Romans 1:32
Context1:32 Although they fully know 1 God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, 2 they not only do them but also approve of those who practice them. 3
Romans 12:2
Context12:2 Do not be conformed 4 to this present world, 5 but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve 6 what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.
1 tn Grk “who, knowing…, not only do them but also approve…” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
2 tn Grk “are worthy of death.”
3 sn “Vice lists” like vv. 28-32 can be found elsewhere in the NT in Matt 15:19; Gal 5:19-21; 1 Tim 1:9-10; and 1 Pet 4:3. An example from the intertestamental period can be found in Wis 14:25-26.
4 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.
5 tn Grk “to this age.”
6 sn The verb translated test and approve (δοκιμάζω, dokimazw) carries the sense of “test with a positive outcome,” “test so as to approve.”