Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

The will of God (v.2) is identical for all believers in respect to holiness of life and completeness of dedication. But what that will involves for each one with respect to special service in the church may be considerably diverse. Since God also calls for individual application in a Christian’s life, the apostle must remind his readers of his authority to expound this subject even though he is unknown to most of them and their gifts are unknown to him (cf. 1:5; Galatians 2:9; Ephesians 3:7). But this reminder is not intended to erect a barrier between himself and them, because what he has by way of authority and teaching ability is traced to divine grace, the same grace that has bestowed spiritual gifts on them.

In addressing himself deliberately to “every one of you,” Paul grants that every believer has some spiritual gift (cf. v.6; 1 Peter 4:10). But his primary goal in getting their attention in this regard is to drive home the necessity of appropriating and using their gifts with utmost humility. After all, God did not have to spread his gifts around so lavishly. Paul recognizes the danger that the possession of a particular gift can easily result in pride (v.3; cf. his experience with the Corinthian church, 1 Corinthians 12:14–31; 13:4; 14:12, 20). He equates humility with “sober judgment,” in contrast to thinking of oneself more highly than one should (cf. also v.16). Obviously, there is less danger of a person’s depreciating himself than of exaggerating one’s own importance.

Is there some gauge that will enable a person to estimate his or her position with respect to spiritual gifts? Paul answers in the affirmative, pointing to “the measure of faith.” “Faith” (GK 4411) here, as elsewhere in Paul, is that which a Christian exercises; it is subjective rather than objective. One’s faith should provide the basis for a true estimation of oneself, since it reveals that each believer is dependent on the saving mercy of God. That, in turn, ought to induce humility.