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Romans

Rom 12:3-8

April 29, 2012

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Rom 12:3ff is a natural transition from the appeal for dedication and service (Rom 1:1-2) to a very concrete and practical outworking. When we think of how a believer is to present acceptable service, the Spirit’s enabling presence and empowerment is first and foremost.

Overview of Rom 12:3-8. This paragraph contains a few compact statements regarding gifts and service which are more fully developed in other epistles.

Rom 12:3 – no room for pride; realistic self appraisal. Cf. 1 Cor 1:26-31; 3:21-23; 4:1-7

Rom 12:4-5 – one body, many members. Cf 1 Cor 12:12-27

Rom 12:6-9 – list of gifts. Cf. 1 Cor 12:8-10, 28; Eph 4:11

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Rom 12:3ff

Why does Paul include the exhortation of Rom 12:3-9, and why at this point in the letter?

1. The call for Christian humility (v.3) and unity (v.4-5) are characteristics of a transformed mind (v.1-2). They are both the result and the goal of transformation (only the transformed mind can do this, and yet having been transformed we must intentionally press on towards it).

2. Transformation comes about in a corporate context.

“Perhaps Paul is especially concerned that believers not take too individualistic an approach to transformation. Thus he wants us to recognize that the transformation of character is seen especially in our relationship with one another.”

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Rom 12:3 “through the grace given to me”

The “grace” given to Paul is a reference to his call to the Apostolic Office.

Romans 1:5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship . . .

Romans 15:15 But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God, 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 1:15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, . .

Paul is about to address the church in Rome regarding gifts, and makes his based on his gift (authority) as an Apostle.

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Rom 12:3 “not to think more highly . . .”

In the discussion of Spiritual gifts, Paul brings out first the potential pit-fall of human pride.

It is interesting to see the correlation to 1 Cor 11-14, especially since Paul wrote the Roman epistle from Corinth. Paul may have incidentally brought up the subject of human pride from the outset to address any in Rome who had the same issue as the Corinthian church.

Many in Corinth overvalued certain gifts, particularly those with outward manifestations. The potential danger of the more “showy” gifts often can be pride.

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Rom 12:3 “not to think more highly . . .”

The principle also applies in the other direction, don’t think more lowly of yourself if your gifts are less public and are more private.

Regardless of the gift you have, you are to regard yourself with “sound” or “sober judgment” – that is, a realistic appraisal of how God has made and gifted you.

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Rom 12:3 “as God has allotted to each a measure of faith”

The sound judgment by which we are to see ourselves is described in the “as God has allotted . . .” phrase. There are several important points regarding the interpretation of this phrase.

1. “God has allotted to each.”

The word merizo means “1. divide 2. distribute (Mk 6:41); assign, apportion (1 Cor 7:17; 2 Cor 10:13; Hb 7:2).”

The distribution is not necessarily of equal proportions, 1 Cor 7:17.

The distribution is, however, “to each,” which is key to Paul’s exhortation. Each believer is able to think with sound judgment concerning themselves because each has been given an allotment.

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Rom 12:3 “as God has allotted to each a measure of faith”

2. “a measure of faith”

This phrase is a bit ambiguous and thus a bit tricky to interpret. There have been two major lines of understanding.

(1) faith refers to the faith as the standard.

The “of faith” here is taken as in apposition to measure. (apposition, place two words side by side to describe one thing, e.g. “the artist Rembrandt”). The “measure” is understood as “standard” which is the faith.

“a true and objective estimate of ourselves requires that we have an accurate and objective standard against which to measure ourselves. . . If faith is basic Christian faith as given equally by God to all, then the ‘measure of faith’ could refer to this shared faith as the standard by which Christians are to regard themselves. . . God has not given a different measure to each Christian but has given to each Christian the same measure.” Moo

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Rom 12:3 “as God has allotted to each a measure of faith”

2. “a measure of faith”

(1) faith refers to the faith as the standard.

Objections.

It is difficult to see how “the faith” could be said to be distributed to each believer (Murray). The word “allotted” (Grk merizo) would be a poor choice of terms if Paul meant to say that the gospel content made it way to each believer.

Of the 40 occurrences of the term “faith” in Romans, Paul does not use it in this sense as objective truth. (He does, however in other epistles, so this is not a decisive point. I Tim 3:9; 4:1; 5:8).

Rom 12:3 lacks the definite article “the,” whereas other objective uses often have the article (i Tim 3:9; 4:1; 5:8)

The context of Rom 12:3-9, and especially the close parallel of Rom 12:6, does not seem to favor “the faith” as objective revealed truth.

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Rom 12:3 “as God has allotted to each a measure of faith”

2. “a measure of faith”

(1) refers to the faith as the standard.

(2) faith refers to that which is “allotted” individually, by which that individual exercises his / her particular spiritual service (aka, spiritual gift).

“Faith . . . here denotes the spiritual power given to each Christian for the discharge of his special responsibility.” FF Bruce

“Each gift requires the grace necessary for its exercise . . . There are, therefore, distinct endowments variously distributed among the members of the Christian community and this is spoken of as dealing to each a measure of faith. Each receives what the apostle calls his own ‘measure.’ . . It is called the measure of faith in the restricted sense of the faith that is suited to the exercise of this gift. . . No gift is exercised apart from faith directed to God.” Murray

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Rom 12:3 “as God has allotted to each a measure of faith”

2. “a measure of faith”

(2) faith refers to that which is “allotted” individually.

“Paul is speaking here of ‘a working for God faith.’ In the account of the heroes of faith in Heb 11, we see that the measure of faith given corresponds to the task to be accomplished.” (Mickelsen)

“In the church there is distribution of gift and each member possesses his own measure for which there is the corresponding faith by which the gift is to be exercised.” (Murray, sic)

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Rom 12:3 “as God has allotted to each a measure of faith”

2. “a measure of faith”

(2) faith refers to that which is “allotted” individually.

This is summary of the principles in I Cor 12:4-30.

1 Corinthians 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

1 Corinthians 12:18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.

1 Corinthians 12:21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."

1 Corinthians 12:24 But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25 so that there may be no division in the body,

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Rom 12:4-5 “members” & “one body”

Rom 12:4-5, Paul makes in summary form the same point of I Cor 12:12-26.

The point here in Rom 12 (as well as in I Cor) is that there is no place for pride, boasting, or envy based on how Christ has placed and gifted the members of His body.

We will not belabor the point.

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Rom 12:6-9 - The List

Paul refers to charismata “gifts” - same term used in 1 Cor 12:4 – which emphasizes the gracious nature of spiritual gifts: “according to the grace – charis – given to us” (v.6)

In this particular instance in Rom 12, Paul lists only seven, which points out an obvious feature in his list here, and elsewhere.

“Paul mentions specific gifts in two other places (1 Cor 12:7-11, 28; Eph 4:11), and a comparison of these texts reveals that he is not seeking in any of them to give a comprehensive list. Rather, in each place Paul selects examples that will be relevant to his purpose.” New Bible Commentary

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Rom 12:6-9 - The List

“This was not intended to be an exhaustive or complete list of the charismata. Rather it was representative.” MacGorman, The Gifts of the Spirit

“The list of spiritual gifts in [I Cor 12] verses 8-11 is worth setting out in parallel with other similar New Testament lists. . . Comparison of these lists makes several things obvious. First, no list, including the one immediately before us in 1 Cor 12:8-11, is meant to be exhaustive. This should already have been expected from Paul’s discussion in verses 4-6, which suggests that not even the addition of all twenty or twenty-one entries from the five lists should be taken as exhaustive.” DA Carson, Showing the Spirit

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Rom 12:6-9 - The Gifts Applied

The point of application Paul is driving at in Rom 12:6-9 is that each believer has some charismata or another, and that it should be used as intended by God.

But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (1 Cor 12:7)

What is the outcome then, brethren? . . Let all things be done for edification. (1 Cor 14:26)

Again, keep in mind that the appeal for dedication and service (Rom 1:1-2) must be worked out in concrete and practical ways. The believer can present acceptable service only by the Spirit’s enabling presence and empowerment.

The most obvious way manner in which the Spirit enables and empowers us is in the proper use of the charismata – spiritual gifts.

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Rom 12:3-9 – Spiritual Gifts Conclusion

We will not be diving into the seven gifts listed in Romans 12.

However, we will not leave you completely in the dark. We are planning to have a Sunday School session starting this fall on Spiritual Gifts. The emphasis of the course will be to help you understand and then discover your spiritual gift.

The intent would subsequently be to get you plugged into ministry which would be consistent with your gift, your level of maturity, and the mission/vision of Grace Fellowship.

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- end -

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“Romans’ Road”

1. Man’s Sin

Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Use “but the free gift . . .” as a transition to 2. God’s provision.

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“Romans’ Road”

2. God’s Provision.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Transition: What do you need to do?

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“Romans’ Road”

3. Man’s Response.

Rom 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

Rom 10:13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."

Offer to lead in prayer.