Romans 12:3

the grace given unto me His qualifications as an Apostle; inspired authority as the Lord's messenger and interpreter. See Romans 1:5; Romans 15:15-16. Cp. also 1Co 3:10; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Galatians 2:9; Ephesians 3:2; Ephesians 3:7-8; for parallels more or less exact to this phrase in this connexion.

not to think think soberly In the Gr. there is a forcible "play on words" here, making an almost epigram. The verbs are, the simple verb "to think," and two of its compounds meaning respectively "to overween" and "to be sober-thoughted." Lit. not to over-think beyond what it behoves him to think, but to think so as to come to sober-thinking. The special direction to be taken by this "sober-thinking" was the recognition by each Christian of the limits of his own gifts, the reality of the gifts of others, and the position of the individual as only a part of the great community; as well as the ever-important fact that "gifts," whether many or few, are the sovereign bounty of God.

hath dealt Lit. did deal, or distribute; on the admission of each soul to His grace and service. Same word as 1Co 7:17; 2 Corinthians 10:13.

the measure of faith Cp. Ephesians 4:7, where (see Romans 12:11) the context is similar to this. There, however, the word "grace" is used where "faith" is used here; and "faith" here is not quite easy of explanation. In this Epistle the special aspect of faith (trustin God and His word) as justifyinghas been consistently in view, rather than its aspect (Hebrews 11:1) as laying hold upon invisible realities in general. Here, therefore, it seems best to seek for a reference as consistent as possible with that of the rest of the Epistle, and one also which shall harmonize with the phrase in Romans 12:6 below; q.v. We explain the present passage then as follows: "Faith" here means specially acceptance of Christ, revealed as the Propitiation: but that acceptance is also, ipso facto, the entrance on bondserviceto God, (see e.g. Romans 6:18:) therefore the gift of faith is herementioned as involving the idea of the allotment of consequent duties and functions also to the various believers with their various capacities. Faith, in the Divine plan, is the grand qualification for service, (because it is the appointed instrument of reconciliation;) and it is therefore the sphere, so to speak, in which all true service is to be done.

In this view, we may paraphrasethe passage before us: "even as God distributed the sovereign gift of faith, (Ephesians 2:7-8,) the gift of the power to -believe unto justification," to each of you, with a view in each case to the various tasks and services of the life of faith."

See further on Romans 12:6.