“Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.”
On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." — Proverbs 25:21-22 inverts expected ethics: feed (trephō) and hydrate (potizō) the enemy. The vivid image of anthrakoi puros (burning coals on head) likely means shame leading to transformation, though some interpret it as divine judgment. Either way, enemy love aims at restoration.
Church Fathers on Romans 12:20
“If your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink; for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire upon his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Why, he means, am I telling you that you must keep peace? For I even insist upon your doing kindness. For he says, “give him to eat, and give him to drink.” Then as the command he gave was a very difficult and a great one, he proceeds: “for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire upon his head.”…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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