Be not wise in your own conceits. "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] … • Epistle to the Romans Wikipedia Article . These three exhortations are linked together by a verbal resemblance which can scarcely be preserved in translation. ), Thoughtful, i.e., sagacious or discreet (implying a cautious character; while, Properly, near; i.e., (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the proximity with (local (especially beyond or opposed to) or causal (on account of), (him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc. Two New Testament books make extensive use of this term (Romans and Philippians). What does this verse really mean? Romans 12:16-19. The temper which the gospel requires is that of a little child, docile, diffident, and humble; see Romans 11:25; Proverbs 3:7; Isaiah 5:21. See Romans 12:16 with its adjacent verses in bold below. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in … This is why 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 should be used instead of Romans 10:9-10. “And cleave to the humble,” is the Syriac version. Romans 12:16 Translation & Meaning. Read Romans 12 online (ESV) Live in harmony with one another. Romans 12:16 "Be of the same mind"=think the same thing, be in agreement, live in harmony, be harmonious. Paul’s weighty epistle to his beloved brothers and sisters in Rome is designed to focus our attention on our great salvation – i.e.-our position as already justified; our conduction as in the process of being sanctified and our assured future, of one day being glorified and made like unto Christ’s glorious body. But another construction has been given, “Think the same of one another,” that is, Regard one another alike in dignity and privilege as Christians, without elevating yourselves, and viewing yourselves better than others. So Calvin: "Non arroganter de vobis sentientes sed humilibus vos accommodantes. Compare James 2:1-4. No species of pride is more insidious or more injurious than the pride of intellect, or a fancied superiority to those around us, which leads to a contempt of their opinions, and a confident reliance upon ourselves. 2.Can you give me an everyday example? Treat your fellow Christian as you would want him to treat you. Have the same concern for all alike. Paul said God comforts those who are in this kind of state ( 2 Corinthians 7:6) and gives grace to those who live in this manner ( James 4:6). This is a simplified translation of the original Greek word. Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. — Ed. “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He was raised again the third day.” Closely allied to this is what is subjoined: for nothing swells the minds of men so much as a high notion of their own wisdom. This would well agree with the sentence which follows. Depending on Divine grace, they must detest and dread all evil, and love and delight in whatever is kind and useful. Everyone under the Law and not under the law has sinned. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. “Associate” is perhaps the best rendering of συναπαγόμενοι, which literally means to withdraw from one party in order to walk with another: they were to withdraw from those who minded high things, and walk or associate with the humble and lowly. The sentiment is not materially changed whichever interpretation is adopted. Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men. Paul therefore sensed a respon… Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Paul describes this in his letter to the Romans: His desire then was, that we should lay this aside, hear others, and regard their counsels. καὶ αὐτὴ ἡ σπάρτη συναπήγετο τῇ κοινῇ τῆς ἑλλάδος ἁλώσει, единомысленны между собою. Over others’ conduct we have no control; but the initiative in disturbing the peace is … Cf. It needs to be the right one, and it needs to be continual; condescend is a present tense verb. A final term deserving attention is "wise" (phronimos). It is therefore necessary to briefly review the first 11 chapters of Romans as a reminder of what has already gone before, and especially as the basis for Paul’s exhortation. Paul was a converted Jew, called by God as an “apostle to the Gentiles,” not just to convert them but to bring them to the “obedience of faith” (1:5). * Romans 12:1-2 KJV I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. They should do it because their Master did it before them; because his friends are most commonly found among those in humble life; because Christianity prompts to benevolence rather than to a fondness for pride and display; and because of the influence on the mind produced by an attempt to imitate the great, to seek the society of the rich, and to mingle with the scenes of gaiety, folly, and ambition. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 16.Not thinking arrogantly of yourselves, (395) etc. What does this verse really mean? “For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law.”“For” shows that Paul is explaining verse 11, “For there is no partiality with God.” Verse 12 means that God will judge each person according to the light that he was given. This shows the English words related to the source biblical texts along with brief definitions. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Popularity relative to other verses in Romans chapter 12 using average monthly Google searches. A fuller understanding of this verse comes through studying some of the key terms. Be not wise in your own conceits. I. High things—Literally: Not the lofty things, thinking, but to the humble things, condescending. Romans 12:16 - NIV. Use this reference information to gain deeper insight into the Bible and enrich your understanding. Hic ergo damnatur ambitio, et quae sub magnanimitatis nomine se insinuat animi elatio: siquidem praecipua fidelium virtus moderatio est, vel potius submissio, quae honorem semper malit aliis ceder quam praeripere." Be of the same mind one toward another. Be not wise in your own conceits. While this term is often used as an adjective (Jesus went to a high mount, Matthew 4:8, same word), it can function as a noun. Do not be proud. The same reference teaches us that the word ‘mind’ expresses the prevailing thoughts, and the strongest desires and affections, IV. Here, in the text, is one of those precepts which, rightly understood, is one of the most practical we can set ourselves to master, II. Compare Luke 18:9-14. : Be of the same mind one toward another. What I mean is this. See Romans 2:12-16. I. “Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin” (Romans 3:9). (Read Romans 12:9-16) The professed love of Christians to each other should be sincere, free from deceit, and unmeaning and deceitful compliments. 16Be of the same mind one toward another. “Be of the same mind one toward another. Found only three times in the New Testament (the other two places are Galatians 2:13 -carried away and 2 Peter 3:17 -led away), condescend suggests we should "be ‘led along with' the humble rather than the proud or the lofty" (CBL, GED, 6:183). Jesus applied this term to Himself in Matthew 11:29. There are times when we need a new look at a familiar verse. What I mean is this. Margin, “Be contented with mean things.”. (Read Romans 2:25-29) No forms, ordinances, or notions can profit, without regenerating grace, which will always lead to seeking an interest in the righteousness of God by faith. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. A further illustration of the spiritual pride is found in "high things" (hupselos). Haldane's Exposition on the Epistle to the Romans and Hebrews, John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament, Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament, Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary, Heinrich Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Johann Albrecht Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament, Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture, Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament, William Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament, Schaff's Popular Commentary on the New Testament, George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Hodge's Commentary on Romans, Ephesians and First Corintians, Living By Faith: Commentary on Romans & 1st Corinthians. This page was last modified on September 15, 2017, at 6:54 AM. It is possible to share in the joys and sorrows of others because we are of "the same mind." In either way the general sense is the same. If you don’t, you have just chosen your sick flesh and it will manipulate and pervert everything God is trying to do in your life. God says we are not better than anyone else. Paul saw his calling as an obligation to all the Gentiles (1:5). To get what Romans 12:16 means based on its source text, scroll down or follow these links for the original scriptural meaning , biblical context  and relative popularity. "as much as in you lieth"-"So far as it depends on you" (NASV). Here it is a noun and it refers "to mankind's inverted value system" (CBL, GED, 6:399). Man often exalts what God condemns. Feelings of superiority are neither realistic nor appropriate for those who owe all to God"s grace. This means we have the same attitude towards one another. Use this table to get a word-for-word translation of the original Greek Scripture. Jesus had every right to rebel. The Apostle employs words in Greek more significant, and more suitable to the antithesis, “Not thinking,” he says, “of high things:” by which he means, that it is not the part of a Christian ambitiously to aspire to those things by which he may excel others, nor to assume a lofty appearance, but on the contrary to exercise humility and meekness: for by these we excel before the Lord, and not by pride and contempt of the brethren. Be not wise in your own conceit. Conceits—Thereby becoming opinionated and contentious. Instead of thinking of how great we are or could be, our attention is to be fixed on the "lowly" (others). The King James Bible (1611) and Strong's Concordance (1890) with Hebrew and Greek dictionaries are sourced from the BibleForgeDB database (https://github.com/bibleforge) within the BibleForge project (http://bibleforge.com). tapeinoisand may refer either to “people” or to “things,” either in the masculine or neuter gender. ); also in adverbial phrases, (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas, Properly, other things, i.e., (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations), To take off together, i.e., transport with (seduce, passively, yield), Depressed, i.e., (figuratively) humiliated (in circumstances or disposition), To cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc. 17  Recompense to no man evil for evil. In this chapter it also occurs in verse3. This pattern of theory, followed by application, is a hallmark of his writing. 16.Same mind—Same spirit or common feeling. It means that we are wholly given to God as an act of worship to Him, not merely as a one-time action like a blood sacrifice, but continuously for the duration of our lives. These verses point us away from self and towards other members of the church. Romans 12:16 humility community dependence contentment pride. λά in the first clause, then the meaning is, allow yourselves to be carried along together by lowly things: i.e. Use this table to … Every person has a conscience although they can sear that conscience. The Transformed Life (Romans 12-16) Swimming Upstream Romans 12:2 – July 5, 2019. Thereby becoming opinionated and contentious. Romans 12-16 won’t mean anything to you until you understand who has loved you and who you can trust. 15  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Shalom, I humbly submit for review consideration testing and sharpening. “Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin” (Romans 3:9). Romans 12 – Living the Christian Life A. The Gentiles, who did not have the Law, will be judged apart from the Law. (McGuiggan p. 374) Paul here realizes that … 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. What numbers have the mean of 10 and the range of 12? Vocem humilibus in neutro genere accipio, ut antithesis ita compleatur. When He tells you to put it, put it down. The two following clauses are thus given by [Doddridge ], “Affect not high things, but condescend to men of low rank,” — and by [Macknight ], “Do not care for high things; but associate with lowly men.” The word ταπεινοῖς, is not found in the New Testament to be applied to things, but to persons. 14  Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. We must not be out of harmony with the body (think of the human body and what it would be like if one leg wanted to go north and the other leg wanted to go south or if one eye wanted to look to the left and the other to the right. We are going to use these verses to walk through the book of Romans, seeing how God deals with those who have never heard the gospel . At the very least, Paul derived this from the example of Christ, who submitted to wicked and corrupt officials and authorities. We view each other with the same level of importance and we are dependent upon the other members in the body. A precept is fitly added to the preceding; for nothing tends more to break that unity which has been mentioned, than when we elevate ourselves, and aspire to something higher, so that we may rise to a higher situation. We have here again the same triple arrangement which has prevailed through a considerable portion of the context. While this term is often used in a very positive sense ( Matthew 7:24; Matthew 25:2), here it has the sense of arrogance (compare Romans 11:25 where this term again occurs and has this same meaning). J.B. Phillips has an outstanding and memorable translation of Romans 12:1-2: With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give Him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to Him and acceptable by Him. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:17-18) As Christians we should be above reproach according to the world's standards. This precept is intimately connected with the preceding, since ambition and contempt for lowly persons and pursuits generally arise from overweening self-estimation. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. God wants His people to focus on what is "lowly" (tapeinos); the KJV says "of low estate." 12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. Be not wise in your own conceits.”. Romans 12:16. Quotes available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. But it is more than doubtful whether St. Paul is here thinking about persons at all. Romans 12:18. εἰ δυνατὸν: cf. Information based on Strong's Exhaustive Concordance[1]. Paul’s teaching in chapters 12-16 is primarily the application of what he has just taught in chapters 1-11. Follow the buttons in the right-hand column for detailed definitions and verses that use the same root words. Use the scale on the left to tell how often the verses below are googled compared to each other. If Christians do not live by these instructions, they will be wise in their own estimation; and, therefore, displeasing to God. ‘Mind’ here includes the feelings as well as the thoughts, III. We should live at peace with one another and conduct our lives aiming for what is noble, honest and proper. Faith needs an adequate basis to rest on, and Romans 10:9-10 does not make reference to Christ dying for anyone’s sins. It is evident that limits must be set to the meaning of the injunction before us, much narrower than what the grammatical sense would demand if we take the version in our translation.