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| PentecostalTheology.com
How do you understand Romans 12:3
Philip Williams
Very important Scripture. Our level of belief in the Jesus of the Bible, which includes our level of belief in what is clearly taught in the Bible and not some eisegetic reading of the Scripture according to some theology that negates the plain reading (exegesis) of the Scripture is a measure of our standing with God.
Varnel Watson
So Philip Williams apart from saying ALL THAT will you tell us your interpretation of this verse today?
Philip Williams
Just did.
Varnel Watson
Philip Williams really – all I read is what needs to be done vs what no one else has done but not really what take on the actual meaning of the verse? How do you mean?
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.
Philip Williams
Hebrews 11 will give you some idea of how important that God regards faith and the standing with him of those who had great faith.
Varnel Watson
Philip Williams no cherry picking verses – I am looking for actual interpretation of this verse Do you have one?
Philip Williams
Troy Day It means just what it says. Our standing in God is proportional to our faith.
Varnel Watson
Philip Williams You dindt say much about the Bible except some liberal rant so I will ask fist
Could be it be that higher citizens – teachers ; ppl who had business but retired and so on are being told by Paul to watch out The Spirit can give much higher authority to the common folk than you have which is basically HOW Pentecostalism came about to America and beyond
RichardAnna Boyce
Romans 12:3-5 Before explaining how a believer’s consecration to God should be lived out by exercising their spiritual gifts to serve the Church, the apostle Paul issues a warning. The phrase through the grace given to him refers to his authority as an apostle (cf. 15:15-16; 1 Cor 3:10; 15:9-10; Gal 2:9; Eph 3:2,7-8; 1 Tim 1:12). The warning is not to think of themselves more highly than they should.
The renewed mind does not proudly think that some gifts are better than others, but should think soberly. Perhaps Paul (writing from Corinth) saw this attitude first-hand in believers there who suffered from this type of haughty attitude regarding their spiritual gifts (cf. 1 Cor 11-14). Paul conveys that all special abilities and gifts come from God. These special abilities or gifts are a measure of faith given by God to each believer for service in the Church. Spiritual gifts are entrusted to believers for use in service to others.
Paul not only issues a warning against spiritual arrogance, he also explains why there is no room for pride. Spiritual gifts in the church function like a physical body. Just as a body has many members (arms, legs, feet, etc.), each have a different function. This is similar to baseball players having different positions but playing together to achieve one goal: to win games. Similarly, the spiritual body (called the Church; cf. 1 Cor 12:6-31; Eph 4:11-16) in Christ (who is the head; Eph 5:23) has individual members to serve the church, each with different gifts. Therefore, one should not regard one gift above another (e.g., preaching vs. giving) since all are important and needed for the body/Church to work properly and achieve its goal: to worship God.
Varnel Watson
so what are you saying exactly here?
RichardAnna Boyce
The renewed mind does not proudly think that some gifts are better than others
Varnel Watson
RichardAnna Boyce but what does the verse say?
Mike Partyka
God gives all Christians varying measures of faith. Paul is correcting pride here. Says the same thing in Ephesians 2 8-9. Can’t boast about your gift if it was a gift from the beginning.
Varnel Watson
Mike Partyka I was asking about the second part