SEV Biblia, Chapter 12:3
Digo pues por la gracia que me es dada, a todos los que estn entre vosotros, que no sepan ms de lo que conviene saber; mas que sepan con templanza, cada uno conforme a la medida de fe que Dios reparti.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Romans 12:3
Verse 3. Through 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, h cariv, in Eph. iii. 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 riches of Christ. Not to think-more highly] mh uperfronein, Not to act proudly; to arrogate nothing to himself on account of any grace he had received, or of any office committed to him.
But to think soberly] alla fronein eiv to swfronein. The reader will perceive here a sort of paronomasia, or play upon words: fronein, from frhn, the mind, signifies to think, mind, relish, to be of opinion, &c.; and swfronein from soov, sound, and frhn, the mind, signifies to be of a sound mind; to think discreetly, modestly, humbly. Let no man think himself more or greater than God has made him; and let him know that what ever he is or has of good or excellence, he has it from God; and that the glory belongs to the giver, and not to him who has received the gift.
Measure of faith.] metron pistewv. It is very likely, as Dr. Moore has conjectured, that the pistiv, faith, here used, means the Christian religion; and the measure, the degree of knowledge and experience which each had received in it, and the power this gave him of being useful in the Church of God. See ver. 6.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. For I say, through the grace given unto me , etc..] The Ethiopic version reads, the grace of God: and so two of Stephens's copies. By which the apostle intends, not that internal grace which was wrought in his soul; nor the Gospel of the grace of God, which he preached; nor the gifts of grace, which qualified him for that service; but the grace of apostleship, or that authoritative power, which he, as the apostle, received from Christ to say, command, give orders and instructions to churches, and particular persons: to every man that is among you : every member of the church, in whatsoever state or condition, whether in office or not; of whatsoever abilities or capacity, having gifts, whether more or less; the manifestation of the Spirit being given to everyone to profit with, for his own and the good of others: not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think ; that is, either not to arrogate to himself what does not belong to him, and detract from others, who may have equal, if not superior, abilities to him; or not to glory in what he has, as if he had not received it, and as if it was altogether owing to his own sagacity, penetration, diligence, and industry; or not to search into things too high for him that are out of his reach, and beyond his capacity; though this is not to be understood as discouraging a search into the Scriptures of truth, the more difficult parts of it, and the more knotty points of controversy; but as forbidding inquiry into things not lawful to be searched into, or, if lawful, as requiring such a scrutiny to be made with modesty, and an humble dependence on superior light and assistance, and a discovery of it with humility and lowliness of mind; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith : such ought to consider that what gifts, abilities, light, and knowledge they have, they have then, not of themselves, but from God; that they have not all faith, and all knowledge, or do not know the whole of the faith of the Gospel only a measure of it, which is dealt out, divided, and parted to every man, some having a greater degree of evangelical light than others; and that all have some, but none all. The Syriac version renders it, faith in measure; one of Stephens's copies reads, the measure of grace; (see Ephesians 4:7).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 3-8 - Pride is a sin in us by nature; we need to be cautioned and arme against it. All the saints make up one body in Christ, who is the Hea 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 to improve them, it would humble us But as we must not be proud of our talents, so we must take heed lest under a pretence of humility and self-denial, we are slothful in layin out ourselves for the good of others. We must not say, I am nothing therefore I will sit still, and do nothing; but, I am nothing in myself, and therefore I will lay out myself to the utmost, in the strength of the grace of Christ. Whatever our gifts or situations ma be, let us try to employ ourselves humbly, diligently, cheerfully, an in simplicity; not seeking our own credit or profit, but the good of many, for this world and that which is to come.
Greek Textus Receptus
λεγω 3004 5719 V-PAI-1S γαρ 1063 CONJ δια 1223 PREP της 3588 T-GSF χαριτος 5485 N-GSF της 3588 T-GSF δοθεισης 1325 5685 V-APP-GSF μοι 3427 P-1DS παντι 3956 A-DSM τω 3588 T-DSM οντι 5607 5752 V-PXP-DSM εν 1722 PREP υμιν 5213 P-2DP μη 3361 PRT-N υπερφρονειν 5252 5721 V-PAN παρ 3844 PREP ο 3739 R-ASN δει 1163 5904 V-PQI-3S φρονειν 5426 5721 V-PAN αλλα 235 CONJ φρονειν 5426 5721 V-PAN εις 1519 PREP το 3588 T-ASN σωφρονειν 4993 5721 V-PAN εκαστω 1538 A-DSM ως 5613 ADV ο 3588 T-NSM θεος 2316 N-NSM εμερισεν 3307 5656 V-AAI-3S μετρον 3358 N-ASN πιστεως 4102 N-GSF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
3. Not to think, etc. The play upon fronein to think and its compounds is very noticeable. "Not to be high-minded (hyperphronein) above what he ought to be minded (phronein), but to be minded (phronein) unto the being sober-minded (sophronein). See on 1 Pet. iv. 7.The measure of faith (metron pistewv). An expression which it is not easy to define accurately. It is to be noted: 1. That the point of the passage is a warning against an undue self-estimate, and a corresponding exhortation to estimate one's self with discrimination and sober judgment. 2. That Paul has a standard by which self-estimate is to be regulated. This is expressed by wJv as, according as. 3. That this scale or measure is different in different persons, so that the line between conceit and sober thinking is not the same for all. This is expressed by ejmerisen hath imparted, distributed, and eJkastw to each one. 4. The character of this measure or standard is determined by faith. It must be observed that the general exhortation to a proper self-estimate is shaped by, and foreshadows, the subsequent words respecting differences of gifts. It was at this point that the tendency to self-conceit and spiritual arrogance would develop itself. Hence the precise definition of faith here will be affected by its relation to the differing gifts in ver. 6. Its meaning, therefore, must not be strictly limited to the conception of justifying faith in Christ, though that conception includes and is really the basis of every wider conception. It is faith as the condition of the powers and offices of believers, faith regarded as spiritual insight, which, according to its degree, qualifies a man to be a prophet, a teacher, a minister, etc.; faith in its relation to character, as the only principle which develops a man's true character, and which, therefore, is the determining principle of the renewed man's tendencies, whether they lead him to meditation and research, or to practical activity. As faith is the sphere and subjective condition of the powers and functions of believers, so it furnishes a test or regulative standard of their respective endowments and functions. Thus the measure applied is distinctively a measure of faith. With faith the believer receives a power of discernment as to the actual limitations of his gifts. Faith, in introducing him into God's kingdom, introduces him to new standards of measurement, according to which he accurately determines the nature and extent of his powers, and so does not think of himself too highly. This measure is different in different individuals, but in every case faith is the determining element of the measure. Paul, then, does not mean precisely to say that a man is to think more or less soberly of himself according to the quantity of faith which he has, though that is true as a fact; but that sound and correct views as to the character and extent of spiritual gifts and functions are fixed by a measure, the determining element of which, in each particular case, is faith.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
12:3 {Not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think} (me huperfronein par' ho dei fronein). Indirect negative command after legw (I say). Play on the two infinitives phronein, to think, and huperphronein (old verb from huperphr"n, over-proud, here only in N.T.) to "over-think" with par' ho (beyond what) added. qen another play on phronein and s"phronein (old verb from swfrwn, sober-minded), to be in one's right mind (#Mr 5:15; 2Co 5:13). Self-conceit is here treated as a species of insanity. {A measure of faith} (metron pistews). Accusative case, the object of the verb emerisen. Each has his gift from God (#1Co 3:5; 4:7). There is no occasion for undue pride. {To each man} (hekast"i). Emphatic position before hws (as) and emphasizes the diversity.
