# Connecting Statement:

Paul tells what the life of a believer should be and how believers should serve.

# I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present

Here "brothers" refers to fellow believers, both male and female. Alternate translation: "Fellow believers, because of the great mercy that God has given you I very much want you to present" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit]])

# to present your bodies a living sacrifice

Here Paul uses the word "bodies" to refer to the entire beings of all those he is addressing. Paul is comparing a believer in Christ who completely obeys God to the animals that the Jews killed and then offered to God. Alternate translation: "to offer yourselves completely to God while you are alive as if you were a dead sacrifice on a temple altar" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])

# holy, acceptable to God

Possible meanings are 1) "a sacrifice that you give to God alone and that pleases him" or 2) "acceptable to God because it is morally pure" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublet]])

# This is your reasonable service

"This is the right way to worship God"