---
title: Romans 12:18
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/romans-12-18/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/romans-12-18.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: Romans 12:18
testament: NT
section: Letters
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# Romans 12:18

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.

## NWT Wording of the Key Phrase

- NWT (2013 revision): "If possible, as far as it depends on you, be peaceable with all men"

## JW Usage

Watchtower commentary takes Romans 12:18 ("be peaceable with all men") as describing the Christian disposition toward outsiders. The verse fits within the doctrine of cosmic neutrality — Witnesses pursue peace by remaining outside political and military conflicts. The "as far as it depends on you" clause is read as acknowledging that some conflicts cannot be avoided when righteousness is at stake.

## Protestant Usage

V18's "as far as it depends on you" is precisely the qualifier that distinguishes biblical peacemaking from cosmic withdrawal. Paul commands active pursuit of peace with neighbours, families, and society — including the costly engagement that peacemaking requires. The Mennonite and Quaker traditions show how this looks in practice: conflict-resolution training, refugee resettlement, prison visitation, civil rights advocacy. Each requires entering conflict, not avoiding it. The Watchtower's reading collapses Paul's "as far as it depends on you" into "stay out of every conflict," but the verse's structure points the other direction — peacemaking is a positive duty that costs the disciple something.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [The Historic Peace Churches — Voluntary Pacifism Without Shunning](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/historic-peace-churches-voluntary.md) — Blessed are the peacemakers — the ones who choose, not the ones who are compelled (Matt 5:9) [Practice]