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slaves to sin, and not until the mind is renewed and the knowledge of God and the ability
to approve His will are regained, is it of any use to think of words or deeds. God's order
places first the mind, the inner man, the new man; then, in resurrection, the body in its
full measure.
Rom. 12: 2 gives us the fashioning and transforming of the mind now (suschematizo,
metamorphoumai). Phil. 3: 21 reveals the fashioning and conforming of the body in the
future (metashematizo, summorphos).
With the renewing of the mind (nous) there comes the renewing of the phronema, and
of phroneo, the thinking. Immediately following the reference to the renewal of the mind
(nous) in Rom. 12: 2 comes the adjustment of the thinking (phroneo) in verse 3: "Think
(phronein) soberly" (sophronein). "Soberly" is simply the word, "to think" with the
word for salvation prefixed: Think now with a saved or healed mind. Such a mind is
entirely opposed to pride (see Rom. 12: 3 and 16, where phroneo is used).
The association of nous, the mind, with phroneo, the resultant thinking or feeling, is
seen in Rom. 14: 5, 6:--
"Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind (nous). He that regards (phroneo)
the day, regards (phroeno) it unto the Lord."
The mind in its actions, attitudes and intentions is seen in Phil. 2: 2, 5; 3: 13, 16 and
19:--
"Mind the same thing." "Let this mind be in you." "Be thus minded . . . . . otherwise
minded." "Let us mind the same thing." "Who mind earthly things."
Col. 3: 1, 2 sums up the new attitude of the Christian: "If ye then be risen with
Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your mind (phroneo) on things above, not on things on the earth."