12:18
“Live peaceably with all”. Being deliberately contentious and seeking trouble is not a Christian attitude, though we should note that this is not an excuse for not addressing evil. He is essentially saying that we should not seek to be troublemakers for the sake of it. We do not look for conflict, though Paul was no stranger to conflict. We fight the right battles. Paul is also very realistic by adding “as far as it depends on you”. Some people just want trouble and will not behave reasonably, there is nothing we can do about that.
12:19
“Never avenge yourself”. We will all be wronged at some points in our lives. Most of these occasions will be relatively minor, but sometimes they will be really serious. The urge to seek vengeance can be strong in such circumstances, but we must resist it. Instead we are to “leave it to the wrath of God”. Note that Paul is not saying we should treat the wrong as though it didn’t matter. Rather we know that God is a God of justice, and He will bring vengeance at the right time. Sometimes this will be in the present through the judicial system, at others it may be through circumstances, and at others on the Last Day. It is God’s job to bring about justice.
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