Audio commentary on this verse

Note 1 at Rom. 12:4: This verse starts with the word "for" which is a conjunction just as in verse three (see note 13 at v. 3, p. 826). This is linking Paul's following statements with his previous statements.

Paul had encouraged these people to experience the perfect will of God (Rom. 12:2) through humbling themselves (being a living sacrifice). This was vastly different than the world's formula for success and needed some further explanation. Therefore, in verse three, Paul explains that every believer has been given the same opportunity for success through "the" measure of faith.

Now in verse four, Paul continues to explain that although every believer has been given "the" measure of faith, not every believer has been given the same job in the body of Christ. He uses our physical bodies to illustrate this.

We have many different parts of our body and they all have a different purpose or function. Yet, it takes all the parts operating in unity to make one body. Likewise, it takes all the different people in the church performing their different functions to make up Christ's body.

So, in verses 1-2, Paul gave a "fool-proof" formula for success. However, to keep anyone from gloating at the tremendous potential of these promises, he makes it clear in verse three that everyone has been given the same potential. And in verses four through eight he reveals that we all have different functions, and we all need each other.