King James Bible
"For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself."
Paul warns against inflated self-perception, particularly relevant in the Galatian context where some believers were boasting in their spiritual accomplishments or law-keeping. The conditional 'if' introduces a common human tendency toward prideful self-assessment. This stark reality check emphasizes humanity's inherent limitations and dependence on God's grace. In the broader context of Galatians, Paul consistently argues that no one can achieve righteousness through their own merit. Self-deception becomes the inevitable result of pride, creating a dangerous spiritual blindness. This connects to Paul's earlier warnings about those who trust in circumcision or law-keeping rather than Christ alone for their standing before God.