"Be conformed": translated from συσχηματίζεσθε, ; "to become like-shaped"; same word as. The verb is based on the Greek nounschema, indicating a "form" that is external rather than internal, which occurs in and .
"To this world": The "world" here is in the sense of "age" Same phrase as in ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;.
"Be transformed": translated from Greek μεταμορφοῦσθε, having a root verbmetamorphóō meaning "transformed after being with"; "transfigured", occurring 4 times in the New Testament, including in, , this verse, and .
Verses 3–8 is in a form of sermon, closely paralleled by. Paul starts the exhortation first to the humility and Christian unity, reflecting that he writes from Corinth, 'the native habitat of spiritual pride and factional division'. A major difference with the epistle to the Corinthians is that the list ofgifts in verses 6–8 includes gifts of exhortation, generosity, and compassion but not deeds of power, healings, and tongues as found in. In Romans the gifts are not related specifically to the activity of the Holy Spirit.
Verse 3
"Through the grace given to me": translated from Greek διὰ τῆς χάριτος τῆς δοθείσης μοι, ; "by means of the divine grace bestowed on me"; which characterizes Paul's apostleship.
Verse 5
"In Christ": that is, "by virtue of the union with Christ".
Described by Moo as "Love and its manifestations", the section is proverbial in tone, the style is known as parenesis. Some verses echo the Old Testament, notably 16c, 19c, and 20, while others are reflections of Jesus' teachings. William Barclay suggests that in verses 9 to 13, "Paul presents his people with telegraphic rules for everyday life".
Verses 17–21
These verses form a chiasm, bracketed by lines containing the word "evil" – verse 17a and verse 21. The next layer comprising verses 17b–18 and verse 20, deals with the way to treat non-Christians. The central portion is the prohibition of vengeance.
Vengeance is mine
Part of this verse – "I will repay" or in older translations "vengeance is mine" – is a quotation from. Paul's instruction here is not to be vengeful. John Wycliffe and his colleagues translated as "not defending yourselves"
Verse 21
This verse is a comprehensive summary of Romans 12:19-20, that is, "be not carried away to revenge and retaliation by evil which is committed against you, but overcome the evil by the good which you show to your enemy, put to shame by your noble spirit, ceases to act malignantly against you and becomes your friend".
