Tag: mind

Romans 12:16 – Right-minded Thinking

Posted on by Will

Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not think too highly of yourselves.

Truth to Learn

Who we compare ourselves to affects what we think of ourselves.

 

Behind the Words

“Mind” is translated from the Greek word phroneō. According to Strong’s Dictionaries of Hebrew and Greek Words, his verb means “to exercise the mind, that is, entertain or have a sentiment or opinion.” We might call it “having a mindset.”

The word “associate” is from sunapagō. This word is made up of sun, meaning “together,” apo, meaning “away from,” and agō, meaning “to carry” or “to lead.” Thus, we see that this word literally means “to carry away together” or “to take off together.” In a negative sense it means “to be led astray,” but in a positive sense it means “to be personally involved.”

 

Meaning Explained

The message of the current verse centers on the Greek word phroneo. A literal translation of this verse might be, “minding the same thing toward one another, not minding high things, but taking off together with the lowly ones. Do not become conceited about yourselves.” As you can see, Paul is talking about how we think about ourselves and others within the body of Christ.

The crux of this verse is in the middle, “Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.” It is fascinating to observe people in the presence of a celebrity. Everyone wants to be near the celebrity and to be his or her friend. But nobody wants to be the friend of the poor homeless person. This is not how it should be within the church, according to Paul. We should have the same regard for everyone independent of their social or economic status. I think if we get to the nut of this one, we will see that these improper attitudes are based on selfishness (how others can make us feel or what can be done for us) instead of self-less-ness (what we can do for others).

Keep in mind that Paul is talking about relationships within the body of Christ. That’s why he uses such words as “one another” and “within yourselves.” His basis for these things goes back to verse 3 of this chapter:

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think of yourself with reasonable judgment, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)

He closes the current verse with a command that basically says, “Don’t get hung-up on yourselves.” Becoming self-righteous is the result of comparing ourselves to others (usually with an inflated view of ourselves) instead of comparing ourselves with Christ. If becoming like Him is our objective, then none of us will get puffed-up because the One we are comparing ourselves to is so much greater than we are.

 

Application

If we are submitted to our Lord and committed to becoming like Him, then we will naturally treat others with the proper attitude knowing that we, like them, are merely sinners saved by grace.

And we get none of the glory because He gets all of the glory!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 11:34 – The Greatest Mind

Posted on by Will

"For who has known the mind of the Lord? or who has become His adviser?"

Truth to Learn

God is infinitely more intelligent and wise than we are; therefore, we have no reason to question his actions or plans.

 

Behind the Words

“Known” is from ginōskō, which means “to know, either in a beginning or completed sense.” It is expressed here in the aorist tense, indicating action that occurred in the past at a point in time. It does not express the process of gaining knowledge of God, but of having such knowledge.

The word translated “mind” is noun, which refers to “the consciousness that precedes actions or recognizes and judges them. That is, intelligence and understanding.”

“Adviser” is from the Greek word, sumboulos, which is made up of sun, meaning “together” and a form of boulē, meaning “advice or counsel.” Together they indicate “someone who is called together to give counsel or advice.”

 

Meaning Explained

A parallel verse to the current one is 1Cointhisns 2:16:

For "who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

Both our current verse and this one above appear to be paraphrases of Isaiah’s words:

Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD, or instructed Him as His counselor? (Isaiah 40:13)

Paul is teaching us that God is infinitely more knowledgeable and wise that any man. No man can teach God anything nor could any man ever give counsel to the infinitely wise God. Earthly rulers have advisors to consult in times of difficulty or danger, but God needs no such council. He sits alone on His throne, ruling over all His creation with perfect wisdom.

Before we were saved, we did not know God’s mind, his intentions, or His plans. It is only since we have received His gift of grace that we now have “the mind of Christ” as we see in 1Corinthians 2:16. Therefore, who are we to question His plan of pruning out the Jews and grafting in the Gentiles until the fullness of the Gentiles comes? Who are we to question why He will once again turn to the Israelites and lead them in the ways of salvation? Who are we to question why God allows some to suffer the consequences of their sinful ways and bestows His grace on others, choosing them to be saved when they don’t deserve it? Who are we to ask Him “Why?” when He allows sorrow or heartbreak or tragedy to come into our lives? Who are we to question anything that God does?

Instead of trying to make God’s words say what we want them to say, let us accept His teaching as truth – God’s truth! Instead of questioning Him, let us humble ourselves before Almighty God, submitting ourselves to His will and committing ourselves to living His way.

 

Application

Instead of asking “Why?” let us simply ask, “What? What do you want me to learn from this, God? Teach me, for I am here to do Your will, O God!”

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 8:27 – Holy Intercessor

Posted on by Will

Now He who is searching the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Truth to Learn

The Holy Spirit knows what to say and how to say it when He prays to the Father for us.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “searching” is the Greek verb ereunaō, which means “to investigate, explore, or make inquiry.”

“Mind” is translated from phronema, a derivative of the verb phroneō, meaning “to think or to have a mind set.” Hence, phronema means “the thinking or mindset” that is to say “the tendency or inclination of the mind.”

“Intercedes” is translated from the Greek word enthugchanō. We looked at a form of this word in yesterday’s verse. It is a compound word made up of en, meaning “in” and thugchanō, which literally means “to strike an opponent with a weapon.” When these two words are combined, however, the word has the meaning of “to fall in with or in behalf of another” or “to make a defense or appeal with another person.”

The word translated “saints” is the Greek word hagios, which means “a holy one” or “sanctified (set-apart) one.” Contrary to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, you don’t have to be canonized in order to be a saint. Anyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior has been justified and cleansed of all sins, has been set-apart (sanctified) by God as His own, and is referred to as a “saint” in the New Testament.

 

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Paul told us that the Spirit of God within us prays for us when we are spiritually or physically weak. There are many who believe that this verse applies to us any time we are praying since, compared to God, we are always weak. But whether it is in those times when we think we are weak or at all times since we are spiritually weak compared to Him, the Holy Spirit is our perfect prayer partner.

Notice that the words “the will of” are in italics in our translation. We have inserted these words to make more sense to us; there are no equivalent words in the Greek text. A more literal translation of the last phrase of the current verse would be: “because He makes intercession for the saints according to God.” That is to say, the intercessory work of the Holy Spirit is according to what God has determined, not according to our wants or desires.

When we put this all together we see why the Holy Spirit is such a perfect prayer partner. It is because He (God, who is the one who searches our hearts and knows us even better than we know ourselves) also knows what His own thinking is and, therefore, can speak directly to the Father for us in the most effective way and in perfect keeping with the will and purpose of God the Father.

 

Application

I have heard Christians say, “I’m not very good at praying.” What Paul is telling us is that we don’t have to be. In Phillipians 4:6 he tells us, “let your requests be made known to God.” We don’t have to use a lot of theological words, with an occasional “Thee” and “Thou” sprinkled in. We simply have to open our hearts and talk directly to God. Then, the Holy Spirit will be our interpreter, our representative, our legal mouthpiece to the Father.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 7:25 – He is Lord!

Posted on by Will

I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself truly serve the law of God, but with the flesh I serve the law of sin.

Truth to Learn

Submitting to the lordship of Jesus Christ is the only way to win the battle against our sin nature.

 

Behind the Words

“Thank” is translated from the Greek word eucharisteō, which means “to express gratitude” or “to give thanks.”

The word translated “through” is dia, which can imply “motion through something” or “through the instrumentality, or by means of someone or something.” The latter is the meaning as it is used here.

“Mind” is from the Greek word nous, which refers to “intellect or mental perception.”

The word translated “flesh” is sarx, which refers to the flesh of an animal, but it is used metaphorically to refer to our physical being.

 

Meaning Explained

Paul’s initial conclusion of this entire battle between his desire to obey God and his tendency to commit sin, is now expressed in the current verse. His conclusion is that with his mind, that is, his intellect, Paul serves the Law of God. As he said back in verse 22, he (his “new man’) delights in obeying the Law of God. The regenerated part of him wants to do God’s will. But with his flesh, that is his “old man” or his sin nature, Paul says he serves the law of sin.

Paul recognizes that the part of him that he has control over is focused on serving God, but the part of himself that he cannot control is a captive slave to sin. Again, let me point out that this does not absolve Paul of the responsibility for his sin. He is still guilty of violating God’s Law and of sinning against God. The difference, as we will see in the next chapter of this epistle to the Romans, is that God has provided a way for him (and us) to be free from the condemnation of sin.

That’s why he opens this verse with, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” You will notice that it is not Jesus to whom he is thankful, but to God (the Father) and his thanks is through, or by means of, Jesus Christ. Paul recognizes that it is because of what Jesus did for him on the Cross and by his resurrection from the dead that he is able to be freed from the dominion of his sin nature. By God’s grace the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us of all unrighteousness. Hence, he thanks God through Jesus Christ. But he doesn’t stop there. You will notice that he says “through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Paul recognizes that it is through the lordship of Jesus that he is able to overcome the lordship of sin that he is battling. In other words, he recognizes that it is only through submitting his will to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Master that he finally overcomes his slavery to his own sin nature.

 

Application

Too often we hear of people who have “accepted” the gift of salvation, the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross to pay for their sins, but they have never really submitted themselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. If you have never submitted to Him as Lord and Master of your life, you have not been saved.

Are you submitted to His will? Is He truly your Lord and Master?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Peter 4:2 – Stop That Lust

Posted on by Will

no longer to live the rest of his time in the flesh in the lusts of men, but in the will of God.

Truth to Learn

He suffered and died for us, let us suffer and live for Him.

 

Behind the Words

In the previous verse Peter told us to “arm” ourselves with the same “mind.” Let’s look at these two words. “Arm” is translated from the Greek word hoplidzō, meaning “to equip with armament.” It is expressed in the imperative mood indicating a command. The implication of the verb is that we should start doing so right now.

The word translated “mind” is ennoia, which is a compound word made up of en, meaning “in” and nous, meaning “the mind.” Therefore this word means “that which is in the mind,” hence, “thoughts” or “understanding.”

In today’s verse, the words “no longer” are from the Greek word mēketi, made up of mē, meaning “not” and eti, meaning “anymore” or “yet.” Hence, it means “not anymore.”

“Flesh” is translated from the Greek word sarx, which refers to “the flesh of a living creature.” Hence, Peter is referring to the remainder of time that we are living on this earth.

The word “lusts” is one that we have seen before. It is translated from the Greek epithumia, which is made up of epi, meaning “over” and a form of thumos, which refers to “a violent motion or passion of the mind.” Hence, epithumia refers to “an overly strong desire of the mind.”

 

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Peter told us, “he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” This doesn’t mean that we will never commit a sin again. Rather, Peter is telling us that when we are suffering, though we have done nothing wrong, and we are doing so patiently, we are not letting our sin nature control us.

In the current verse, Peter completes that thought. Since we have the same understanding as Christ, that this suffering is God’s will, then each of us should:

no longer … live the rest of his time in the flesh in the lusts of men, but in the will of God.

In other words, for the remainder of the time that we are living our earthly life, we should not be living for the lusts of men but for the will of God. Well, what are these lusts of men? According to the Apostle John they are:

 the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:16)

So it’s not just sexual lust we are talking about, but all those desires that we have that cause us to focus on ourselves rather than God. It includes the overly strong desire for food, for pleasure, for “stuff” like a new car or a new house, or a new kitchen, or a new boat, or the desire to be admired because of a position of prominence. It’s anything that focuses on “me.”

 

Application

Let us not waste our few remaining years on this earth satisfying ourselves, that is, our fleshly lusts. Let us, instead, seek out ways to be obedient to the will of God so as to bring Him glory! After all, He suffered and died for us, let us suffer and live for Him!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 4:23 – Christians Growing Young

Posted on by Will

and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

Truth to Learn

God expects us to use our mind to become more like Christ.

 

Behind the Words

“Be renewed” is translated from the Greek verb ananeoō, which appears nowhere else in the New Testament. It is made up of ana, meaning “again” and neoō (from neos, meaning “new”), which means “to make new” or “to make young.” Thus, ananeoō literally means “to make new again” or “to make young again.” This particular Greek word implies “a continual renewal of youthfulness,” whereas a similar Greek word anakainousthai implies a singular “renewal from the old state to a new state.” Ananeoō is expressed here in the middle voice indicating action done by the subject (you) to the subject (you). Paul says we are to continually renew ourselves.

The word “in” does not specifically appear in the Greek text here as it does elsewhere (such as Ephesians 4:17). Nouns in Greek have different forms depending on how they are used. The form of the word “spirit” used here indicates that it is used as an indirect object. Therefore, it could just as accurately be translated as “in the spirit,” “to the spirit,” “through the spirit,” or “by the spirit.” We have to determine which it is by context. Since Paul is instructing us to take specific action here, “by the spirit” seems to be the best choice.

“Mind” is from the Greek word nous, which is probably derived from the base of ginōskō, meaning “to know.” Nous refers to “the intellect” or “the mind,” that is, the part of our being which is involved in learning and knowing truths.

You may wonder why we get so “caught up” in the various word meanings and grammatical forms of the original Greek. It is because we believe that the entire Bible is verbally inspired. In other words, we believe that the Holy Spirit worked through the human authors to write God’s message even in the use of the specific words and word forms. Thus, understanding more precisely what the words mean allows us to better understand exactly what it is that God is communicating to us.

 

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse God (through the pen of the Apostle Paul) told us that we are to “take off” our old man, that is, our sin nature, and now we are told to continually make ourselves young again by the spirit of our minds. In Titus 3:5 we are told

not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

From which we learn that at the moment of our conversion we were “renewed” by the Holy Spirit. Now we see that in addition to that once-for-all renewing by the Holy Spirit, we are to continually renew ourselves (remember, the word is in the middle voice) by that renewed spirit of our intellect.

In other words, Paul is teaching us that salvation secures our eternal destiny, but we still have an ongoing responsibility to resist the desires of our sin nature and to do all that is in our power to learn how God wants us to live.

 

Application

We are not to waste our lives trying to stay saved (Paul teaches that once we are saved, we are eternally saved). Instead, we are to use our intellect to learn how to be more Christ-like and how to more completely surrender to God, for His glory.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 4:17 – New Way of Living

Posted on by Will

Therefore, I say this, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk like the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

Truth to Learn

Don’t live your life like the unsaved people of this world.

 

Behind the Words

“Testify” is translated from marturomai, a form of martus, meaning “a witness.” The verb form that we have here means “to give a testimony of that which has been witnessed.” This is the word from which we get our English word martyr, meaning “one who gives his or her life as a witness of his or her faith.”

“Walk” appears twice in this verse. In each case it is the Greek verb peripateō. This word is made up of peri, meaning “around” or “about” and pateō, meaning “to walk.” Thus, it literally means “to walk around.” Paul uses it as a metaphor for the manner in which a person lives his or her life.

Loipos is the Greek adjective that is translated “rest.” It is derived from the verb leipō, meaning “to leave” or “to be absent.” Loipos refers to “that which remains.” In today’s verse, it is a reference to “the rest of the Gentiles,” that is, those who are not part of the body of Christ. Although this word does not appear in the best Greek texts, the concept is still valid as an implication.

“Vanity” is from mataiotēs, which refers to “worthlessness” or “moral depravity.”

The word “mind” is translated from nous which refers to “mental perception and intelligent understanding.” Thus, it means “the intellectual part of man” or “the mind.”

 

Meaning Explained

Paul has just instructed us as to why we should all be at work in the church, serving each other and building-up each other. In doing so, we experience the growth that God provides for the entire body. Each of us is specially gifted for our service and, like stones perfectly fitted together, we are an integral part of the body. Also, as we serve each other, we grow together as a unit, a single body whose head is Christ.

Therefore – Paul cautions us that we should not conduct our lives the way those outside the church do. Paul refers to these people as “the rest of the Gentiles.” If you look carefully at how Paul uses this expression, you will recognize that there are three groups of people in Paul’s teaching: Jews, Christians, and the rest of the Gentiles. Everyone who is alive right now, who has ever lived, or who will ever live is in one of these three categories, Jews, Christians, and Gentiles. Jews and Christians worship the same God, Jehovah, the Creator of heaven and earth. The rest of mankind rejects God. These, instead of living their lives by faith, live their lives by intellect. They think they understand the source of all things (they call it “The Big Bang”) and they think they understand how they got here (by evolution). Paul will talk a little bit more about their thinking in the next verse.

Before we leave today’s verse, however, note that Paul says that we should “no longer” live our lives like they do. That means that there was a time when we did live like that. In fact there are many Christians today who still live their lives intellectually instead of faith-fully. To them Christianity is an intellectual pursuit or it is a set of rules to live by. Paul says, however, that Christians are not to live their life that way because the Christian life is a life characterized by faith, not intellect.

 

Application

Does your life resemble a member of the world system more than a disciple of Christ? Are you living by a set of rules in hopes of pleasing God? Or, are you living each day in humble submission to God, walking by faith and giving Him all the praise and all the glory? Which do you think He wants?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 2:3 – Wrath Avoidance

Posted on by Will

among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

Truth to Learn

Before we were saved we were destined for God’s wrath.

 

Behind the Words

The word “among” is translated from the Greek preposition en, meaning “in” or “among.”

“Conducted” is from the verb anastrephō. This is made up of ana, meaning “again” and strephō, meaning “to turn.” So, literally it means “to turn again.” When used of a person it is a metaphor meaning “to live one’s life.”

Epithumia is the Greek word translated “lusts.” It is made up of epi, meaning “over” or “above” and a form of thumos, which refers to “a passion or desire of the mind.” Thus, epithumia refers to “overly strong desires.”

The word “doing” is from the Greek verb poieō, meaning “to make” or “to do.” It is expressed here as a present participle, so it means “doing.”

“Desires” is translated from thelēma which refers to “an act of determination.” So, it really means more than “desires.” It means “those things which we decided to do.”

“Flesh” is from sarx, which literally refers to “the meat or flesh of a living creature.” This word is commonly used to refer to the physical part of our existence as opposed to the spiritual part.

The word “mind” is translated from dianoia which refers to “deep thought” or “imagination.”

“Nature” is from the Greek word phusis, which is derived from the noun phuō, meaning “to bring forth in birth.” It is used here as a metonym in reference to our natural inclination.

The word “wrath” is translated from orgē, which means “desire, strong emotion, anger, or wrath.”

“Others” is from the Greek word loipos, which is from the verb leipō, meaning “to lack” or “to leave something where it is.” In other words, it refers to “that which is left.” So, it could be translated as “the remainder” or “the others.”

 

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Paul told us that before we became Christians we lived according to the ways of the world system in which we live. Our behavior was influenced by Satan who controls those who don’t believe in Christ.

What he tells us in today’s verse is that we used to live our lives controlled by the lusts of our flesh. Another way of saying this is that we used to be controlled by our sin nature. In the book of Romans, Paul calls it our “old man,” and he tells us that we used to be the slaves of sin:

knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be nullified, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. (Romans 6:6)

Because we were controlled by our fleshly desires and our imagination, Paul says we were children of wrath just like the rest of unsaved humanity. What he means is that before we were saved, we were God’s enemies and subject to his wrath. Some Christians think of God as a vengeful God, waiting for us to slip up so He can punish us. Other Christians don’t like to think of God as vengeful and exhibiting wrath; they like to think of God as a God of love. He is both. Those who receive Jesus Christ will one day experience God’s love completely, whereas those who reject Jesus Christ will one day experience the full fury of God’s wrath.

… And He treads the winepress of the wine of the anger and wrath of Almighty God. (Revelation 19:15c)

 

Application

As a Christian you still have a sin nature, but you don’t have to be controlled by it. Instead, you can submit your will to God and allow the Holy Spirit to control your life.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Corinthians 2:16 – Understanding God’s Wisdom

Posted on by Will

For "Who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

Truth to Learn

Christians can understand the wisdom of God, with His help.

Behind the Words

“Known” is translated from ginōskō, which we saw back in verse fourteen. It can mean “to come to know” or “to understand.” It is expressed here in the aorist tense, indicating past completed action.

The word translated “mind” in both instances of this verse is nous. This word can refer to the intellect or understanding. In general it is used to refer to “the brain” or “the mind.”

Sumbibadzō is the Greek verb translated “instruct.” It is composed of sun, meaning “together” and bibadzō, meaning “to lift up” or “to exalt.” It basically means “to unite” or “to join together.” Metaphorically it means “to put together in the mind” or “to instruct.”

Meaning Explained

Paul is now finishing this part of his message with a literary exclamation point by quoting the Prophet Isaiah. In today’s verse he paraphrases, in a summary form, what the prophet said in the well-known fortieth chapter of the book of Isaiah:

Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or as His counselor has taught Him? With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, and taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge, and showed Him the way of understanding? (Isaiah 40:13-14)

In his letter to the Romans, Paul said:

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33)

You may recall that in this second chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul has been talking about the natural man’s inability to understand the formerly secret things of God’s wisdom. A couple of verses back he said:

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

What arrogance on the part of man that he thinks he can know God or understand his ways by observation and logical reasoning! The reason a natural man can’t understand spiritual things is because such things can only be understood with the assistance of the Holy Spirit. Without the illuminating ministry of the Holy Spirit, the deep things of God’s wisdom appear to be foolishness.

On the other hand, he who is spiritual (a mature Christian) understands God’s wisdom because it has been revealed to him (or her) by the Spirit. Therefore, Paul can say, “We have the mind (or understanding) of Christ.”

Application

No one can be debated or argued into believing the gospel message or God’s plans for mankind. As you witness to those around you, remember to pray for the right words to say and for God’s Spirit to open the understanding of those to whom you declare the Gospel. And, keep in mind that we are not responsible for saving others, only for witnessing to them. We are to declare the message. Salvation is of the Lord!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2013 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

Ephesians 4:23 – Christians Growing Young

Posted on by Will

and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

Truth to Learn

God expects us to use our mind to become more like Christ.

Behind the Words

“Be renewed” is translated from the Greek verb ananeoō, which appears nowhere else in the New Testament. It is made up of ana, meaning “again” and neoō (from neos, meaning “new”), which means “to make new” or “to make young.” Thus, ananeoō literally means “to make new again” or “to make young again.” This particular Greek word implies “a continual renewal of youthfulness,” whereas a similar Greek word anakainousthai implies a singular “renewal from the old state to a new state.” Ananeoō is expressed here in the middle voice indicating action done by the subject (you) to the subject (you). Paul says we are to continually renew ourselves.

The word “in” does not specifically appear in the Greek text here as it does elsewhere (such as Ephesians 4:17). Nouns in Greek have different forms depending on how they are used. The form of the word “spirit” used here indicates that it is used as an indirect object. Therefore, it could just as accurately be translated as “in the spirit,” “to the spirit,” “through the spirit,” or “by the spirit.” We have to determine which it is by context. Since Paul is instructing us to take specific action here, “by the spirit” seems to be the best choice.

“Mind” is from the Greek word nous, which is probably derived from the base of ginōskō, meaning “to know.” Nous refers to “the intellect” or “the mind,” that is, the part of our being which is involved in learning and knowing truths.

You may wonder why we get so “caught up” in the various word meanings and grammatical forms of the original Greek. It is because we believe that the entire Bible is verbally inspired. In other words, we believe that the Holy Spirit worked through the human authors to write God’s message even in the use of the specific words and word forms. Thus, understanding more precisely what the words mean allows us to better understand exactly what it is that God is communicating to us.

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse God (through the pen of the Apostle Paul) told us that we are to “take off” our old man, that is, our sin nature, and now we are told to continually make ourselves young again by the spirit of our minds. In Titus 3:5 we are told

not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

From which we learn that at the moment of our conversion we were “renewed” by the Holy Spirit. Now we see that in addition to that once-for-all renewing by the Holy Spirit, we are to continually renew ourselves (remember, the word is in the middle voice) by that renewed spirit of our intellect.

In other words, Paul is teaching us that salvation secures our eternal destiny, but we still have an ongoing responsibility to resist the desires of our sin nature and to do all that is in our power to learn how God wants us to live.

Application

We are not to waste our lives trying to stay saved (Paul teaches that once we are saved, we are eternally saved). Instead, we are to use our intellect to learn how to be more Christ-like and how to more completely surrender to God, for His glory.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved.