Thursday in Easter Week
Click here to join the effort!
Read the Bible
Filipino Cebuano Bible
Roma 12:16
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- InternationalDevotionals:
- DailyBible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
of the: Romans 15:5, Romans 6:2, 2 Chronicles 30:12, Jeremiah 32:39, Acts 4:32, 1 Corinthians 1:10, Philippians 1:27, Philippians 2:2, Philippians 2:3, Philippians 3:16, Philippians 4:2, 1 Peter 3:8
Mind: Psalms 131:1, Psalms 131:2, Jeremiah 45:5, Matthew 18:1-4, Matthew 20:21-28, Luke 4:6-11, Luke 22:24-27, 1 Peter 5:3, 3 John 1:9, Revelation 13:7, Revelation 13:8
condescend to men of low estate: or, be contented with mean things, Job 31:13-16, Job 36:5, Proverbs 17:5, Proverbs 19:7, Proverbs 19:17, Proverbs 19:22, Matthew 6:25, Matthew 6:26, Matthew 11:5, Matthew 26:11, Luke 6:20, Luke 14:13, Philippians 4:11-13, 1 Timothy 6:6-9, Hebrews 13:5, James 2:5, James 2:6
Be not: Romans 11:25, Proverbs 3:7, Proverbs 26:12, Isaiah 5:21, 1 Corinthians 3:18, 1 Corinthians 4:10, 1 Corinthians 6:5, 1 Corinthians 8:2, James 3:13-17
Reciprocal: Job 11:12 - would Proverbs 3:5 - and Proverbs 4:3 - General Proverbs 23:4 - cease Proverbs 26:5 - conceit Proverbs 28:11 - his own conceit Ezekiel 28:5 - thy great wisdom John 13:14 - ye also Romans 1:14 - both to Romans 11:20 - Be 1 Corinthians 4:8 - ye are full 1 Corinthians 8:1 - Knowledge 2 Corinthians 13:11 - be of one Galatians 6:3 - if 1 Timothy 6:4 - He
Gill's Notes on the Bible
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 Proverbs 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.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Be of the same mind ... - This passage has been variously interpreted. “Enter into each other’s circumstances, in order to see how you would yourself feel.” Chrysostom. “Be agreed in your opinions and views.” Stuart. “Be united or agreed with each other.” Flatt; compare Philippians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 13:11. A literal translation of the Greek will give somewhat a different sense, but one evidently correct. “Think of, that is, regard, or seek after the same thing for each other; that is, what you regard or seek for yourself, seek also for your brethren. Do not have divided interests; do not be pursuing different ends and aims; do not indulge counter plans and purposes; and do not seek honors, offices, for yourself which you do not seek for your brethren, so that you may still regard yourselves as brethren on a level, and aim at the same object.” The Syriac has well rendered the passage: “And what you think concerning yourselves, the same also think concerning your brethren; neither think with an elevated or ambitious mind, but accommodate yourselves to those who are of humbler condition;” compare 1 Peter 3:8.
Mind not high things - Greek, Not thinking of high things. That is, not seeking them, or aspiring after them. The connection shows that the apostle had in view those things which pertained to worldly offices and honors; wealth, and state, and grandeur. They were not to seek them for themselves; nor were they to court the society or the honors of the people in an elevated rank in life. Christians were commonly of the poorer ranks, and they were to seek their companions and joys there, and not to aspire to the society of the great and the rich; compare Jeremiah 45:5, “And seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not;” Luke 12:15.
Condescend - συναπαγομενοι sunapagomenoi. Literally, “being led away by, or being conducted by.” It does not properly mean to condescend, but denotes a yielding, or being guided and led in the thoughts, feelings, plans, by humble objects. Margin, “Be contented with mean things.”
To men of low estate - In the Greek text, the word here is an adjective ταπεινοις tapeinois, and may refer either to “people” or to “things,” either in the masculine or neuter gender. The sentiment is not materially changed whichever interpretation is adopted. It means that Christians should seek the objects of interest and companionship, not among the great, the rich, and the noble, but among the humble and the obscure. They should do it because their Master did it before them; because his friends are most commonly found among those in humble life; because Christianity prompts to benevolence rather than to a fondness for pride and display; and because of the influence on the mind produced by an attempt to imitate the great, to seek the society of the rich, and to mingle with the scenes of gaiety, folly, and ambition.
Be not wise ... - Compare Isaiah 5:21, “Wo unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight.” See the note at Romans 11:25. The meaning is, do not trust in the conceit of your own superior skill and understanding, and refuse to hearken to the counsel of others.
In your own conceits - Greek, “Among yourselves.” Syriac, “In your own opinion.” The direction here accords with that just given, and means that they should not be elated with pride above their brethren; or be headstrong and self-confident. The tendency of religion is to produce a low estimate of our own importance and attainments.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Romans 12:16. 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.
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 endeavours to associate themselves with men of rank and fortune, and if possible to get into honourable employments; and, if this cannot be attained, they affect honourable TITLES.
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 endeavour to escape all this disgrace and danger by getting into the favour 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 endeavoured 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.
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 εαυτοις, 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.