Charles Ellicott Commentary Romans 12:3

"For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith." — Romans 12:3 (ASV)

Having thus stated the broad principle that is to govern the Christian's conduct, the Apostle now goes on to apply it to certain details; and first, his object is to secure the disposition among the members of the Roman Church that will best enable them to act with unity and efficiency.

Through the grace given to me—i.e., by virtue of his apostolic authority.

To every man that is among you.—A rather more pointed expression than simply “to you all,” meaning “to each one of you severally and individually.”

Not to think of himself . . .—There is a play on words in this phrase and those that follow, which is not, and can hardly be, preserved in English. The Greek is something like: “Not to be high-minded beyond what he ought to be minded, but to be minded to sober-mindedness.” Our words, “to be minded,” “high-minded,” etc., very nearly express the sense of the Greek, which is to have one’s thoughts and feelings habitually turned in a certain direction. This is brought out with emphatic repetition in the phrase “to be minded to being sober-minded,” i.e., to keep sobriety of mind constantly in view as the object or ideal towards which all thoughts and feelings converge.

According as God hath dealt to every man.—The standard of action that each Christian ought to set for himself should be in proportion to the measure of faith given to him by God.

He who has the strongest faith may assume the highest standard and offer himself for the highest offices, and so on down the scale. It is, however, essential that the estimate each man places on the strength of his own faith should be thoroughly single-minded and sincere, and not biased by self-love. The Apostle assumes that this will be the case.