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Welcome back!
Last Week’s Work
COMPARISONS
This week I was drawn to a contrast between the living sacrifice of their (physical) bodies (v1) and (mental) transformation by renewing the mind (v2). I found many of the commands in this passage falling under the category of physical behavior. For example, nonconformity to this world (v2), use of the gifts mentioned in vv6-8, living in harmony with one another, and association with the lowly (v16), etc.
Some, though, seemed more mental in nature: don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought and think with sober judgment (v3), give thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s sight (v17), etc. From these patterns, I felt the Spirit impressing upon me that worship has more than one dimension: it’s not just what we do, but how we think. And, put together with what I know of methods, the most important aspect of transformation isn’t what we do, but what’s going on in our minds. Yet the author uses more ink on examples of behavior! Also interesting, I found one of my focus verses centered on the mental aspects (v3), while the other (v16) contained three commands about behavior and only one about over-evaluating our own wisdom.
CAUSES/MOTIVATIONS
Before I share what I discovered by examining cause connectors, let me say I missed one when giving you hints about this assignment last week. Kudos if you noticed the therefore in v1 anyway! If you did see it, did you wonder what that therefore was there for? It’s spelled out in the last two paragraphs of the previous chapter, Romans 11:33-36, where the author talks about how awesome God is. That’s why He alone deserves our service and worship!
Honestly, I struggled with the connectors I found in vv2-8. I think the statements made there are all one cohesive thought, even though the ESV translation I’m using has a paragraph break between vv2 and 3. Here’s the main nugget I think the author was trying to convey:
“Don’t conform to the world. Instead, be spiritually transformed so that your focus is God’s will, and so that you think rightly about yourself and with sober judgment, because we are designed as unique contributors to the body of believers: our gifts differ to support different functions in the church.”
In the weeks ahead, I plan to submit the above paragraph to a lot of scrutiny to make sure I haven’t missed something important. Feel free to reach out to me here or by email if you think I’m way off base. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
CONDITIONS/METHODS
As I thought about all the commands the author gave the Romans last week, it occurred to me that they create a process by which believers can become that living sacrifice of spiritual worship mentioned in v1. I don’t know about you, but I am pretty intimidated by that whole list. I’m grateful the Holy Spirit narrowed it down to the steps mentioned in vv3 and 16 for me: the mental aspect of staying humble, thinking “with sober judgment… according to the measure of faith that God has assigned”—I can’t wait to start figuring out what that really means!—and the more concrete actions of living in harmony with others and associating with the lowly.
Dig-In Challenges
This week, I’ll start refining my understanding of this passage:
- PRAY. Of course!
- REFINE by skimming Romans to determine which of the following types of writing appears most often in it: instruction, law, letter, narrative, poetry, or prophecy. Then I’ll reread chapter 12 to see what (if any) other types are in use. I’ll note the types I find so I can determine whether the author intended the text to be interpreted literally.
- REFINE: Next, I’ll research the book’s historical context by referencing an Introduction to the book of Romans. This can be found in most bound Bibles immediately before Romans 1, but I’m going to the ESV online. This reference, written by Bible publishers, provides historical details like who wrote the book, to whom, and when. It often also contains a summary of the book’s content. If you’re working along with me, note any relevant or interesting facts you uncover in your review of these materials. Based on what you discover, should Romans 12 be interpreted literally?
- REFINE: Last, I’ll be looking up the meaning of some words and phrases from my focus verses using an interlinear Bible tool. I like Biblehub.com’s Greek tool for this research. To use: click the blue arrow to the right of the verse citation (“Romans 12:3”) to scroll to higher-numbered verses containing words you want to review (or the arrow to the left to view verses 1 and 2), then click the number in the Strong’s column that corresponds to the English word or phrase you’re researching. Note anything the Spirit highlights for you in the information provided.
I encourage you to use these tools and dig as much as you can this week. I pray the Spirit will bless your efforts, my friend!