NOTES for Rom 12:16
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. |
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Speaking of relationships among the faithful, Paul advises them to follow the example of those who in those days were commonly called "the poor" or "the humble." Once, eight centuries before the coming of the Messiah, in the time of Isaiah of Jerusalem, this was the name given to the prophet's followers, who gave rise to an entire religious movement. Its participants called themselves "the poor" or "the humble," although the issue was usually not their material condition but their spiritual state. These people considered their main goal to be preparation for meeting the Messiah, whose imminent coming Isaiah spoke of.
They called themselves "the poor" and "the humble" because they understood that only by renouncing everything one has in this world and completely giving oneself over to God's will can a person hope to enter the Messiah's Kingdom. And Paul, addressing his fellow believers, calls them to the humility of which the "poor" of the pre-exilic age had already spoken. What does the apostle understand by humility when the issue is one's attitude toward a neighbor, toward a fellow member in Christ? First of all, what in Russian translation is called, not very successfully, "being of one mind." One might think that the issue is shared views on one or another question.
In reality the corresponding Greek expression means "to think of another in the same way." And the issue is, on the one hand, not to single anyone out or give anyone preference, and on the other hand, not to place oneself above others either. Such a call may seem impossible to fulfill: people are different, and these differences cannot be ignored. But Paul does not call us to ignore the difference between people. He proposes only not to single some out over others, not to place some higher and others lower on the basis of a person's abilities or personal merits.
And in this sense not to give preference to oneself either, "not to be proud of oneself," as the apostle says. Indeed, true humility consists not in considering oneself lower than everyone, but in ceasing to evaluate both oneself and others. Of course, we are all different, and these differences must be seen. But it is not worth trying to determine who is more significant in God's eyes, who is higher and who lower in this respect. God Himself can determine this when the need arises. And we can do His work perfectly well without thinking at all about how much higher or lower we are in His eyes compared with any of our neighbors.
Other notes
For Rom 12:9-21
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. |
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; |
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; |
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; |
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. |
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. |
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. |
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. |
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. |
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. |
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. |
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. |
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. |
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