Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear;
Parallel translations
- WEB True; by their unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by your faith. Don’t be conceited, but fear;
- KJV Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
- BSB That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.
- NKJV Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.
- NLT Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen.
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
True, but they fell through unbelief and you stand by faith; so do not be proud, but fear.
Overview
Paul concedes the point only to redirect it: the natural branches were removed because of unbelief, and Gentiles stand solely 'by faith,' not by merit. Faith therefore excludes pride and calls instead for reverent fear and humility. The verse teaches that continued standing in grace is no ground for boasting but for watchful dependence on God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 39
- Rom 12:16Be of the same mind one toward another. Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own conceits.
- 2 Cor 1:24Not that we control your faith, but are fellow workers with you for your joy. For you stand firm in faith.
- 1 Cor 10:12Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn’t fall.
- 1 Pet 1:17If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear:
- Phil 2:12So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
- Rom 5:1–2Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;
- Col 2:7rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.
- Hab 2:4Behold, his soul is puffed up. It is not upright in him, but the righteous will live by his faith.
- Heb 3:12Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God;
- Rom 11:18don’t boast over the branches. But if you boast, it is not you who support the root, but the root supports you.
- 1 Tim 6:17Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy;
- Prov 28:14Blessed is the man who always fears; but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
- 2 Cor 10:5throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
- Isa 66:2For my hand has made all these things, and so all these things came to be,” says Yahweh: “but to this man will I look, even to he who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word.
- 2 Tim 3:3–5without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, not lovers of good,
- Isa 2:11The lofty looks of man will be brought low, the haughtiness of men will be bowed down, and Yahweh alone will be exalted in that day.
- 1 Pet 5:9Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings.
- Heb 3:19We see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief.
- 1 Pet 5:12Through Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.
- 2 Th 2:4he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God.
- Zeph 3:11In that day you will not be disappointed for all your doings, in which you have transgressed against me; for then I will take away out from among you your proudly exulting ones, and you will no more be haughty in my holy mountain.
- 1 Pet 5:5–6Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Luke 18:14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Acts 13:46–47Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
- Heb 4:6Seeing therefore it remains that some should enter therein, and they to whom the good news was before preached failed to enter in because of disobedience,
- John 4:17–18The woman answered, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You said well, ‘I have no husband,’
- Isa 2:17The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; and Yahweh alone shall be exalted in that day.
- Isa 7:9and the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established.’”
- Rev 18:7However much she glorified herself, and grew wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning. For she says in her heart, ‘I sit a queen, and am no widow, and will in no way see mourning.’
- Acts 18:6When they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook out his clothing and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on, I will go to the Gentiles!”
- Ps 138:6For though Yahweh is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but the proud, he knows from afar.
- 1 Cor 16:13Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong!
- Jas 4:6But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Rom 3:3For what if some were without faith? Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God?
- Rev 3:17Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;’ and don’t know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked;
- Heb 4:11Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.
- Prov 28:26One who trusts in himself is a fool; but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
- 2 Chr 20:20They rose early in the morning, and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. As they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in Yahweh your God, so you will be established! Believe his prophets, so you will prosper.”
- Jas 2:19You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder.
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Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
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