Renewing (342) (anakainosis from anakainóo [in depth discussion] = renew qualitatively in turn from aná = again + kainóo = make new in turn from kainos = qualitatively new which is derived from a root meaning to turn out fresh and denotes that which is new in its own way) refers to a qualitative renewal or renovation (renovate = from Latin renovatus = past participle of renovare, from re- + novare = to make new, from novus = new) which makes a person different than in the past - new heart, new Lord, new home, new purpose and goal, etc. The basic root word kainos is is the epitome of the wholly different and miraculous "spiritual transaction" which is brought about at the time of our regeneration (Titus 3:5-note) and which then continues in "day to day salvation" (sanctification) as we present our bodies to God as living sacrifices, make choices to not become conformed to this present evil, ungodly world but to be transformed by God's Holy Word. When we make these choices to love God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength, the Holy Spirit transforms our mind to be able to think an entirely new way that we could not think before we were saved by grace through faith. That beloved is the essence of the noun anakainosis. The related verb form anakainóo is used by Paul to encourage the saints at Corinth writing... Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed (anakainoo = present tense = continuous process; passive voice = outside force producing this effect, i.e., the Spirit) day by day, for momentary, light affliction is producing (working out) for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.. (2Cor 4:16, 17,18) Again writing to the saints at Colossae Paul encourage them that and have put on the new self who is being renewed (anakainoo = present tense = continuous process; passive voice = outside force producing this effect, i.e., the Spirit) to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him. (see Colossians 3:10-note) The noun anakainosis is used only twice in the NT, Romans 12:2 (see discussion) and Titus 3:5 and means to cause something to become new and different with the implication of becoming superior. Anakainosis is not known outside Christian literature nor in the Greek Septuagint (LXX). The reference in Titus 3:5 refers to the first and unique renewing by the Holy Spirit Who creates a life that was not there before. Stated another way this renewal as used here in Romans 12:2 depicts an essential change in character of your thinking - you can now think a way that heretofore was not possible. Now your new mind allows you at least the potential to see life the way God sees life. The believer belongs to heaven and to the age to come and no longer has to (or should) think like an unbeliever. Trench says that the renewing of our minds is the gradual conforming of the man more and more to that new spiritual world into which he has been introduced and in which he now lives and moves...the restoration of the divine image” ("the mind of Christ" [1Co 2:16]) In Paul's letter to Titus, we encounter the only other use of anakainosis in the NT... But when the kindness (describes a genuine goodness and generosity of heart = God's loving, benevolent, entirely gracious concern to draw us to Himself and redeem us from sin forever - see discussion of chrestotes) of God our Savior (soter) and His love (philanthropia) for mankind appeared (see discussion of epiphaino), He saved (click for discussion of sozo) us, not on the basis of deeds (see discussion what constitutes good deeds) which we have done in righteousness (because man's righteousness falls far short of God's perfect standard of what is right), but according to His mercy (eleos = outward manifestation of pity which assumes need on the part of those who receive it and sufficient resources to meet the need on the part of those who show it, in this case God our Savior), by the washing of regeneration (paliggenesia - carries the idea of receiving new life, of being born again or being born from above) and renewing (anakainosis - in this context describes the new life that emerges from the new birth) by the Holy Spirit (the Holy Spirit, working through the Word, empowers our new life in Christ)." (see notes Titus 3:4; Titus 3:5) This renewing of our minds is nothing short of a "mental revolution" - taking our "normal" (selfish, self centered) human way of seeing life and giving us a point of view we could not have without God's Spirit changing our way of thinking. Paul moves beyond the initial change of mind to a continual yielding of the mind to the will of God. One of the best ways to "energize" and facilitate this "mental revolution" which produces transformation is to memorize the living Word of God (see Memorizing His Word), allowing implantation of the "seed" (see 1 Pe 1:23-note; 1 Pe 1:24 -note; 1 Pe 1:25-note cf Jer 23:28, 29, James 1:18-note, James 1:21-note) which His Spirit can germinate into a new way of thinking for as Jesus declared "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life." (Jn 6:63) It behooves every believer therefore to have a steady intake of these words which are the only words that guarantee "spirit and life"! For example, are you having trouble loving someone totally unlovable!? Then allow the Spirit to "renew your mind" by memorizing 1Cor 13:4, 5, 6, 7, 8 (see notes 1Co 13:4; 5; 6; 7; 8) asking God to change your thinking in the process. Don't be legalistic but also don't think lightly of the power of His Word, His Spirit and the grace in which you stand to change your mind, heart and actions (cf Ps 107:19, 20 - See Spurgeon's comments on Verse 19; Verse 20). Remember that the Word of Truth is not given to merely inform but to transform. Our Father is not seeking smarter sinners but saints who are growing more and more like their Savior through the intake of the Word (see 2 Peter 3:18-note). (See discussion of related topic Application as the fruit of Inductive Bible Study) The crucial ingredient in this mind renewal process is regular ingestion of "everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD" (Dt 8:3, "every word" in Mt 4:4, Why? see Lk 1:37ASV), cultivating an "infant like" attitude (see 1Pe 2:1-note for what you need to do to cultivate this desire and give you an "appetite". If you do not have an appetite for God's Word, do a personal inventory with 1Pe 2:1. Be honest.) and like newborn babes long for (epipotheo - earnestly, intensely crave a command in the aorist imperative = indicates this is NOT optional! Do this now. Without delay. It is vitally important!) for the pure ("no additives", unadulterated, nothing that would cause decay!) milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation (1Pe 2:2-note). Every believer needs to cultivate a heart attitude like Job who affirmed... I have not departed (withdrawn, ceased, removed myself) from the command of His lips; I have treasured (laid up, concealed or hidden = the same Hebrew verb used by the psalmist in Ps 119:11 - See Spurgeon's note) the words of His (God's) mouth more than my necessary food"! (Job 23:12-note). (Question: Could Job's attitude toward the Word in any way explain how he was able to persevere in the face of such incredible testing?! Look at the context - specifically notice what Job had just declared in Job 23:10-note) William Newell writes that the object of this "renewing... includes the mind, with its thoughts; the imagination--so untamed naturally, the sensibilities or feelings; the tastes, or natural preferences, all which, since the fall of Adam, are naturally under the influence and power of the sinful flesh, and must be operated upon by the Holy Spirit, after one's regeneration. The memory, also, must be cleansed of all unclean, sinful recollections...the renewing of the mind takes in the whole sphere of conscious life for the child of God. (Romans Verse by Verse) Mind (3563) (nous with 6/24 uses in Romans -- Click to study these uses) refers to reflective intelligence. Nous is the mind as the organ of mental perception and apprehension. Simply stated, the mind is the seat of understanding, the thinking faculty. The nous can be fleshly (see Colossians 2:18 - note) where flesh denotes the principle of evil which dominates fallen man. Nous can signify the new nature which belongs to the believer by reason of his new birth, for now we have the mind (nous) of Christ. (1Cor 2:16). In many context (the current verse included) nous stands for the seat of emotions and affections, mode of thinking and feeling, disposition, moral inclination and as such is equivalent to the heart. Nous - 24x in 22v in the NAS - Lk. 24:45; Ro 1:28; 7:23, 25; 11:34; 12:2; 14:5; 1 Co. 1:10; 2:16; 14:14f, 19; Eph. 4:17, 23; Phil. 4:7; Col. 2:18; 2 Thess. 2:2; 1 Tim. 6:5; 2Ti 3:8; Titus 1:15; Rev. 13:18; 17:9 and is rendered by the NAS as composure (1), comprehension(1), mind(20), minds(1), understanding(1). Your mind is the control center of your attitudes, thoughts, feelings, and actions. Paul says that God wants your mind because He knows the power of the mind and wants it for Himself. He wants you to think His thoughts. As you do, your mind will be renewed. As your mind is renewed, you will be able to fulfill His will for your life. Vine describes this renewing of one's mind as the adjustment of the moral and spiritual vision and thinking to the mind of God, which is designed to have a transforming effect upon the life. How does this supernatural mind renewal take place? As the believer chooses to saturate his or her mind with the abiding seed, the living and active Word of God, the Spirit progressively "renovates" our mind so that the way we see, think and feel lines up more and more with the mind of God. David Guzik explains the trap we often fall into regarding the mind renewal necessary to bring about transformation... The battle ground between conforming to the world and being transformed is within the mind of the believer. Christians must think differently. "I don't want to be conformed to this world. I want to be transformed. How do I do it?" By the renewing of your mind. The problem with many Christians is they live based on feeling, or they are only concerned about doing. The life based on feeling says, "How do I feel today? How do I feel about my job? How do I feel about my wife? How do I feel about worship? How do I feel about the preacher?" This life by feeling will never know the transforming power of God, because it ignores the renewing of the mind. The life based on doing says, "Don't give me your theology. Just tell me what to do. Give me the four points for this and the seven keys for that." This life of doing will never know the transforming power of God, because it ignores the renewing of the mind. God is never against feeling and doing. He is a God of powerful and passionate feeling, and He commands us to be doers. Yet feelings and doing are completely insufficient foundations for the Christian life. The first questions cannot be "How do I feel?" or "What do I do?" Rather, it must be "What is true here? What does God's Word say?" If your mind is to be renewed... this book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate (meditation is the same Hebrew word used in Psalm 1:2-note) on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to ALL that is written in it (When you study the Bible "hit or miss," you miss more than you hit) , for then you will make your way prosperous (referring to spiritual wealth not necessarily fiscal prosperity) and then you will have success" (because your mind is renewed) (Joshua 1:8-note). (See related resource - an Inductive Study on the Power of God's Word) Joshua 1:8 (note) called Joshua and by way of application all believers to think "Biblically", reading, assimilating and reflecting on and obeying the Word of God, so that we live "Biblically" in all we say and do. As clearly stated in Joshua 1:8 (note) a key element in this process is meditation which is so crucial to mind renewal but unfortunately is a vital spiritual discipline which is seldom practiced by Christians today. Now think with me for a moment. Is meditation optional? Not really because reading the Bible without meditating on it is like eating without chewing. It's not how many times you "go through" the Bible, but how much of the Bible "goes through" you! One of the most productive ways to study the Bible for yourself is to learn to read it inductively (see Introduction to Inductive Bible Study). Click here to download lesson one of the Precept inductive Bible study on Romans 12-16. A. W. Tozer when speaking of the Bible once said... Read it much, read it often, brood over it, think over it, meditate over it—meditate on the Word of God day and night. When you are awake at night, think of a helpful verse (Ed note: see 2Pe 1:4-note regarding His precious and magnificent promises). When you get up in the morning, no matter how you feel, think of a verse and make the Word of God the important element in your day. The Holy Ghost wrote the Word, and if you make much of the Word, He will make much of you. It is through the Word that He reveals Himself. Between those covers is a living Book. God wrote it and it is still vital and effective and alive. God is in this Book, the Holy Ghost is in this Book, and if you want to find Him, go into this Book. Vance Havner understood this truth about the power of God's Word to renew our minds writing that... The storehouse of God’s Word was never meant for mere scrutiny, not even primarily for study but for sustenance. It is not simply a collection of fine proverbs and noble teachings for men to admire and quote as they might Shakespeare. It is ration for the soul, resources of and for the spirit, treasure for the inner man. Its goods exhibited upon every page are ours, and we have no business merely moving respectfully amongst them and coming away none the richer. Ray Stedman adds these comments on the meditation in his sermon on (Psalm 77:12 - See Spurgeon's Note) I will meditate on all Thy work, And muse on Thy deeds": He writes: "Meditate, muse, what does that mean? It is not enough to recall what God does. One must also think through as to the significance. That is the important thing. "I will meditate on them, think about them, concentrate upon these, until I see the meaning of these events." That is the important thing. Here is the trouble with many Christians. Many faint at the second step. They do the first, they think about what God has done in their life or in another person's life, or in the past, such as the resurrection or some other event of history. But then they expect some kind of an automatic reaction to occur. They feel just to think about the event should do something for them. But it isn't like that. "I will meditate on them. I will muse on them. I will think them through." There is need to ask, "What does this mean? How does it affect me? What is the significance of this event?" (sounds like "Inductive Bible Study"!) When the writer (of Psalm 77) began to do that, then the answer came. (his mind was renewed!) This is what we need so much today. I dare say that this is a major reason for the weakness of Christians today. We don't want to think about events. We don't want to take time to think about what God has said or what He does, and thus come through to a significant understanding of the meaning of God's action. Turn off your television sets and think about what God has said! You can think even while you are working. I find that some of the most valuable and glorious times of understanding of what God is doing come when I meditate on the Scriptures as I am driving on the highways or in the city. A certain part of my mind can handle the activities of driving, if I am not facing any traffic problem, and I can give myself to thinking about Scripture passages. I have discovered that this is far better than the radio in turning a long trip into a short one. Oftentimes I can spend an hour or two thinking about these things and the time goes by so fast that I arrive at my destination hardly realizing that an hour or so has gone by. You can meditate like this while you are washing the dishes. I don't know a greater place for a woman to meditate than while washing the dishes. You don't need to think about washing the dishes! You can do that automatically. But if you have a verse of Scripture propped up on the window sill before you or a passage that you are trying to think through to an understanding of it, your kitchen sink can become the greatest altar you have ever experienced. Try it. This is what the psalmist is telling us here." (The Cure For Doubt) (For off site article click Biblical Meditation) John Stott explains how transformation takes place, noting that... Although Paul does not here tell us how our mind becomes renewed, we know from his other writings that it is by a combination of the Spirit and the Word of God. Certainly regeneration by the Holy Spirit involves the renewal of every part of our humanness, which has been tainted and twisted by the fall, and this includes our mind. But in addition, we need the Word of God, which is the Spirit’s ‘sword’, and which acts as an objective revelation of God’s will. Here then are the stages of Christian moral transformation: first our mind is renewed by the Word and Spirit of God; then we are able to discern and desire the will of God; and then we are increasingly transformed by it. (Stott, J. R. W. The message of Romans Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP) To summarize, God transforms our minds and makes us spiritually minded by the instrumentality of His Word (John 17:17) and His Spirit (John 6:63). As you make God's Word your insatiable delight ( Psalm 1:2-see note) and as you read and memorize it, you in turn make possible the delightful discipline of meditating on His Word day and night (you cannot muse, mutter over, ponder or rehearse what is not already in your heart and mind) and the result is that your very innermost being becomes "Bibline" (Spurgeon's description of the great writer John Bunyan -- Spurgeon said if you were to prick Bunyan he would bleed "Bibline"), as God Spirit takes the word you are eating and gradually renews "the spirit of your mind" (2Cor 3:18; see Ephesians 4:23-note). This transformation and renewing of our minds takes place as we behold the glory of God, choosing to spend time in His presence meditating on His Word day and night! This process is the only effective preservative against outward conformity to this present age. Ray Stedman has some practical insights on what a transformed mind looks like writing that... sin [affects] the human perception -- it makes us look at another person in terms of a symbol, not as a person. We see them as either "someone who can help us" or "someone who opposes us" -- and we resent them or bless them accordingly. But when the mind is transformed by the Spirit of God, you no longer look at people that way. You see a man as a person, even though he has been a crotchety, grouchy, old boss whom you thought was out to make every moment that you lived unpleasant. You begin to see that he is a person with an ulcer, that he has his own problems and troubles, and that he needs help. This is the transforming of the mind. You begin to see that money and material things are no longer important, as they once seemed to be. The big thing in your life no longer becomes this matter of whether you can close this deal and make so much money, but whether you will do it in a way that honors and glorifies the Lord your God -- whether you make money or not. That is a sign of a transformed mind. You no longer take everything that is said to you personally, but you become able to back off and look at it objectively....This is the work of the Spirit of God, and you find a concern for others beginning to show and to grow in your life. You see more and more how utterly self-centered you've been, and you become concerned that you demonstrate that concern for someone else. This is the transformed mind. (Discovering the Will of God) (Bolding added) Pastor Claude Stauffer has some thoughts on how not to renew your mind... Don’t go to the world for help with your mind. God will help us control our thoughts and bring them into subjection to Jesus, to conform to His way of thinking. What we need to do is present our selves to God to do so. Satan can bring evil thoughts and desires into our minds, and we can’t stop him from dong so. But we can stop from playing with those satanic thoughts. We can take such evil thoughts captive in Christ and cast them down. We aren’t to open our minds up to the New Age techniques that lead to mind control. We aren’t to follow the Eastern Mysticism of emptying our minds either. We are to present ourselves to God and seek that He transform and renew our minds in the Spirit. Here is where many people go wrong. People might never think of going to an astrologer, or witch, or soothsayer, or New Age channeler, (thought far too many do), but they will go to a secular psychologist who has been training is rooted in the philosophy of this world which is self-centered. Even so-called Christian counselors often go to the world for their training. How can someone trained in the world, (which Romans 12:2 tells us not to be conformed to) do anything but bring a person into conformity with the world’s way of thinking? I believe there are godly Christian counselors, people with the spiritual gifts of exhortation and discernment, used by God to help people in their time of need; but it is absolutely wrong and fruitless to seek the transformation God offers from worldly sources. It just won’t work. Remember, Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6), and any other counselor is a "step down" from Him. You can’t top Jesus for counseling, yet so many people don’t even consider Him as a viable resource. Such people probably haven’t even experienced a true, real relationship or living relationship with Him. Jesus does speak to us through counselors, but godly prayerful, Spirit-filled counselors that will always steer a person to Jesus in their time of need. Beware Christian, don’t be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Paul in his letter to the Philippians gave us a good objective to follow in the Spirit regarding our thought life (Read Php 4:6-note, Php 4:7-note, Php 4:8-note, Php 4:9-note)...Follow that plan in the Spirit and your mind will definitely be transformed by God. In effect what God is saying to us through the inspired words of Paul in Romans 12:1, 2, and in the above Corinthian and Philippian passages is if you give me your life and mind, if you give me your whole heart, I’ll give you My life, mind and heart. That’s a deal no one should turn down. (Living Sacrifices) Haldane adds that renewing of your mind signifies that... It is not the conduct merely, but the heart itself, of the Christian that is changed; and it is from the renewal of the mind that the conduct is also renewed. The transformation or change that passes on the man who becomes a believer of the Gospel, is not one produced by enthusiastically imaginations, monkish austerity, or a spirit of legalism, endeavoring to attain salvation by good works (cp Ga 5:7, 8, 9). It is produced by the renewing of the mind, and by that only. Many persons become for a time changed in conduct from various motives, who are not changed in heart by the Spirit of God, and the truth believed respecting the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. But such changes are generally temporary, and though they should continue for life, they are of no value in the sight of God. That change of life which the Lord will approve, is a change produced by the renovation of the mind, in the understanding, the affections, and the will... Indeed, nothing can be more true than that these renewal of the mind is necessary for a successful inquiry into every part of the will of God. The natural man is in everything opposed to the mind of God. (Haldane) James Montgomery Boice - Harry Blamires, an Englishman who wrote an important Christian book in 1963 titled The Christian Mind: How Should a Christian Think? Blamires was a student of C. S. Lewis. His book’s main thesis, repeated over and over in chapter 1, is that “There is no longer a Christian mind,” meaning that in our time there is no longer a distinctly Christian way of thinking. There is to some extent a Christian ethic and even a somewhat Christian way of life and piety. But there is no distinctly Christian frame of reference, no uniquely Christian worldview, to guide our thinking in distinction from the thought of the secular world around us. Unfortunately, the situation has not improved over the past thirty years. In fact, it has grown worse. Today, not only is there little or no genuine Christian thinking, there is very little thinking of any kind. The Western world (and perhaps even the world as a whole) is well on its way to becoming what I have frequently called a “mindless society.” (Boice, J. M. Romans. Grand Rapids, Mich: Baker Book House) SO THAT YOU MAY PROVE: eis to dokimazein (PAN) humas: (Ro 12:1; Ps 34:8; Ep 5:10,17; 1Pe 2:3) Analyzed Literal: in order for you to be proving what [is] the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. NIV: Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. (The NIV use of two words accurately reflects the meaning of dokimazo, which the NAS translates with the single word "prove"). NLT: Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is. Weymouth: so that you may learn by experience what God's will is Wuest: by the renewing of your mind, resulting in your putting to the test what is the will of God, the good and well-pleasing and complete will So that (eis) reads more literally "unto proving", and here conveys the purpose of the transformation of one's mind. The ability to test and prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God begins with having a renewed mind. To truly perceive life from God's perspective we must live it in His way. Paul assures us that this is not the great risk so many fear. Paul is saying in essence "Trust God's will to be good (cp Pr 3:5-6), test your confidence by doing God's will and you will discover God's way truly is good, pleasing and perfect". The present tense infinitive makes clear that this testing of what God’s will is in any given situation or question must be an ongoing practice. Stauffer - The mind renewed by God will be better suited to discern God’s will because distractions are removed that would hinder such discernment. (Ibid) "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/romans_122.htm#Renewing