BC: [[ 2_Corinthians_03]]; [[Titus_03]] Topics: [[Renew_Mind]], [[Transform|Transformed]], [[Sacrifice]], [[Will]], [[Test]], [[Worship]], [[Mercy]], [[Grace]] Words: [[G0018]], [[G0040]], [[G0342]], [[G1223]], [[G1381]], [[G1381a]], [[G1519]]; [[G2101]], [[G2198]], [[G2307]], [[G2316]], [[G2378]], [[G2999]], [[G3050]], [[G3339]], [[G3361]]; [[G3563]], [[G3588]], [[G3628]], [[G3767]], [[G3870]], [[G3936]], [[G4771]], [[G4964]], [[G4983]], [[G5046]] Notes: 1. All verse references are to [[Romans_12|Romans 12]] (BSB) unless otherwise noted. I couldn't find this note, so I redid it. Compare with [[Romans_12.1-2_Renew_Mind|Renew Mind Romans 12.1-2]] 2. Context 1. Paul starts off this section with a "therefore". I am not sure what the "therefore" is there for. [1] 2. The previous sections were: 1. A remnant chosen by grace [Romans 11.1-10] 2. The ingrafting of the Gentiles [Romans 11.11-24] 3. All Israel will be saved [Romans 11.25-32] 4. A hymn of praise [Romans 11.33-36] 3. Perhaps Paul is saying that since God has given us so much grace and mercy, He should receive all glory forever [Romans 11.36] 3. Therefore, on account of God's mercy I should: [1-2] 1. Offer my body as a living sacrifice [1] 1. Holy and pleasing to God 2. As my spiritual service of worship 2. I shouldn't be conformed to this world [2] 3. But rather be transformed by the renewing of my mind [2] 4. Then, I will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. [2] 4. Word Analysis 1. See the “Word Study Table” below for notes on key words 2. Paul said we should be transformed by the renewing of our minds. The word "transformed" #G3339 occurs 4 times. Two of those refer to Jesus transfiguration. The fourth occurrence is in **2 Corinthians 3.18**, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." In the three occurrences outside **Romans 12**, it is God doing the work of transformation. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that it is also God doing the transformation here too. It seems that it is our "job" to offer our bodies to Him. [2] 3. The only other occurrence of "renewing" [[G0342]] is in [[Titus_03|Titus 3.5]] In the Titus occurrence, Paul clearly states that it is by the [[Holy Spirit]] that we are renewed. It seems that the transformation and the renewal are all God's doing. [2] 4. It seems that the phrase "test and approve" comes from one Greek word, [[G1381]] / [[G1381a]] that means "to test, by implication to approve". So, when this word is used, the purpose of the test isn't to fail something, but rather to prove that it is genuine [2] 5. Other translations for "world" [[G0165]]: [2] 1. world -- NIV, NLT, ESV, BSB, NASB, KJV, WEB 2. age -- BLB, CSB 3. present world -- NET 6. The word translated “spiritual” [[G3050]] has its roots in logic / reason. A good way to think about it is, “what is logical to God”. Faith (from God) is required for it to be “spiritual” [2] 7. There is a subtle thread of mental reasoning weaving through **verses 1-2**. See the “Mental Reasoning Table” below. A few thoughts: 1. The ability to reason is God given 2. Any “spiritual” reasoning has to come from God 3. As believers, our reasoning is to be holy (different) than the rest of the world 8. Bottom line, it seems that if we want to understand God's will, we have to have our minds transformed and renewed. Furthermore, it seems that it is our job to offer our bodies as a sacrifice and everything else is God's job. #### Word Study Table | V# | BSB | W# | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | therefore | G3767 | – therefore, then<br />– here's how the dots connect | | 1 | I urge | G3870 | – (a) I send for, summon, invite (b) I beseech, entreat, beg (c) I exhort, admonish (d) I comfort, encourage, console<br />– refers to believers offering up evidence that stands up in God's court | | 1 | on account of | G1223 | (a) gen: through, throughout, by the instrumentality of (b) acc: through, on account of, by reason of, for the sake of, because of | | 1 | mercy | G3628 | – pity, compassion, favor, grace, mercy<br />– compassion (pity), i.e. deep feeling about someone's difficulty or misfortune | | 1 | to offer | G3936 | I bring, present, prove, come up to and stand by, am present. | | 1 | your | G4771 | you | | 1 | bodies | G4983 | – body, flesh<br />– the body of the Church | | 1 | as living | G2198 | to live | | 1 | sacrifices | G2378 | a sacrifice | | 1 | holy | G0040 | – sacred, holy<br />– "likeness of nature with the Lord" because "different from the world." | | 1 | and pleasing | G2101 | – acceptable<br />– well-pleasing (especially to God)<br />– grateful | | 1 | which is | G3588 | – the<br />– those, who, what, this, those who, which | | 1 | spiritual | G3050 | – (a) reasonable, rational (b) metaphorical, as contrasted with the literal<br />– logical because divinely reasonable, i.e. "what is logical to God" (logic working through the divine reasoning known through faith) | | 1 | service of worship | G2999 | – service rendered to God<br />– perhaps simply: worship | | 2 | not | G3361 | – not, lest<br />– negates the underlying idea (concept) of a statement, ruling out its possibilities, i.e. all that it suggests on a conceptual or hypothetical plane | | 2 | be conformed | G4964 | – conform to<br />– properly, assuming a similar outward form (expression) by following the same pattern (model, mold) | | 2 | world | G0165 | – an age, a cycle (of time), especially of the present age as contrasted with the future age, and of one of a series of ages stretching to infinity<br />– even though the BSB translated it as world, "age" is a better translation | | 2 | but | G1519 | – to or into (indicating the point reached or entered, of place, time, purpose, result)<br />– properly, into (unto) – literally, "motion into which" implying penetration ("unto," "union") to a particular purpose or result | | 2 | be transformed | G3339 | – transform, transfigure<br />–the same word used for Jesus' transfiguration | | 2 | renewing | G0342 | – renewing; a renewal or change of heart and life<br />– make fresh, new; properly, a new development; a renewal, achieved by God's power | | 2 | mind | G3563 | – the mind, the reason, the reasoning faculty, intellect<br />– the God-given capacity of each person to think (reason); the mind; mental capacity to exercise reflective thinking. For the believer, #G3563 is the organ of receiving God's thoughts, through faith. | | 2 | then | G1519 |see “but” in verse 2 above| | 2 | test and approve | G1381 / G1381a | – I put to the test, prove, examine; I distinguish by testing, approve after testing; I am fit<br />– to try (test) to show something is acceptable (real, approved); put to the test to reveal what is good (genuine); does not focus on disproving something (i.e. to show it is bad) | | 2 | good | G0018 | – intrinsically good, good in nature, good whether it be seen to be so or not, the widest and most colorless of all words with this meaning<br />–as to the believer, =G0018 describes what originates from God and is empowered by Him in their life, through faith | | 2 | pleasing | G2101 | – acceptable, well-pleasing (especially to God), grateful<br />– properly, well-pleasing (gratifying) because fully acceptable | | 2 | perfect | G5046 | – perfect, (a) complete in all its parts, (b) full grown, of full age, (c) specially of the completeness of Christian character<br />– "consummated goal" – mature (consummated) from going through the necessary stages to reach the end-goal, i.e. developed into a consummating completion by fulfilling the necessary process (spiritual journey) | | 2 | will | G2307 | – an act of will; wishes, desire<br />–"to desire, wish"; properly, a desire (wish), often referring to God's "preferred-will," i.e. His "best-offer" to people which can be accepted or rejected. | | 2 | God | G2316 | – (a) God, (b) a god, generally<br />– God, the Creator and owner of all things | | | | | | #### Mental Reasoning Thoughts --- - Romans 12.1 - BSB Translation - therefore - Definition - here's how the dots connect - Thoughts - The “therefore” connects the thoughts occurring previously with some sort of conclusion - The “therefore” requires mental reasoning to “connect the dots” --- - Romans 12.1 - BSB Translation - I urge - Definition - present evidence in God’s court - Thoughts - Essentially, when we “urge” someone to obey God, we are effectively presenting evidence in God’s court - To be an effective lawyer in God’s court requires God given power of reasoning --- - Romans 12.1 - BSB Translation - on account of - Definition - by reason of - Thoughts - One of the secondary definitions of [[G1223]] involves “reasoning” --- - Romans 12.1 - BSB Translation - spiritual - Definition - logical because divinely reasonable, i.e. "what is logical to God" (logic working through the divine reasoning known through faith) - Thoughts - “spiritual” in this context requires “divine reasoning” - The “divine reasoning” can only come through faith which is given by God --- - Romans 12.2 - BSB Translation - be conformed - Definition - assuming a similar outward form (expression) by following the same pattern (model, mold) - Thoughts - As believers, our reasoning is to be holy (different) than the rest of the world --- - Romans 12.2 - BSB Translation - mind - Definition - the God-given capacity of each person to think (reason); the mind; mental capacity to exercise reflective thinking. For the believer, [[G3563]] is the organ of receiving God's thoughts, through faith. - Thoughts - by definition, the mind is where reasoning takes place - The ability to reason is God given - Any “spiritual” reasoning has to come from God ---