Galatians 6:3
For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Truth to Learn
Our value lies in God, not in ourselves.
Behind the Words
The word translated “thinks” is dokeō, meaning “to think” or “to imagine.” It does not mean “think” as in that mental exercise we do when we are trying to understand something or trying to solve a problem. Instead, as used in this verse, this word expresses the mental estimate or opinion formed by man concerning his own value.
“Deceives” is translated from the Greek word phrenapataō, from phren, meaning “the mind” and apataō, meaning “to deceive.” Hence, it refers to one who tricks others into believing something that is not true.
The word “when” is not in the Greek and should not be included in the translation of this verse.
Meaning Explained
Paul’s reference here to “anyone thinks himself to be something” is very likely a reference to the false teachers in the Galatian churches. In the earlier verses of this letter Paul used the same expression in reference to them (the word “seemed” is translated from the same word which is translated “thinks” in the current verse):
But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me. (Galatians 2:6)
And, in his first letter to the Corinthians Paul even used this expression about himself, although in a humble sense, not an arrogant sense:
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. (1Corinthians 3:6)
Paul has just been talking about restoring a fellow Christian who has been tripped up or who is walking in the wrong direction. The false teachers in Galatia had taken advantage of the immature believers there by trying to convince them to adopt the legalistic practices of the Jews. They weren’t trying to restore the wayward Christians or to help bear their burdens. Instead, they were deceiving them.
Paul now instructs the believers there that not only were they being deceived by these false teachers, but the teachers were actually deceiving themselves, believing themselves to be something important when they really weren’t. Paul says these who were teaching bad doctrine were nothing of importance and nothing of value to anyone, certainly not to God.
Application
There is no class structure in the church. Though some churches have made an arbitrary distinction between the priests and the common people, this is not part of God’s design. We are all children of God and members of the body of Christ. Our responsibility is to build up the church. We are all common laborers, each with his or her own job to do. It is only in our humble submission to God that we have any real lasting value.
In God’s service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2008 Will Krause. All rights reserved.
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