τῇ ὀργῇ and ἄνθρακας πυρός (12:17–21)

Says μηδενὶ κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ ἀποδιδόντες forbids repaying evil for evil. εἰ δυνατόν, τὸ ἐξ ὑμῶν μετὰ πάντων ἀνθρώπων εἰρηνεύοντες calls for peace with everyone so far as it depends on you (12:17–18).

Says μὴ ἑαυτοὺς ἐκδικοῦντες, ἀλλὰ δότε τόπον τῇ ὀργῇ, with Ἐμοὶ ἐκδίκησις, ἐγὼ ἀνταποδώσω, λέγει κύριος, forbids personal vengeance and cites the Lord’s claim to repay (12:19). Abbott-Smith glosses ἐκδικέω as “to avenge”. Form and attribution: see note.cross-reference.Deut.32.35.rom-12-19-form and note.language.Rom.12.19.deut-32-35.

Implies τῇ ὀργῇ does not itself say whose wrath. The BSB reads “leave room for God’s wrath”. The quotation identifies the avenger as the Lord, so the wrath is God’s in context.

Says 12:20 commands feeding a hungry enemy and giving a drink. 12:21 commands μὴ νικῶ ὑπὸ τοῦ κακοῦ, ἀλλὰ νίκα ἐν τῷ ἀγαθῷ τὸ κακόν: do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. RP has Ἐὰν οὖν for ἀλλὰ ἐάν (see var.Rom.12.20.alla-ean). Proverbs wording: see note.language.Rom.12.20.prov-25-21-22.

Uncertain ἄνθρακας πυρὸς σωρεύσεις ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ. Abbott-Smith: ἄνθραξ “coal, charcoal”; “a burning coal”; σωρεύω “to heap on”. Readings include shame that can bring repentance (coals follow kindness; 12:21 overcomes evil with good) and exposure to divine judgment (12:19 has reserved wrath). No lean is taken here. Civil authority is not settled from this chapter; Romans 13 takes that up.