2tn The participle and two adjectives “alive, holy, and pleasing to God” are taken as predicates in relation to “sacrifice,” making the exhortation more emphatic. See ExSyn 618-19.

sn Taken as predicate adjectives, the terms alive, holy, and pleasing are showing how unusual is the sacrifice that believers can now offer, for OT sacrifices were dead. As has often been quipped about this text, “The problem with living sacrifices is that they keep crawling off the altar.”

3tn 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.

4tn Grk “to this age.”

5sn The verb translated test and approve (δοκιμάζω, dokimazw) carries the sense of “test with a positive outcome,” “test so as to approve.”

6tn The words “of you” have been supplied for clarity.

7tn Or “to each as God has distributed a measure of faith.”

8tn This word comes from the same root as “grace” in the following clause; it means “things graciously given,” “grace-gifts.”

9tn The verb “must be” is understood in the Greek text.

10tn Or “but give yourselves to menial tasks.” The translation depends on whether one takes the adjective “lowly” as masculine or neuter.

11tn Grk “Do not be wise in your thinking.”

12tn Here ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used as a generic and refers to both men and women.

13tn Here ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used as a generic and refers to both men and women.

14tn Grk “the wrath,” referring to God’s wrath as the remainder of the verse shows.

15sn A quotation from Deut 32:35.

16sn A quotation from Prov 25:21-22.