Romans 12:2
New English Translation
2 Do not be conformed[a] to this present world,[b] but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve[c] what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.
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- Romans 12:2 tn Although συσχηματίζεσθε (suschēmatizesthe) could be either a passive or middle, the passive is more likely since it would otherwise have to be a direct middle (“conform yourselves”) and, as such, would be quite rare for NT Greek. It is very telling that being “conformed” to the present world is viewed as a passive notion, for it may suggest that it happens, in part, subconsciously. At the same time, the passive could well be a “permissive passive,” suggesting that there may be some consciousness of the conformity taking place. Most likely, it is a combination of both.
- Romans 12:2 tn Grk “to this age.”
- Romans 12:2 sn The verb translated test and approve (δοκιμάζω, dokimazō) carries the sense of “test with a positive outcome,” “test so as to approve.”
Romans 8:5-8
New English Translation
5 For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by[a] the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit. 6 For the outlook[b] of the flesh is death, but the outlook of the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the outlook of the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to the law of God, nor is it able to do so. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
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- Romans 8:5 tn Grk “think on” or “are intent on” (twice in this verse). What is in view here is not primarily preoccupation, however, but worldview. Translations like “set their mind on” could be misunderstood by the typical English reader to refer exclusively to preoccupation.
- Romans 8:6 tn Or “mindset,” “way of thinking” (twice in this verse and once in v. 7). The Greek term φρόνημα does not refer to one’s mind, but to one’s outlook or mindset.
Galatians 5:16-25
New English Translation
16 But I say, live[a] by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.[b] 17 For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires[c] that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to[d] each other, so that you cannot do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh[e] are obvious:[f] sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, 20 idolatry, sorcery,[g] hostilities,[h] strife,[i] jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions,[j] factions, 21 envying,[k] murder,[l] drunkenness, carousing,[m] and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!
22 But the fruit of the Spirit[n] is love,[o] joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,[p] 23 gentleness, and[q] self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ[r] have crucified the flesh[s] with its passions[t] and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with[u] the Spirit.
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- Galatians 5:16 tn Grk “walk” (a common NT idiom for how one conducts one’s life or how one behaves).
- Galatians 5:16 tn On the term “flesh” (once in this verse and twice in v. 17) see the note on the same word in Gal 5:13.
- Galatians 5:17 tn The words “has desires” do not occur in the Greek text a second time, but are repeated in the translation for clarity.
- Galatians 5:17 tn Or “are hostile toward” (L&N 39.1).
- Galatians 5:19 tn See the note on the word “flesh” in Gal 5:13.
- Galatians 5:19 tn Or “clear,” “evident.”
- Galatians 5:20 tn Or “witchcraft.”
- Galatians 5:20 tn Or “enmities,” “[acts of] hatred.”
- Galatians 5:20 tn Or “discord” (L&N 39.22).
- Galatians 5:20 tn Or “discord(s)” (L&N 39.13).
- Galatians 5:21 tn This term is plural in Greek (as is “murder” and “carousing”), but for clarity these abstract nouns have been translated as singular.
- Galatians 5:21 tc ‡ φόνοι (phonoi, “murders”) is absent in such significant mss as P46 א B 33 81 323 945 sa, while the majority of mss (A C D F G Ψ 0122 0278 1175 1241 1505 1739 1881 2464 M lat bo) have the word. Although the pedigree of the mss which lack the term is of the highest degree, homoioteleuton may explain the shorter reading. The preceding word has merely one letter difference, making it quite possible to overlook this term (φθόνοι φόνοι, phthonoi phonoi). At the same time, φθόνου φόνου (phthonou phonou, “envy, murder”) is solidly attested in Rom 1:29, suggesting that scribes were not necessarily prone to dropping “murder” accidentally. A decision is difficult, with a slight preference for phonoi here.
- Galatians 5:21 tn Or “revelings,” “orgies” (L&N 88.287).
- Galatians 5:22 tn That is, the fruit the Spirit produces.
- Galatians 5:22 sn Another way to punctuate this is “love” followed by a colon (love: joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control). It is thus possible to read the eight characteristics following “love” as defining love.
- Galatians 5:22 tn Or “reliability”; see BDAG 818 s.v. πίστις 1.a.
- Galatians 5:23 tn “And” is supplied here as a matter of English style, which normally inserts “and” between the last two elements of a list or series.
- Galatians 5:24 tc ‡ Some mss (א A B C P Ψ 01221 0278 33 1175 1241 1739 1881 co) read “Christ Jesus” here, while many significant ones (P46 D F G 0122*,2 1505 2464 latt sy), as well as the Byzantine text, lack “Jesus.” The Byzantine text is especially not prone to omit the name “Jesus”; that it does so here argues for the authenticity of the shorter reading (for similar instances of probably authentic Byzantine shorter readings, see Matt 24:36 and Phil 1:14; cf. also W.-H. J. Wu, “A Systematic Analysis of the Shorter Readings in the Byzantine Text of the Synoptic Gospels” [Ph.D. diss., Dallas Theological Seminary, 2002]). On the strength of the alignment of P46 with the Western and Byzantine text-groups, the shorter reading is preferred. NA28 includes the word in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.
- Galatians 5:24 tn See the note on the word “flesh” in Gal 5:13.
- Galatians 5:24 tn The Greek term παθήμασιν (pathēmasin, translated “passions”) refers to strong physical desires, especially of a sexual nature (L&N 25.30).
- Galatians 5:25 tn Or “let us also follow,” “let us also walk by.”
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