10:2 The Lord says,
“Do not start following pagan religious practices. 1
Do not be in awe of signs that occur 2 in the sky
even though the nations hold them in awe.
20:32 “‘What you plan 3 will never happen. You say, “We will be 4 like the nations, like the clans of the lands, who serve gods of wood and stone.” 5
4:17 So I say this, and insist 9 in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility 10 of their thinking. 11
4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, 12 urge you to live 13 worthily of the calling with which you have been called, 14
1 tn Heb “Do not learn the way of the nations.” For this use of the word “ways” (דֶּרֶךְ, derekh) compare for example Jer 12:16 and Isa 2:6.
2 tn Heb “signs.” The words “that occur” are supplied in the translation for clarity.
3 tn Heb “what comes upon your mind.”
4 tn The Hebrew could also read: “Let us be.”
5 tn Heb “serving wood and stone.”
6 tn Although συσχηματίζεσθε (suschmatizesqe) could be either a passive or middle, the passive is more likely since it would otherwise have to be a direct middle (“conform yourselves”) and, as such, would be quite rare for NT Greek. It is very telling that being “conformed” to the present world is viewed as a passive notion, for it may suggest that it happens, in part, subconsciously. At the same time, the passive could well be a “permissive passive,” suggesting that there may be some consciousness of the conformity taking place. Most likely, it is a combination of both.
7 tn Grk “to this age.”
8 sn The verb translated test and approve (δοκιμάζω, dokimazw) carries the sense of “test with a positive outcome,” “test so as to approve.”
9 tn On the translation of μαρτύρομαι (marturomai) as “insist” see BDAG 619 s.v. 2.
10 tn On the translation of ματαιότης (mataioth") as “futility” see BDAG 621 s.v.
11 tn Or “thoughts,” “mind.”
12 tn Grk “prisoner in the Lord.”
13 tn Grk “walk.” The verb “walk” in the NT letters refers to the conduct of one’s life, not to physical walking.
14 sn With which you have been called. The calling refers to the Holy Spirit’s prompting that caused them to believe. The author is thus urging his readers to live a life that conforms to their saved status before God.