Romans Chapter 12 verse 16 Holy Bible

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(16) Be of the same mind . . .--In every Christian community there should be that harmony which proceeds from a common object, common hopes, common desires.Condescend to men of low estate.--Probably, on the whole, rightly translated in our version; "Let yourselves be carried on in the stream with those who are beneath yourselves in rank and station; mix with them freely; be ready to lend them a helping hand if ever they need, and do this in a simple and kindly way; do not let any social assumptions keep you at a distance." "Accommodate yourselves," or "condescend"--of course without any conscious idea or appearance of condescension. Another rendering would be "condescend to lowly things," in which case the sense would be nearly equivalent to that of Keble's well-known and beautiful lines--"The trivial round, the common task,Will furnish all we ought to ask;Room to deny ourselves, a roadTo bring us daily nearer God."The scholar will observe that in this way of taking the passage, the Greek word for "condescend" (sunapagomenoi) has to be a little forced, or at least is not so expressive and natural as in the other. On the other hand, in the Epistles of a writer like St. Paul, it does not by any means follow that because the word for "high" is neuter that for "low estate" must be neuter too.Be not wise in your own conceits.--Comp. Romans 11:25, and Proverbs 3:7. Humility is necessary to the Christian not only in his dealings with others, but also to keep his mind open and teachable. He sees his errors, and learns from them. . . . Parallel Commentaries ...GreekLive in harmonyφρονοῦντες (phronountes)Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine PluralStrong's 5426: (a) I think, (b) I think, judge, (c) I direct the mind to, seek for, (d) I observe, (e) I care for. withεἰς (eis)PrepositionStrong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.one another.ἀλλήλους (allēlous)Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun - Accusative Masculine PluralStrong's 240: One another, each other. Genitive plural from allos reduplicated; one another.Do not be proud,φρονοῦντες (phronountes)Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine PluralStrong's 5426: (a) I think, (b) I think, judge, (c) I direct the mind to, seek for, (d) I observe, (e) I care for. butἀλλὰ (alla)ConjunctionStrong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.enjoy the companyσυναπαγόμενοι (synapagomenoi)Verb - Present Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine PluralStrong's 4879: From sun and apago; to take off together, i.e. Transport with.of theτοῖς (tois)Article - Dative Masculine PluralStrong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.lowly.ταπεινοῖς (tapeinois)Adjective - Dative Masculine PluralStrong's 5011: Humble, lowly, in position or spirit (in a good sense). Of uncertain derivation; depressed, i.e. humiliated.{Do} notμὴ (mē)AdverbStrong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.beγίνεσθε (ginesthe)Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person PluralStrong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.conceited.φρόνιμοι (phronimoi)Adjective - Nominative Masculine PluralStrong's 5429: Intelligent, prudent, sensible, wise. From phren; thoughtful, i.e. Sagacious or discreet; in a bad sense conceited.Jump to PreviousAgreement Associate Conceited Conceits Content Estate Estimation Full Give Harmony Haughty High Humble Low Mind Opinion Position Proud Sympathy Towards Ways Willing Wise Yourselves