Today's Reading: Butterflies

I have written and deleted several pointed posts about the RC prelates and their proxies going on about this, that and the other.  Some pretty brilliant stuff, honestly, with scriptural rebuking and using tradition to up-end their own arguments (no lepers, though, every fiery sermon is better with lepers).  As I read through it all, though, I see that this would do naught but continue the cycle of vitriol and viciousness which has led me here now.  So, let's try the old standard and look the reading today.  I was going to talk about the entire passage (Romans 12: 2-8), but brevity and a bit of 'encouragement' has pointed me at just examining a single verse, verse 2:

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.

Simple enough, right?  Yah, except this is Paul writing and the original greek is far more important.

καὶ μὴ συσχηματίζεσθε τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ, ἀλλὰ μεταμορφοῦσθε τῇ ἀνακαινώσει τοῦ νοὸς εἰς τὸ δοκιμάζειν ὑμᾶς τί τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ, τὸ ἀγαθὸν καὶ εὐάρεστον καὶ τέλειον.

When we say conformed, the greek συσχηματίζεσθε , sysxēmatízō has the subtext of assuming the outer shape or appearance. 

The word translated as 'world' is αἰῶνι, aiṓn, which more accurately means age or time, rather than kosmos, which is the universe or world.

When it says transformed, the greek is μεταμορφοῦσθε, metamorphoo, the root of metamorphosis.  To change form in agreement with your inner being.

The word 'renewal' here is ἀνακαινώσει, anakaínōsis -completing a process to make anew, a renovation or renewal

The 'mind' is νοὸς, noos/nous which incorporates understanding, reason and intellect.  It is our god-given capability to comprehend.

to 'prove', δοκιμάζειν, dokimázō concentrates on an active discernment to affirm, as one tests metal to show its worthiness.

The 'will of God', θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ, thélēma is the key word here, for it is always used in scripture to refer to the Creator/Sustainer (theós). Thélēma is the specific desire, wish or will of the God which is looking at the results of said desire.

Putting the pieces together...  "do not assume the external appearance of this time, but be inwardly changed by re-forming your understanding, so your active discernment affirms the desire of the Creator - the intrinsically good, fully acceptable and even complete in perfection."

Umm.  Right.  I'm just going to go over in this corner and think an awful lot about this.

Thanks Coyote. *twitch, twitch*