New International Version
Romans 12:3
3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
Romans 12:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.
Context of Romans 12:3
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Read all of Romans 12Romans 12:3 word by word
λέγω γὰρ διὰ τῆς χάριτος τῆς δοθείσης μοι παντὶ τῷ ὄντι ἐν ὑμῖν, μὴ ὑπερφρονεῖν παρ᾽ ὃ δεῖ φρονεῖν, ἀλλὰ φρονεῖν εἰς τὸ σωφρονεῖν, ἑκάστῳ ὡς ὁ θεὸς ἐμέρισεν μέτρον πίστεως.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- throughδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- the graceὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the graceχάριςcharis · graceG5485
- givenδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- unto meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- to every manπᾶςpas · allG3956
- that isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- amongἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- youσύsu · youG4771
- notμήmē · notG3361
- to thinkὑπερφρονέωhuperphroneō · be haughtyG5252
- thanπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844
- ·ὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- he oughtδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
- to thinkφρονέωphroneō · to reasonG5426
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- ·εἰςeis · towardG1519
- soberlyσωφρονέωsōphroneō · be of sound mindG4993
- according asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- hath dealtμερίζωmerizō · to divideG3307
- to every manἕκαστοςhekastos · eachG1538
- the measureμέτρονmetron · measureG3358
- of faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
Cross-references for Romans 12:3
- Romans 12:6We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;
- Romans 1:5Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake.
- Romans 15:15Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me
- 1 Corinthians 3:10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.
- 1 Corinthians 15:10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
- Galatians 2:8For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles.
- Ephesians 3:2Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
- Ephesians 4:7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
- Colossians 1:29To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
- 1 Timothy 1:14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
- 1 Peter 4:11If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
- Romans 11:20Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble.
- Proverbs 16:18Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
- Proverbs 25:27It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.
- Proverbs 26:12Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
- Ecclesiastes 7:16Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise— why destroy yourself?
Commentaries on Romans 12:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Through the grace given unto me - By the grace given St. Paul most certainly means his apostolical office, by which he had the authority, not only to preach the Gospel, but also to rule the Church of Christ. This is the meaning of the word, ̔ , in Ephesians 3:8; : Unto me who am less than the least of all saints is this grace given - is conceded this office or employment immediately by God himself; that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3For I say - The word “for” shows that the apostle is about to introduce some additional considerations to enforce what he had just said, or to show how we may evince a mind that is not conformed to the world. Through the grace - Through the favor, or in virtue of the favor of the apostolic office. By the authority that is conferred on me to declare the will of God as an apostle; see the note at Romans 1:5; see also Galatians 1:6, Galatians 1:15; Galatians…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3-8Verses 3-8 Pride is a sin in us by nature; we need to be cautioned and armed against it. All the saints make up one body in Christ, who is the Head of the body, and the common Centre of their unity. In the spiritual body, some are fitted for and called to one sort of work; others for another sort of work. We are to do all the good we can, one to another, and for the common benefit. If we duly thought about the powers we have, and how far we fail properly…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3according to the measure of faith God has given you: This phrase can also be translated by the standard of our God-given faith. Paul may be referring to the amount of faith God has given to each person. He may also be referring to the shared Christian faith that all believers hold together. In either case, Christians should judge themselves honestly by this measure. They should not become proud about the abilities God has given them.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. For I say--authoritatively through the grace given unto me--as an apostle of Jesus Christ; thus exemplifying his own precept by modestly falling back on that office which both warranted and required such plainness towards all classes. to every man that is among you, not to think, &c.--It is impossible to convey in good English the emphatic play, so to speak, which each word here has upon another: "not to be high-minded above what he ought to be minded…Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 12:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Romans 12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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