Teks -- Romans 12:16 (NET)

12:16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Rom 12:16 - Be of the same mind

Be of the same mind ( to auto phronountes ).

Absolute or independent use of the participle again as with all the participles through Rom 12:18, "thinking the same thing."

Robertson: Rom 12:16 - Set not your mind on high things

Set not your mind on high things ( mē ta hupsēla phronountes ).

"Not thinking the high things"(hupsēlos from hupsos , height). Cf. 1Co 13:5.

Robertson: Rom 12:16 - Condescend to things that are lowly

Condescend to things that are lowly ( tois tapeinois sunapagomenoi ).

"Be carried away with (borne along with) the lowly things"(in contrast with ta hupsēla , though the associative instrumental case may be masculine, "with lowly men."See note on Gal 2:13 and note on 2Pe 3:17 for the only other N.T. examples of this old verb.

Robertson: Rom 12:16 - Be not wise

Be not wise ( mē ginesthe phronimoi ).

"Do not have the habit of becoming (ginesthe ) wise in your own conceits"(par' heautois , beside yourselves). Note the imperative in the midst of infinitives and participles.

Vincent: Rom 12:16 - Condescend to men of low estate

Condescend to men of low estate ( τοῖς ταπεινοῖς συναπαγόμενοι )

Rev., to things that are lowly . Τοῖς ταπεινοῖς to the lowly may mean either lowly men or lowly things . The verb literally means being carried off along with ; hence yielding or submitting to , and so condescending . Compare Gal 2:13, and see on 2Pe 3:17, in which passages it has a bad sense from the context. According to the original sense, the meaning will be, being led away with lowly things or people ; i.e. being drawn into sympathy with them. Farrar suggests letting the lowly lead you by the hand . Meyer, who maintains the neuter, explains: " The lowly things ought to have for the Christian a force of attraction, in virtue of which he yields himself to fellowship with them, and allows himself to be guided by them in the determination of his conduct. Thus Paul felt himself compelled to enter into humble situations." On the other hand, Godet, maintaining the masculine, says: " The reference is to the most indigent and ignorant and least influential in the Church. It is to them the believer ought to feel most drawn. The antipathy felt by the apostle to every sort of spiritual aristocracy, to every caste-distinction within the Church, breaks out again in the last word." Condescend is a feeble and inferential rendering, open to construction in a patronizing sense; yet it is not easy to furnish a better in a single word. The idea, then, fully expressed is, " set not your mind on lofty things, but be borne away (ἀπό ) from these by the current of your Christian sympathy along with (σύν ) things which are humble."

Vincent: Rom 12:16 - In your own conceits

In your own conceits ( παῤ ἑαυτοῖς )

Lit., with yourselves ; in your own opinion. See Rom 11:25, and compare Act 26:8, " incredible with you ," i.e., in your judgment.

Wesley: Rom 12:16 - Mind not high things

Desire not riches, honour, or the company of the great.

JFB: Rom 12:16 - Be

"Being"

JFB: Rom 12:16 - of the same mind one toward another

The feeling of the common bond which binds all Christians to each other, whatever diversity of station, cultivation, temperament, or gifts may obtain among them, is the thing here enjoined. This is next taken up in detail.

JFB: Rom 12:16 - Mind not

"not minding"

JFB: Rom 12:16 - high things

That is, Cherish not ambitious or aspiring purposes and desires. As this springs from selfish severance of our own interests and objects from those of our brethren, so it is quite incompatible with the spirit inculcated in the preceding clause.

JFB: Rom 12:16 - but condescend

"condescending"

JFB: Rom 12:16 - to men of low estate

Or (as some render the words), "inclining unto the things that be lowly." But we prefer the former.

JFB: Rom 12:16 - Be not wise in your own conceits

This is just the application of the caution against high-mindedness to the estimate we form of our own mental character.

Clarke: Rom 12:16 - Be of the same mind

Be of the same mind - Live in a state of continual harmony and concord, and pray for the same good for all which you desire for yourselves

Clarke: Rom 12:16 - Mind not high things

Mind not high things - Be not ambitious; affect nothing above your station; do not court the rich nor the powerful; do not pass by the poor man to pay your court to the great man; do not affect titles or worldly distinctions; much less sacrifice your conscience for them. The attachment to high things and high men is the vice of little, shallow minds. However, it argues one important fact, that such persons are conscious that they are of no worth and of no consequence in Themselves, and they seek to render themselves observable and to gain a little credit by their endeavors to associate themselves with men of rank and fortune, and if possible to get into honorable employments; and, if this cannot be attained, they affect honorable Titles

Clarke: Rom 12:16 - But condescend to men of low estate

But condescend to men of low estate - Be a companion of the humble, and pass through life with as little noise and show as possible. Let the poor, godly man be your chief companion; and learn from his humility and piety to be humble and godly. The term συναπαγομενοι, which we translate condescend, from συν, together, and απαγω, to lead, signifies to be led, carried, or dragged away to prison with another; and points out the state in which the primitive Christians were despised and rejected of men, and often led forth to prison and death. False or man-pleasing professors would endeavor to escape all this disgrace and danger by getting into the favor of the great, the worldly, and the irreligious. There have not been wanting, in all ages of the Church, persons who, losing the savour of Divine things from their own souls by drinking into a worldly spirit, have endeavored to shun the reproach of the cross by renouncing the company of the godly, speaking evil of the way of life, and perhaps sitting down in the chair of the scorner with apostates like themselves. And yet, strange to tell, these men will keep up a form of godliness! for a decent outside is often necessary to enable them to secure the ends of their ambition

Clarke: Rom 12:16 - Be not wise in your own conceits

Be not wise in your own conceits - Be not puffed up with an opinion of your own consequence; for this will prove that the consequence itself is imaginary. Be not wise, παρ ’ ἑαυτοις, by yourselves - do not suppose that wisdom and discernment dwell alone with you. Believe that you stand in need both of help and instruction from others.

Calvin: Rom 12:16 - Not thinking arrogantly of yourselves,

16.Not thinking arrogantly of yourselves, ³⁹⁵ etc. 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. 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. I take the term humble in the neuter gender, to complete the antithesis.

Here then is condemned all ambition and that elation of mind which insinuates itself under the name of magnanimity; for the chief virtue of the faithful is moderation, or rather lowliness of mind, which ever prefers to give honor to others, rather than to take it away from them.

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. His desire then was, that we should lay this aside, hear others, and regard their counsels. [Erasmus] has rendered φρονίμους , arrogantes — arrogant; but the rendering is strained and frigid; for Paul would in this case repeat the same word without any meaning. However, the most appropriate remedy for curing arrogance is, that man should not be over-wise in his own esteem.

TSK: Rom 12:16 - of the // Mind // condescend to men of low estate // Be not

of the : Rom 15:5, Rom 6:2; 2Ch 30:12; Jer 32:39; Act 4:32; 1Co 1:10; Phi 1:27, Phi 2:2, Phi 2:3; Phi 3:16, Phi 4:2; 1Pe 3:8

Mind : Psa 131:1, Psa 131:2; Jer 45:5; Mat 18:1-4, Mat 20:21-28; Luk 4:6-11, Luk 22:24-27; 1Pe 5:3; 3Jo 1:9; Rev 13:7, Rev 13:8

condescend to men of low estate : or, be contented with mean things, Job 31:13-16, Job 36:5; Pro 17:5, Pro 19:7, Pro 19:17, Pro 19:22; Mat 6:25, Mat 6:26, Mat 11:5, Mat 26:11; Luk 6:20, Luk 14:13; Phi 4:11-13; 1Ti 6:6-9; Heb 13:5; Jam 2:5, Jam 2:6

Be not : Rom 11:25; Pro 3:7, Pro 26:12; Isa 5:21; 1Co 3:18, 1Co 4:10, 1Co 6:5, 1Co 8:2; Jam 3:13-17

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Rom 12:16 - Be of the same mind one toward another // Mind not high things

Be of the same mind one toward another: this exhortation respects not so much unity in judgment, as in affection: q.d. Bear the same good respect to others, as others bear to thee; let there be a mutual agreement in your desires and good wishes one for another: see Rom 15:5 Phi 2:2 1Pe 3:8 .

Mind not high things i.e. things above your capacities and callings. Take heed of ambitious aspirings: remember what David said (one every way above you) in Psa 131:1 .

Condescend to men of low estate: the word low only is in the Greek; the other words are put in by our translators: and it may be referred, either to things, and so it answers to high things, in the foregoing clause; or it may be referred to persons, according to our translation; and then the sense is, that we should not despise our poor brethren, but stoop to the lowest offices of Christian kindness.

Be not wise in your own conceits; this seems to be taken from Pro 3:7 : see Rom 12:3 .

Haydock: Rom 12:16 - Condescending to the humble

Condescending to the humble, in the spirit of charity and sweetness. See Luke ii. 48. (Witham)

Gill: Rom 12:16 - Be of the same mind one towards another // mind not high things // but condescend to men of low estate // be not wise in your own conceits

Be of the same mind one towards another,.... Which is not to be understood of the sameness of their judgment, or of their agreement in sentiments, espousing the same doctrines, observing the same ordinances, and in the same manner, and attending to the same form of discipline; but of their having the same love, and being of the same accord and affection to one another, entertaining the same good opinion, or a better, of others than of themselves; and so the Syriac version renders the passage, "what ye think of yourselves, think also of your brethren": think of one another, as equally interested in the love of God, redeemed by the blood of Christ, blessed with the same spiritual blessings in him, and called in the same hope of your calling; and do not think of one another, as being one richer or wiser than another, do not value yourselves upon that:

mind not high things; be not highminded, do not think too highly of yourselves, and despise others; meddle not with, nor grasp at things too high for you, that are out of your reach, and beyond your capacity; nor seek great things for yourselves, as riches, honours, &c. nor covet great company:

but condescend to men of low estate; or "to low things"; be content with mean and low things in life, and disdain not to take notice of and converse with, men in a low condition, whether in things temporal or spiritual; who may be poor in this world, be very ignorant and illiterate, as to general knowledge and learning; be men of mean parts and abilities, of very small gifts, and be weak in faith and experience; condescend to their weaknesses, bear their infirmities, and become all things to them for their good, and God's glory: consider the apostle is writing to citizens of Rome, who might be tempted to look upon themselves above others, and to look disdainfully upon others, as citizens too often do on country people, as if they were below them, as persons of low life to them:

be not wise in your own conceits; see Pro 3:7. This is attended with bad consequences, spoils a man's usefulness, prevents his improvement in knowledge, tempts him to reject all counsel and advice given him, and to treat his fellow creatures and Christians with haughtiness and insolence, and exposes him to the scorn and contempt of men: or "be not wise by or with yourselves"; imagining you have all the wisdom, and others have none; or keeping it to yourselves, what wisdom you have communicate it to others; the Ethiopic version reads, "say not, we are wise"; see Job 12:2.