Romans 12:6

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

King James Version · Read in your translation · Open the Explore console

Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
Having	Ἔχοντες Echontes	G2192	to hold (used in very various applications · verb — present active participle, nominative plural masculine
then	δὲ de	G1161	but · conjunction
gifts	χαρίσματα charismata	G5486	a (divine) gratuity · noun — accusative plural neuter
differing	διάφορα, diaphora	G1313	varying · adjective — accusative plural neuter
to	κατὰ kata	G2596	(prepositionally) down (in place or time) · preposition
grace	χάριν charin	G5485	graciousness (as gratifying) · noun — accusative singular feminine
given	δοθεῖσαν dotheisan	G1325	to give (used in a very wide application · verb — aorist passive participle, accusative singular feminine
us	ἡμῖν hēmîn	G2254	to (or for
whether	εἴτε eite	G1535	if too · conditional particle
prophecy	προφητείαν prophēteian	G4394	prediction (scriptural or other) · noun — accusative singular feminine
to	κατὰ kata	G2596	(prepositionally) down (in place or time) · preposition
proportion	ἀναλογίαν analogian	G356	proportion · noun — accusative singular feminine
faith	πίστεως, pisteōs	G4102	persuasion · noun — genitive singular feminine

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

1 Peter 4:10-11 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1 Corinthians 7:7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
1 Corinthians 12:28-31 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, he…
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
Romans 12:3 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…
1 Corinthians 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove…
Romans 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
1 Corinthians 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Romans 12:1–end

We may observe here, according to the scheme mentioned in the contents, the apostle's exhortations, I. Concerning our duty to God, We see what is godliness. 1. It is to surrender ourselves to God, and so to lay a good foundation. We must first give our own selves unto the Lord, Co2 8:5. This is here pressed as the spring of all duty and obedience, Rom 12:1, Rom 12:2. Man consists of body and soul, Gen 2:7; Ecc 12:7. (1.) The body must be presented to him, Rom 12:1. The body is for the Lord, and the Lord for the body, Co1 6:13, Co1 6:14. The exhortation is here introduced very pathetically: I beseech you, brethren. Though he was a great apostle, yet he calls the meanest Christians brethren, a…

Read the whole note in the console

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 12:6

Having then gifts differing according to the grace given to us--Here, let it be observed, all the gifts of believers alike are viewed as communications of mere grace. whether--we have the gift of prophecy--that is, of inspired teaching (as in Act 15:32). Anyone speaking with divine authority--whether with reference to the past, the present, or the future--was termed a prophet (Exo 7:1). let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith--rather, "of our faith." Many Romish expositors and some Protestant (as CALVIN and BENGEL, and, though, hesitatingly, BEZA and HODGE), render this "the analogy of faith," understanding by it "the general tenor" or "rule of faith," divinely delivered t…

Read the whole note in the console

Adam Clarke on Romans 12:6

Having then gifts differing, etc. - As the goodness of God, with this view of our mutual subserviency and usefulness, has endowed us with different gifts and qualifications, let each apply himself to the diligent improvement of his particular office and talent, and modestly keep within the bounds of it, not exalting himself or despising others. Whether prophecy - That prophecy, in the New Testament, often means the gift of exhorting, preaching, or of expounding the Scriptures, is evident from many places in the Gospels, Acts, and St. Paul's Epistles, see Co1 11:4, Co1 11:5; and especially Co1 14:3 : He that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. This was…

The Church Fathers

"In proportion to our faith" not only applies to prophecy but may be extended by analogy to all the gifts.
— Gennadius of Constantinople, PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH

No one has the capacity to receive all spiritual gifts, but the grace of the Spirit is given proportionately to the faith of each one.
— Basil of Caesarea, THE LONG RULES 7

"Prophecy" means primarily the explanation of things which are unclear, whether future or past, whether present or hidden. "Prophecy" may also refer to the interpretation of a prophet's words.
— Diodorus of Tarsus, PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Proportion of faith — (Rom. 12:6). Paul says here that each one was to exercise his gift of prophecy, i.e., of teaching, “according to the proportion of faith.” The meaning is, that the utterances of the “prophet” were…
Commandments · PRECEPTS OF PAUL. EXPLICITLY STATED OR IMPLIED IN DIDACTIC EPISTLES — PRECEPTS OF PAUL. EXPLICITLY STATED OR IMPLIED IN DIDACTIC EPISTLES
Gifts From God · UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO BOTH TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL — UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO BOTH TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL
Gifts Of God, The · Are dispensed according to his will — Are dispensed according to his will
Grace · Specially given: To ministers — Specially given: To ministers
Religion · TRUE — TRUE
Responsibility · ACCORDING TO PRIVILEGE — ACCORDING TO PRIVILEGE

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

Romans 12:6

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Romans 12:1–end

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 12:6

Adam Clarke on Romans 12:6

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

Romans 12:6

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Romans 12:1–end

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 12:6

Adam Clarke on Romans 12:6

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John Gill on Romans 12:6

John Calvin on Romans 12:4-8

Tyndale Open Study Notes on Romans 12:6