Romans 12:3 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.
Romans 12:3 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.
Romans 12:3 niv
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.
Romans 12:3 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.
Romans 12:3 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.
Romans 12 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." | Warns against the danger of pride. |
| Prov 29:23 | "A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor." | Contrasts pride with humility's reward. |
| Matt 18:4 | "Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom..." | Jesus links humility with true greatness. |
| Luke 14:11 | "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." | Divine principle of humbling the proud. |
| John 3:27 | "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven." | All good things, including faith and gifts, come from God. |
| Rom 1:5 | "Through Him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith..." | Paul's own understanding of grace and his calling. |
| Rom 15:15-16 | "because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus..." | Paul affirms his authority rests on God's grace. |
| 1 Cor 4:7 | "What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?" | Challenges boasting, underscoring God as source. |
| 1 Cor 12:4-11 | "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit..." | Emphasizes diverse gifts given by the same Spirit. |
| 1 Cor 12:12-27 | "For just as the body is one and has many members..." | Illustration of the Body of Christ with many members and their functions. |
| 2 Cor 10:13 | "...but according to the measure of the rule that God has assigned to us..." | Mentions a "measure" of ministry assigned by God. |
| Gal 6:3 | "For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself." | Warns against self-deception in spiritual pride. |
| Eph 2:8 | "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God..." | Salvation itself is by grace and faith, a gift from God. |
| Eph 4:7 | "But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift." | Grace and gifts given "according to the measure". |
| Eph 4:11-13 | "And he gave the apostles, the prophets... until we all attain... to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." | Different roles and the goal of maturity. |
| Phil 2:3 | "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." | Exhorts specific action of valuing others higher. |
| Col 3:12 | "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness..." | Humility listed as a foundational Christian virtue. |
| 2 Tim 1:7 | "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and of self-control (sober mind)." | Relates "sober mind" (sōphronismos) to spiritual well-being. |
| Titus 2:6 | "Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled (sōphronous)." | Calls for sound judgment and sobriety in all areas. |
| Jas 1:5 | "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach..." | God grants wisdom for discernment and understanding. |
| Jas 4:6 | "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'" | Reinforces God's opposition to pride and grace to humility. |
| 1 Pet 1:13 | "Therefore, preparing your minds for action, be sober-minded..." | Direct command to be sober-minded in thought. |
| 1 Pet 4:10-11 | "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another..." | Connects receiving a gift to using it for service. |
| Jude 1:19 | "...worldly people, devoid of the Spirit." | The lack of spiritual discernment from those operating carnally. |
Romans 12 verses
Romans 12 3 Meaning
Romans 12:3 calls believers to practice humility and sound judgment in assessing themselves, especially concerning their spiritual standing and gifts within the body of Christ. Paul, speaking from his God-given apostolic authority, admonishes every believer not to think of themselves with an inflated sense of importance. Instead, they are to evaluate themselves with sober understanding, recognizing that their faith, and subsequently their abilities for service, are not self-generated but are measures individually dealt to them by God Himself. This foundation of humility is essential for unity and proper function within the church.Romans 12 3 Context
Romans 12:3 serves as a pivotal transition from the theological instruction of chapters 1-11 to the practical application of Christian living in chapters 12-16. Specifically, it directly follows Paul's profound appeal in Romans 12:1-2 for believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices and be transformed by the renewing of their minds, thereby discerning God's will. Verse 3 outlines the crucial mental disposition necessary for fulfilling these exhortations in community. Before discussing the diversity of spiritual gifts and functions within the church (vv. 4-8), Paul establishes the foundational requirement of humility in self-assessment.Historically and culturally, the Roman church comprised both Jewish and Gentile believers, presenting unique challenges regarding unity and potential superiority complexes (e.g., Jewish believers priding themselves on heritage, or Gentile believers becoming arrogant due to inclusion in God's plan, as addressed in Romans 11). Furthermore, the pagan Roman world often glorified self-assertion, power, and status, creating a prevailing ethos contrary to Christian humility. This verse acts as a direct polemic against such prideful thinking, guiding believers to evaluate themselves not by worldly standards or even by comparison with others, but by God's standard and His distribution of grace.
Romans 12 3 Word analysis
- For I say: Indicates a strong exhortation and apostolic authority. Paul speaks as an apostle, commissioned by Christ (Rom 1:5, 15:15).
- through the grace given to me: Greek: dia tēs charitos tēs dotheisēs moi. Paul roots his authority not in his own merit or wisdom, but in God's undeserved favor bestowed upon him for his specific ministry (cf. Eph 3:7-8). This humility undergirds his command for others to be humble.
- to everyone among you: Highlights the universality of the command. This applies to every single believer within the community, irrespective of their role, spiritual maturity, or giftedness. No one is exempt from this requirement of self-assessment.
- who thinks of himself more highly than he ought to think: Greek: mē hyperphronein par’ ho dei phronein.
- hyperphronein (from hyper "over" + phronein "to think"): "To think overmuch, to be conceited, to think more highly than is proper." It implies intellectual arrogance, an inflated self-perception or opinion, particularly in spiritual matters.
- par’ ho dei phronein (from pará "beyond" + ho dei "that which is proper" + phronein "to think"): "Beyond what it is necessary to think, contrary to what is fitting to think." This emphasizes the impropriety of the inflated self-perception, marking it as exceeding proper limits or true reality. This phrase sets a boundary for proper self-estimation.
- but to think soberly: Greek: alla phronein eis to sōphronein.
- sōphronein: "To be of sound mind, to exercise self-control, to think discreetly, prudently, moderately." This is the antonym of hyperphronein. It signifies self-control and clear thinking, leading to a realistic and humble assessment of one's abilities and standing. It’s a mind controlled by the Spirit, reflecting sanity and prudence.
- as God has dealt: Greek: kathōs ho theos emerisen. Emphasizes God's sovereign and just distribution. It underscores that all spiritual capacities are a direct endowment from God, not acquired by personal merit or effort. God is the active giver, the divine dispenser.
- to each one: Reinforces the individual nature of God's dealings. Every believer receives a specific, personalized allocation.
- a measure of faith: Greek: metron pisteōs. This refers to a God-given capacity of faith that enables one to fulfill their specific role and use their gifts effectively within the Body of Christ. It does not refer to the quantity of saving faith (which is singular and complete), but rather the specific proportion or capacity of faith allocated by God to each believer for their spiritual function and understanding (cf. 2 Cor 10:13; Eph 4:7). It implies a unique grace and trust given to each to operate within their assigned sphere and gifts. This 'measure' acts as both an enabling gift and a defining limit.
Romans 12 3 Bonus section
- Foundation for Gifts: This verse acts as the crucial prelude to Paul's teaching on spiritual gifts (Romans 12:4-8), asserting that proper deployment of gifts is only possible from a posture of humility and sober self-assessment, not arrogance or comparison.
- Balancing Act: Romans 12:3 helps navigate two extremes: not to overestimate oneself, nor to underestimate oneself. The "measure of faith" implies that God has indeed given something to each one, validating their unique place and contribution, preventing false humility that leads to inaction. It calls for active, but humble, stewardship of what is entrusted.
- Faith as Enablement: The "measure of faith" can be understood as the enabling spiritual capacity, given by God, that empowers believers to believe, trust, and function within the specific ministry or gift God has assigned to them. It's the conviction or confidence required to step into and operate within God's calling for one's life.
- Spiritual Mindset: The repeated use of forms of phronein (to think) underscores that the problem and solution begin in the mind. True transformation, as outlined in Romans 12:2, leads to a correct way of thinking about oneself and others in the context of the spiritual body.
Romans 12 3 Commentary
Romans 12:3 serves as the practical bedrock for all subsequent instructions on Christian community life and the exercise of spiritual gifts. It moves beyond abstract theological truths to confront the very real human tendency toward pride and self-exaltation. Paul's authoritative "I say" grounds this command in divine revelation, not human opinion, ensuring its universal application "to everyone among you." The core message is a resounding call to humility and accurate self-assessment.The danger Paul addresses, "thinking of himself more highly than he ought to think," (hyperphronein), describes an inflated ego or spiritual arrogance. This could manifest as boasting about one's spiritual maturity, gifts, or perceived insight, or looking down on others. This mental state actively hinders genuine spiritual service and fractures the unity of the church. In contrast, the command "to think soberly" (sōphronein) advocates for a Spirit-informed self-awareness—a disciplined, modest, and realistic evaluation of one's true standing and abilities. This isn't self-deprecation, but accurate self-understanding under God's gaze.
The basis for this sober assessment is explicitly "as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." This crucial phrase emphasizes God's sovereign initiative in gifting and empowering. It reveals that our spiritual capabilities, gifts, and even the faith enabling us to use them, are not earned or inherent but graciously apportioned by God. This truth profoundly curtails pride because it denies any ground for personal boasting; all credit reverts to the divine Giver. Understanding one's specific "measure of faith" defines their unique sphere of operation and gifts (as elaborated in verses 4-8), fostering a healthy interdependence within the Body of Christ rather than competition or self-sufficiency. For instance, if one has been given a measure of faith to prophesy, they should exercise it within that measure, not seeking to dominate other roles or disparage those with different gifts. This humility ensures that the diverse expressions of spiritual gifts serve to build up the entire community in love.