Jeremiah 10:2

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.

Ezekiel 20:32

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 

Romans 12:2

12:2 Do not be conformed ⁶  to this present world, ⁷  but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve ⁸  what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.

Ephesians 4:17

Live in Holiness

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 

Ephesians 4:1

Live in Unity

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 

Ephesians 4:3-4

4:3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling,

[10:2]  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.

[10:2]  ² tn Heb “signs.” The words “that occur” are supplied in the translation for clarity.

[20:32]  ³ tn Heb “what comes upon your mind.”

[20:32]  ⁴ tn The Hebrew could also read: “Let us be.”

[20:32]  ⁵ tn Heb “serving wood and stone.”

[12:2]  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.

[12:2]  ⁷ tn Grk “to this age.”

[12:2]  ⁸ sn The verb translated test and approve (δοκιμάζω, dokimazw) carries the sense of “test with a positive outcome,” “test so as to approve.”

[4:17]  ⁹ tn On the translation of μαρτύρομαι (marturomai) as “insist” see BDAG 619 s.v. 2.

[4:17]  ¹⁰ tn On the translation of ματαιότης (mataioth") as “futility” see BDAG 621 s.v.

[4:17]  ¹¹ tn Or “thoughts,” “mind.”

[4:1]  ¹² tn Grk “prisoner in the Lord.”

[4:1]  ¹³ tn Grk “walk.” The verb “walk” in the NT letters refers to the conduct of one’s life, not to physical walking.

[4:1]  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.