SEV Biblia, Chapter 6:3
Porque el que estima de sí que es algo, no siendo nada, a sí mismo se engaa.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Galatians 6:3
Verse 3. If a man think himself to be something] i.e. To be a proper Christian man; when he is nothing; being destitute of that charity which beareth, hopeth, and endureth all things. See 1 Cor. xiii. 1, &c. Those who suppose themselves to excel all others in piety, understanding, &c., while they are harsh, censorious, and overbearing, prove that they have not the charity that thinketh no evil; and in the sight of God are only as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. There are no people more censorious or uncharitable than those among some religious people who pretend to more light and a deeper communion with God. They are generally carried away with a sort of sublime, high sounding phraseology, which seems to argue a wonderfully deep acquaintance with Divine things; stripped of this, many of them are like Samson without his hair.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. For if a man think himself to be something , etc..] Of himself; to have anything of himself, to do anything of himself, and of himself to attain to life and salvation: when he is nothing : of himself; not even as a creature, but owes his being and preservation, and all the mercies of life, to another, even to God; has no grace nor gifts of himself, but what he has received, and can do no good thing, not think a good thought, or perform a good action, of himself, and much less of himself procure eternal life and salvation: he deceiveth himself : and will find himself sadly mistaken, and wretchedly disappointed another day; or whoever thinks himself to be some famous and excellent person, to be something more, and better than others, of a more excellent nature, and of greater abilities, that he is free from sin, or at least holier than others, and not liable to fall as others, whom he looks upon with disdain and contempt, wanting that charity which the law, and new commandment of Christ, requires, when he is nothing but sin and vanity, he is destitute of the grace of God, he deceives himself and the truth is not in him. This the apostle says to depress pride, and a swelling conceit of themselves, and all uncharitable, rough, and severe usages of others. A saying like this the Jews have f119 ; whoever he is that is something, or thinks in himself that he is wlk , something, it would be better for him if he had never been created.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - We are to bear one another's burdens. So we shall fulfil the law of Christ. This obliges to mutual forbearance and compassion towards eac other, agreeably to his example. It becomes us to bear one another' burdens, as fellow-travellers. It is very common for a man to look upo himself as wiser and better than other men, and as fit to dictate to them. Such a one deceives himself; by pretending to what he has not, he puts a cheat upon himself, and sooner or later will find the sad effects. This will never gain esteem, either with God or men. Every on is advised to prove his own work. The better we know our own hearts an ways, the less shall we despise others, and the more be disposed to help them under infirmities and afflictions. How light soever men' sins seem to them when committed, yet they will be found a heav burden, when they come to reckon with God about them. No man can pay ransom for his brother; and sin is a burden to the soul. It is spiritual burden; and the less a man feels it to be such, the mor cause has he to suspect himself. Most men are dead in their sins, an therefore have no sight or sense of the spiritual burden of sin Feeling the weight and burden of our sins, we must seek to be ease thereof by the Saviour, and be warned against every sin.
Greek Textus Receptus
ει 1487 γαρ 1063 δοκει 1380 5719 τις 5100 ειναι 1511 5750 τι 5100 μηδεν 3367 ων 5607 5752 εαυτον 1438 φρεναπατα 5422 5719
Vincent's NT Word Studies
3. Think (dokei). Sometimes rendered seems, 1 Cor. xii. 22; 2 Corinthians x. 9; Gal. ii. 9; but think is Paul's usual meaning. Comp. Matt. iii. 9; 1 Cor. xi. 16; Philip. iii. 4.
To be something (einai ti). For the phrase see Acts v. 36; viii. 9; 1 Corinthians iii. 7; x. 19; Gal. ii. 6; vi. 15.
Deceiveth (frenapata). N.T.o . o LXX, o Class. See the noun fenapathv deceiver, Tit. i. 10. Denoting subjective deception; deception of the judgment. The simple ajpatan to deceive, Eph. v. 6; 1 Tim. ii. 14; Jas. i. 26, and often in LXX. Lightfoot thinks the compound verb may possibly have been coined by Paul. 88
Robertson's NT Word Studies
6:3 {Something when he is nothing} (ti meden wn). Thinks he is a big number being nothing at all (neuter singular pronouns). He is really zero. {He deceiveth himself} (frenapatai heauton). Late compound word (fren, mind, apataw, lead astray), leads his own mind astray. Here for first time. Afterwards in Galen, ecclesiastical and Byzantine writers. He deceives no one else.
