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William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 12:3-8

12:3-8 For, through the grace that has been given to me, I say to everyone among you, not to have a mind proud beyond that which a mind should be, but to have a mind directed towards wisdom, as God has given the measure of faith to each one of you. For just as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so, although we are many, we are one body in Christ, and we are all members of each other. Since, then, we have different gifts, according to the grace... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 12:7

Or ministry, let us wait on our ministry ,.... The word διακονια sometimes signifies the whole ecclesiastical ministry, even the office of apostleship, as well as the ordinary ministration of the Gospel; see Acts 1:17 ; but here "deaconship", or the office of ministering to the poor saints, as in Acts 6:1 , being a distinct office from prophesying: or preaching the word, and should be used, exercised, and attended to with diligence, care, and constancy; for such who are appointed to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 12:7

Or ministry - Διακονια simply means the office of a deacon; and what this office was, see in the note on Acts 6:4 ; (note), where the subject is largely discussed. Or he that teacheth - The teacher, διδασκαλος , was a person whose office it was to instruct others, who thereby catechizing, or simply explaining the grand truths of Christianity. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 12:3-8

Diversity and unity in the Church of Christ. The subject of union among the various branches of the Church of Christ is one to which much attention has of late years been turned. The efforts of the Evangelical Alliance have been largely directed to secure a more brotherly relationship and more hearty co-operation between the different denominations of Christians. Some Christians desire an organic union of all sections of the Church, but the passage before us indicates that there may be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 12:3-8

Christian humility. The life of Christian consecration is now set forth in its practical bearings. We have life in the Church, including its attitude towards those that are without ( Romans 12:1-21 .), and life in the state ( Romans 13:1-14 .). The life of members of the Church, as such, is set forth as controlled by two great vital principles: humility, as regards one's self; love, as regards others. Here the grace of humility is insisted on, as regulating each one's thoughts and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 12:4-8

Churchmanship. Having seen what Christian individualism is meant to be in the preceding verses, we now enter upon the wider relation of Churchmanship. For the apostle is not here speaking of human nature in its social aspects, as we find it so powerfully expounded for us in Bishop Butler's 'Sermons upon Human Nature,' but in its Church aspect, the relation of the individual to the one body which has its organic existence "in Christ." The apostle would have us to believe that we are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 12:6-8

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, according to the proportion of our faith; or ministry, in our ministry; or he that teacheth, in his teaching; or he that exhorteth, in his exhortation; he that giveth, in simplicity; he that ruleth, with (literally, in) diligence; he that showeth mercy, with (literally, in) cheerfulness . The elliptical form of the original has been retained in the above translation, without the words interposed for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 12:6-8

Grace and gifts. It is presumed that every member not only refrains from disparaging or envying the offices of fellow-members, but fulfils his own office. And it is also presumed that, as there is no member in the human body without a function, so, in Christian society, the Creator and Lord has assigned to every individual a place to fill, a work to do, and service to render as well as to receive. In this comprehensive passage several great principles are explicitly or implicitly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 12:6-8

Gifts ( second homily ) . In enumerating the various gifts imparted by the Lord to his Church, the various services its members are called to render to one another, the apostle writes for all time. In the primitive congregations there were persons endowed with special and supernatural gifts; but these, with one exception, the apostle does not include in this instructive catalogue; he rather chooses to put upon record his own judgment as to the graces and qualifications necessary,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Romans 12:7

Or ministry - διακονίαν diakonian. This word properly means service of any kind; Luke 10:40. It is used in religion to denote the service which is rendered to Christ as the Master. It is applied to all classes of ministers in the New Testament, as denoting their being the servants of Christ; and it is used particularly to denote that class who from this word were called deacons, that is, those who had the care of the poor, who provided for the sick, and who watched over the external matters of... read more

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