don't be overrighteous

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posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,773
13,533
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#1
Be not righteous over much;
neither make thyself over wise:
why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
(Ecclesiastes 7:16)
what does this mean?
 
Sep 3, 2016
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#2

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,883
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#3
Romans 12:1-8 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

:)
 
Nov 26, 2012
3,095
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#4
Be not righteous over much;
neither make thyself over wise:
why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
(Ecclesiastes 7:16)
what does this mean?
I don’t know if funny is the word to best describe this but here goes;
I have always valued intelligence. Being of a curious nature I always had questions. When I read in James about praying for wisdom and expect results, I prayed diligently for wisdom and understanding. Something happened. The scriptures opened up to me, my memory improved fantastically and every puzzle seemed solvable. The problem with this is, the smarter I felt, the duller everyone else seemed. I rationalize everything and all seems like folly. I began to be frustrated with everyone and lose my patience with my kids for “child like” behaviour.

Something else, there are something called mirror neurons you can look up. It is a learning tool hardwired into our brains. It basically is the cause of empathy. We “feel” what others feel who are close to us, and subordinate to us. It’s why we wince when we see others get hit in sensitive areas, and cry when others cry. Those who see themselves as superior wont have this reaction to those considered inferior. This also explains all of the atrocities performed on peoples throughout history, and feel perfectly justified in doing so. Empathy can only exist in an equality situation.

In order to happily serve another, it is beneficial to rejoice because they rejoice and weep because they weep. This is what we are called to do...love. If we are not producing good fruit, are we bad trees, destined for destruction?
 
Nov 23, 2013
13,684
1,212
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#5
Be not righteous over much;
neither make thyself over wise:
why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
(Ecclesiastes 7:16)
what does this mean?
Don’t be a Pharisee. 😊
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,400
13,746
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#6
L

LPT

Guest
#7
Judges 14

14 So he said to them:

“Out of the eater came something to eat,

and out of the strong came something sweet.”
 
Sep 27, 2018
140
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#8
Be not righteous over much;
neither make thyself over wise:
why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
(Ecclesiastes 7:16)
what does this mean?
It means don't go after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians,
and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And don't
build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab,
in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech,
the abomination of the children of Ammon.
 
7

7seasrekeyed

Guest
#9
It means don't go after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians,
and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And don't
build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab,
in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech,
the abomination of the children of Ammon.

nope

does show you have a healthy respect for staying away from demonic gods though
 

Locutus

Senior Member
Feb 10, 2017
5,928
685
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#11
Is it a bit like over exaggerating?
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,771
113
#12
Be not righteous over much;
neither make thyself over wise:
why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
(Ecclesiastes 7:16)
what does this mean?
Don't tithe mint and cumin but forget the weightier matters of the Law.
 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
10,684
794
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#13
To be too caring about all possible rules and laws, to be too thinking about every detail in your life - it will make your life to be painful, complicated and without joy and freedom.

We, who are perfectionists, know the pain.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,773
13,533
113
#14
some of these replies sound like they're saying "don't be overrighteous" means "don't be unrighteous" . . . ?
 
Nov 26, 2012
3,095
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#15
To be too caring about all possible rules and laws, to be too thinking about every detail in your life - it will make your life to be painful, complicated and without joy and freedom.

We, who are perfectionists, know the pain.
Given the context of the verse, Trofimus seems to have conveyed the message of the author perfectly.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,773
13,533
113
#16
Sadly, Jimmy fell rather short on this one.
i agree, as much as it may be true that we should not be self righteous, it doesn't appear to be at all in line with the words of the text. this isn't what Solomon is saying here.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,464
13,409
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58
#17
Ecclesiastes 7:16 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
16 Be not [morbidly exacting and externally] righteous overmuch, neither strive to make yourself [pretentiously appear] overwise—why should you [get puffed up and] destroy yourself [with presumptuous self-sufficiency]?
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,421
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#19
To the title. When a believer is righteous, it is always the righteousness of Jesus, so unless he or she is being self-righteous, it is impossible to be over...
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,773
13,533
113
#20
Ecclesiastes 7:16 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
16 Be not [morbidly exacting and externally] righteous overmuch, neither strive to make yourself [pretentiously appear] overwise—why should you [get puffed up and] destroy yourself [with presumptuous self-sufficiency]?
see that's just sticking a person's interpretation of the meaning into the text as tho their commentary is equally scripture.

which is what I hate about the amplified versions. none of those parenthetical insertions are in the literal text.