deceive others but also deceive themselves, while they persuade themselves that they are not failing in love towards those whom they not only neglect but actually slight.

Therefore, Paul declares here that love is nothing other than that which is free from all dissimulation; and anyone can easily be a witness to himself, whether he has anything in the depths of his heart that is opposed to love. The words good and evil, which immediately follow in the context, do not have a general meaning here. Instead, evil is to be taken for that malicious wickedness by which an injury is done to people, and good for that kindness by which help is rendered to them. And there is here an antithesis common in Scripture, when vices are first forbidden and then virtues prescribed.

As for the participle, ἀποστυγούντες, I have followed neither Erasmus nor the old translators, who have translated it “hating,” (odio habentes); for in my judgment, Paul intended to express something more. The meaning of the term “turning away,” corresponds better with the opposite clause, for he not only instructs us to exercise kindness but even to cling to it.