Implied Imperatives

[dougknighton]

After his exposition on spiritual gifts, Paul seems to begin a new section of his paraenesis in Romans 12:9, which runs through verse 13. I have two questions. 1) Am I correct in construing the two noun phrases in 12:9 & 11 as implied imperatives? 12:9 Η ἀγάπη ἀνυπόκριτος (Love must be sincere/unfeigned) and 12:11 Τῇ σπουδῇ μὴ ὀκνηροί (Do not be hesitant in earnestness). 2) Does he intend us to understand the participial clauses that follow each of these introductory constructions to be filling in the details of what is involved in obeying the initial commands? 12:9–10 Ἡ ἀγάπη ἀνυπόκριτος. ἀποστυγοῦντες τὸ πονηρόν, κολλώμενοι τῷ ἀγαθῷ κτλ. 12:11–13 Τῇ σπουδῇ μὴ ὀκνηροί, τῷ πνεύματι ζέοντες, τῷ κυρίῳ δουλεύοντες κτλ.
Doug Knighton