But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Parallel translations
- WEB But let each man examine his own work, and then he will have reason to boast in himself, and not in someone else.
- BSB Each one should test his own work. Then he will have reason to boast in himself alone, and not in someone else.
- NKJV But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
- NASB But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting, but to himself alone, and not to another.
- NLT Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Each person should examine his own work, so that any boasting rests on himself and not on comparison with others. We are to test our own lives before God rather than measure ourselves against others.
Overview
Paul urges honest self-examination instead of self-congratulation by comparison. Whatever cause for satisfaction a believer may have should come from sober assessment of his own conduct before God, not from feeling superior to others. This encourages humility and personal responsibility, freeing believers from the rivalry that destroys community.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- 2 Cor 13:5Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
- Ps 26:2Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
- 1 Cor 11:28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
- 2 Cor 1:12For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
- 2 Cor 11:12–13But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
- 1 Jn 3:19–22And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
- Luke 18:11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
- 1 Cor 3:21–23Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
- 1 Cor 4:3–4But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
- Prov 14:14The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
- Job 13:15Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
- 1 Cor 1:12–13Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
- 1 Cor 4:6–7And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
- Gal 6:13For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
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Christ at the center
Christ became a curse for us to redeem us from the law's curse, that we might receive the Spirit and be sons — justified by faith in him, not by works.
How Galatians 6:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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