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the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
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Read the Bible

New Revised Standard

Galatians 6:3

For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Hypocrisy;   Pride;   Self-Exaltation;   Self-Examination;   Self-Righteousness;   Thompson Chain Reference - Common Delusions;   Conceit;   Deception;   Humility-Pride;   Self-Deception;   The Topic Concordance - Deception;   Pride/arrogance;   Proof;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Humility;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Discipline;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Galatians, Letter to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Nicolas;   Paul the Apostle;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Galatians Epistle to the;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Brier;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Galatians, Epistle to the;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for January 19;   Every Day Light - Devotion for October 28;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
King James Version (1611)
For if a man thinke himselfe to be something, when he is nothing, hee deceiueth himselfe.
King James Version
For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
English Standard Version
For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
New American Standard Bible
For if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
New Century Version
If anyone thinks he is important when he really is not, he is only fooling himself.
Amplified Bible
For if anyone thinks he is something [special] when [in fact] he is nothing [special except in his own eyes], he deceives himself.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Legacy Standard Bible
For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Berean Standard Bible
If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Contemporary English Version
If you think you are better than others, when you really aren't, you are wrong.
Complete Jewish Bible
For if anyone thinks he is something when he is really nothing, he is fooling himself.
Darby Translation
For if any man reputes himself to be something, being nothing, he deceives himself;
Easy-to-Read Version
If you think you are too important to do this, you are only fooling yourself.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For if any man seeme to himselfe, that he is somewhat, when he is nothing, hee deceiueth himselfe in his imagination.
George Lamsa Translation
For if man thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Good News Translation
If you think you are something when you really are nothing, you are only deceiving yourself.
Lexham English Bible
For if anyone thinks he is something although he is nothing, he is deceiving himself.
Literal Translation
For if anyone thinks to be something, he deceives himself, being nothing.
American Standard Version
For if a man thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Bible in Basic English
For if a man has an idea that he is something when he is nothing, he is tricked by himself.
Hebrew Names Version
For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
International Standard Version
For if anyone thinks he is something when he is really nothing, he is only fooling himself.Romans 12:3; 1 Corinthians 8:2; 2 Corinthians 3:5; 12:11; Galatians 2:6;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
For if a man consider that he is something, while he is not, he deceiveth himself.
Murdock Translation
For if any one thinketh himself to be something, when he is not, he deceiveth himself.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For if any man seeme to him selfe that he is somewhat, when he is nothyng, the same deceaueth hymselfe in his owne fansie.
English Revised Version
For if a man thinketh himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
World English Bible
For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For if any man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Weymouth's New Testament
For if there is any one who thinks himself to be somebody when he is nobody, he is deluding himself.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For who that trowith that he be ouyt, whanne he is nouyt, he bigilith him silf.
Update Bible Version
For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Webster's Bible Translation
For if a man thinketh himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
New English Translation
For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
New King James Version
For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
New Living Translation
If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
New Life Bible
If anyone thinks he is important when he is nothing, he is fooling himself.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, if any one thinketh he is something, when he is, nothing, he deceiveth himself;
Douay-Rheims Bible
For if any man think himself to be some thing, whereas he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Revised Standard Version
For if any one thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
If eny ma seme to him silfe that he is somwhat whe in dede he is nothynge the same deceaveth hym silfe in his ymaginacion.
Young's Literal Translation
for if any one doth think [himself] to be something -- being nothing -- himself he doth deceive;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But yf eny man thinke himselfe to be somwhat (whan in dede he is nothinge) the same disceaueth himselfe.
Mace New Testament (1729)
for if a man thinks himself to be considerable, when he is not, he deceives himself.
Simplified Cowboy Version
But if you think you're too good to get off and lend a hand to a broken fellow, you show just how small a man you really are. You can talk a big game all you want, but the only one who believes your lies is you.

Contextual Overview

1 My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. 4 All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor's work, will become a cause for pride. 5 For all must carry their own loads. 6 Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher. 7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. 8 If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. 10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

if: Galatians 2:6, Proverbs 25:14, Proverbs 26:12, Luke 18:11, Romans 12:3, Romans 12:16, 1 Corinthians 3:18, 1 Corinthians 8:2

when: 1 Corinthians 13:2, 2 Corinthians 3:5, 2 Corinthians 12:11

he deceiveth: 1 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Timothy 3:13, James 1:22, James 1:26, 1 John 1:8

Reciprocal: Job 15:31 - not him Proverbs 12:15 - way Proverbs 14:12 - General Proverbs 21:2 - right Jeremiah 37:9 - Deceive 1 Corinthians 3:7 - General 1 Corinthians 4:8 - ye are full Galatians 6:7 - not 1 Timothy 6:4 - He Titus 3:3 - deceived James 2:20 - O vain

Cross-References

Genesis 6:1
When people began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born to them,
Genesis 6:13
And God said to Noah, "I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence because of them; now I am going to destroy them along with the earth.
Genesis 6:14
Make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch.
Genesis 6:15
This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.
Genesis 6:16
Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above; and put the door of the ark in its side; make it with lower, second, and third decks.
Genesis 6:18
But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you.
Genesis 6:20
Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground according to its kind, two of every kind shall come in to you, to keep them alive.
Numbers 11:17
I will come down and talk with you there; and I will take some of the spirit that is on you and put it on them; and they shall bear the burden of the people along with you so that you will not bear it all by yourself.
Nehemiah 9:30
Many years you were patient with them, and warned them by your spirit through your prophets; yet they would not listen. Therefore you handed them over to the peoples of the lands.
Psalms 78:39
He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and does not come again.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For if a man think himself to be something,.... Of himself; to have anything of himself, to do anything of himself, and of himself to attain to life and salvation:

when he is nothing: of himself; not even as a creature, but owes his being and preservation, and all the mercies of life, to another, even to God; has no grace nor gifts of himself, but what he has received, and can do no good thing, not think a good thought, or perform a good action, of himself, and much less of himself procure eternal life and salvation:

he deceiveth himself: and will find himself sadly mistaken, and wretchedly disappointed another day; or whoever thinks himself to be some famous and excellent person, to be something more, and better than others, of a more excellent nature, and of greater abilities, that he is free from sin, or at least holier than others, and not liable to fall as others, whom he looks upon with disdain and contempt, wanting that charity which the law, and new commandment of Christ, requires, when he is nothing but sin and vanity, he is destitute of the grace of God, he deceives himself and the truth is not in him. This the apostle says to depress pride, and a swelling conceit of themselves, and all uncharitable, rough, and severe usages of others. A saying like this the Jews have y;

"whoever he is that is something, or thinks in himself that he is כלום, "something", it would be better for him if he had never been created.''

y Midrash Kohelet, fol. 79. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For if a man think himself to be something ... - see Galatians 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.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Galatians 6:3. 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 1 Corinthians 13:1, c. Those who suppose themselves to excel all others in piety, understanding, c., 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.


 
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