ACC ~ Romans 12 v3

EACH ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF FAITH. ORIGEN: In his usual way, the apostle says that he is speaking by the grace which has been given to him and not by the power of human persuasion, nor by philosophy. … There is an enormous difference between speaking by grace and speaking by human cleverness. Many people speak with a smooth voice and a clever style but do not edify their audience. They cannot get anyone to obey them, because they do not practice what they preach. People like that are not speaking by grace, which was given to Paul.

Everyone ought to know what the measure is of the grace which has been given to him, for which he has been prepared by his faith. One person receives grace from God to be wise in the work of charity, or in the service of visiting or toward the needs of the poor, or concerning the care of the sick, or the defense of widows and children, or hospitality. For God has apportioned these to each person according to the measure of his faith. But suppose someone has received grace in order to be wise about one of these things but does not understand the measure of the grace which has been given to him and wants to know more about the wisdom of God, the word of doctrine, the meaning of deeper knowledge, for which he has not received grace. He does not want to learn so much as to teach what he does not know. Because he does not know enough, he wants to know more than he ought to know. COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

BASIL: Paul clearly allots to each one the form of ministry which is right for him and forbids him to encroach on another’s territory when he says this. CONCERNING BAPTISM 2.8.

AMBROSIASTER: Here Paul teaches us that we ought to know that the bounds of righteousness must not be transgressed, so that not only will it be of service to us but it will not harm anyone else either. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

CHRYSOSTOM: Paul addresses these words not to one group of people only but to everyone. The governor and the governed, the slave and the free, the ignorant and the wise, the woman and the man, the young and the old—all are included. The law is the Lord’s and is therefore common to everyone. HOMILIES ON ROMANS 20.

NOT THINK MORE HIGHLY OF YOURSELVES THAN YOU OUGHT. PELAGIUS: Since Paul is about to disallow human wisdom that goes beyond the law, he declares that he is not speaking his own mind but by the authority of a spiritual gift. He is writing to all those who are priests or teachers, whose example the others follow.

One who searches into matters of which the law does not speak is trying to be wiser. That is why Solomon says: “Do not enquire after things higher than yourself and do not search after things greater than yourself but think always on the things that God has commanded you.” Note that Paul calls the Holy Spirit God, for to the Corinthians he declares that the Holy Spirit apportions gifts to each person as he wishes. A charismatic power, which only believers receive, is to be regarded as a measure of faith. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

THEODORET OF CYR: In the Gospel the Lord decreed that those who possessed humility were first among the blessed: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”Paul laid this command on everyone, rich and poor, servant and master. INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS.

THINK WITH SOBER JUDGMENT. GENNADIUS OF CONSTANTINOPLE: Paul said this in criticism of those brothers who were running after charismatic gifts. God did not give us his gift in order that we should hate each other or that spiritual things should become an excuse for warfare, but so that we should enjoy harmony and friendship and the common salvation of all. None of you has anything by right, but the one who is worthy of the greatest, as well as the one who is worthy of the least of the charismatic gifts, has been given it by God. Knowing this he ought to use it according to the measure of his faith. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

Rom