Romans 12:2

It is the central message of this website. Many of you know it by heart in one translation or another. Let’s read through various translations so we can better understand the spirit behind the statement.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. – NLT

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. – NIV

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. – NAS

Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. – Amplified

and be not conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, for your proving what [is] the will of God — the good, and acceptable, and perfect. – Young’s Literal

And do not ye be conformed to this world, but be ye reformed in newness of your wit, that ye prove which is the will of God, good, and well pleasing, and perfect. – Wycliffe New Testament

I like the New Living Translation, when it says: “Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world…”

The NLT does offer one specific change from the rest, in that it tells you to “let” or “allow” God to transform you, which is a permissive and passive verb, rather than the command to “be”, which implies more responsibility and “active” action on your part. Where other translations say “(you) be transformed by…”, the NLT says, “Let God transform you…”

There is a difference here between a leader and a follower. Most translations of this sentence tell us that we have a role as the initiator and leader, and the responsibility of transformation seems to fall on our shoulders. The NLT is the only translation I read that implies we are the follower, and that we are to allow God to transform us by changing the way we think.

Knowing that the NLT was retranslated from the original passages by scholars looking to accurately translate entire thoughts of the author, let’s not throw out this translation in favor of the majority. Rather than picking sides, let’s look for a way to blend the two.

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind” tells me that I am definitely a participant, and that the act of transformation and mind renewal will not happen without my participation. God will not just do this to me. I am not a victim of God’s transformation.