Luke 9:48

9:48 and said to them, “Whoever welcomes ¹  this child ²  in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me, for the one who is least among you all is the one who is great.” ³ 

Matthew 18:3-5

18:3 and said, “I tell you the truth, ⁴  unless you turn around and become like little children, ⁵  you will never ⁶  enter the kingdom of heaven! 18:4 Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 18:5 And whoever welcomes ⁷  a child like this in my name welcomes me.

Matthew 23:8-12

23:8 But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers. 23:9 And call no one your ‘father’ on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 23:10 Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one teacher, the Christ. ⁸  23:11 The ⁹  greatest among you will be your servant. 23:12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Romans 12:2

12:2 Do not be conformed ¹⁰  to this present world, ¹¹  but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve ¹²  what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:1

Consecration of the Believer’s Life

12:1 Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, ¹³  by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God ¹⁴  – which is your reasonable service.

Romans 5:3

5:3 Not ¹⁵  only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,

Romans 5:3

5:3 Not ¹⁶  only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,

Romans 1:9-10

1:9 For God, whom I serve in my spirit by preaching the gospel ¹⁷  of his Son, is my witness that ¹⁸  I continually remember you 1:10 and I always ask ¹⁹  in my prayers, if perhaps now at last I may succeed in visiting you according to the will of God. ²⁰ 

¹ tn This verb, δέχομαι (decomai), is a term of hospitality (L&N 34.53).

² sn Children were very insignificant in ancient culture, so this child would be the perfect object lesson to counter the disciples’ selfish ambitions.

³ tn Grk “among you all, this one is great.” The absence of a comparative term here makes the point that comparison should not be done.

⁴ tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

⁵ sn The point of the comparison become like little children has more to do with a child’s trusting spirit, as well as willingness to be dependent and receive from others, than any inherent humility the child might possess.

⁶ tn The negation in Greek (οὐ μή, ou mh) is very strong here.

⁷ tn This verb, δέχομαι (decomai), is a term of hospitality (L&N 34.53).

⁸ tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

⁹ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

¹⁰ 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.

¹¹ tn Grk “to this age.”

¹² sn The verb translated test and approve (δοκιμάζω, dokimazw) carries the sense of “test with a positive outcome,” “test so as to approve.”

¹³ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:13.

¹⁴ tn The participle and two adjectives “alive, holy, and pleasing to God” are taken as predicates in relation to “sacrifice,” making the exhortation more emphatic. See ExSyn 618-19.

¹⁵ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

¹⁶ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

¹⁷ tn Grk “whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel.”

¹⁸ tn Grk “as.”

¹⁹ tn Grk “remember you, always asking.”

²⁰ tn Grk “succeed in coming to you in the will of God.”