John 18:36

18:36 Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my servants would be fighting to keep me from being ¹  handed over ²  to the Jewish authorities. ³  But as it is, ⁴  my kingdom is not from here.”

Romans 12:2

12:2 Do not be conformed ⁵  to this present world, ⁶  but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve ⁷  what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.

[18:36]  ¹ tn Grk “so that I may not be.”

[18:36]  ² tn Or “delivered over.”

[18:36]  ³ tn Or “the Jewish leaders”; Grk “the Jews.” Here the phrase refers to the Jewish leaders, especially members of the Sanhedrin. See the note on the phrase “Jewish leaders” in v. 12. In the translation “authorities” was preferred over “leaders” for stylistic reasons.

[18:36]  ⁴ tn Grk “now.”

[12:2]  ⁵ 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]  ⁶ tn Grk “to this age.”

[12:2]  ⁷ sn The verb translated test and approve (δοκιμάζω, dokimazw) carries the sense of “test with a positive outcome,” “test so as to approve.”