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Selected Verse: Galatians 6:3 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ga 6:3 |
King James |
For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Self-conceit, the chief hindrance to forbearance and sympathy towards our fellow men, must be laid aside.
something--possessed of some spiritual pre-eminence, so as to be exempt from the frailty of other men.
when he is nothing--The Greek is subjective: "Being, if he would come to himself, and look on the real fact, nothing" [ALFORD] (Gal 6:2, Gal 6:6; Rom 12:3; Co1 8:2).
deceiveth himself--literally, "he mentally deceives himself." Compare Jam 1:26, "deceiveth his own heart." |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
For if a man think himself to be something ... - see Gal 5:26. This is designed, evidently, to be another reason why we should be kind and tender to those who have erred. It is, that even those who are most confident may fall. They who feel secure, and think it impossible that they should sin, are not safe. They may be wholly deceived, and may be nothing, when they have the highest estimate of themselves. They may themselves fall into sin, and have need of all the sympathy and kindness of their brethren.
When he is nothing - When he has no strength, and no moral worth. When he is not such as he apprehends, but is lifted up with vain self-conceit.
He deceiveth himself - He understands not his own character. "The worst part of the fraud falls on his own head" - Doddridge. He does not accomplish what he expected to do; and instead of acquiring reputation from others, as he expected, he renders himself contemptible in their sight. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Think (δοκεῖ)
Sometimes rendered seems, Co1 12:22; Co2 10:9; Gal 2:9; but think is Paul's usual meaning. Comp. Mat 3:9; Co1 11:16; Phi 3:4.
To be something (εἶναί τι)
For the phrase see Act 5:36; Act 8:9; Co1 3:7; Co1 10:19; Gal 2:6; Gal 6:15.
Deceiveth (φρεναπατᾷ)
N.T.o. olxx, oClass. See the noun φεναπάτης deceiver, Tit 1:10. Denoting subjective deception; deception of the judgment. The simple ἀπατᾶν to deceive, Eph 5:6; Ti1 2:14; Jam 1:26, and often in lxx. Lightfoot thinks the compound verb may possibly have been coined by Paul. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| If any one think himself to be something - Above his brethren, or by any strength of his own. When he is nothing, he deceiveth himself - He alone will bear their burdens, who knows himself to be nothing. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| If a man think himself to be something - i.e. To be a proper Christian man; when he is nothing; being destitute of that charity which beareth, hopeth, and endureth all things. See Co1 13:1, etc. Those who suppose themselves to excel all others in piety, understanding, etc., while they are harsh, censorious, and overbearing, prove that they have not the charity that thinketh no evil; and in the sight of God are only as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. There are no people more censorious or uncharitable than those among some religious people who pretend to more light and a deeper communion with God. They are generally carried away with a sort of sublime, high sounding phraseology, which seems to argue a wonderfully deep acquaintance with Divine things; stripped of this, many of them are like Samson without his hair. |
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:
19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.