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Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Romans 12:6 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;
  • BSB We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith;
  • NKJV Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
  • NASB However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, in proportion to one’s faith;
  • NLT In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.

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

We have differing gifts according to grace; prophecy is to be exercised in proportion to one's faith.

Overview

Paul begins listing spiritual gifts, all 'according to the grace given to us,' underscoring that they are unearned endowments for serving the body. The first, prophecy, is to be used 'according to the proportion of faith,' that is, in keeping with what one has been given and in agreement with the faith. The emphasis is on faithful, humble use of gifts for the common good rather than self-display.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 27

  • 1 Pet 4:10–11As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
  • 1 Cor 7:7For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
  • 1 Cor 12:28–31And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
  • 1 Cor 12:4–11Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
  • Rom 12:3For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
  • 1 Cor 13:2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
  • 1 Cor 14:3–5But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
  • Rom 1:11For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
  • 1 Cor 14:1Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
  • 1 Cor 1:5–7That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
  • Eph 4:11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
  • 2 Cor 8:12For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
  • 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.
  • 1 Th 5:20Despise not prophesyings.
  • 1 Cor 14:31–32For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
  • Acts 15:32And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
  • 1 Cor 14:29Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
  • Luke 11:49Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:
  • Matt 23:34Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
  • Acts 2:17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
  • Phil 3:15Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
  • Acts 21:9And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
  • 1 Cor 14:24But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
  • Eph 3:5Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
  • Acts 11:27–28And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
  • Acts 18:24–28And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
  • Acts 13:1Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Romans videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Romans 12:6YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on RomansMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

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.

How Romans 12:6 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

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.