John Calvin Commentary Romans 12:2

"And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God." — Romans 12:2 (ASV)

And conform you not to this world, etc. The term world has several meanings, but here it means the prevailing attitudes and morals of people, to which, with good reason, he forbids us to conform.

For since the whole world lies in wickedness, we must put off whatever we have of the old man, if we are to truly put on Christ. To remove all doubt, he explains what he means by stating what is contrary, for he tells us to be transformed into a newness of mind.

These kinds of contrasts are common in Scripture, and in this way, a subject is more clearly presented.

Now pay attention and see what kind of renewal is required from us. It is not a renewal of the flesh only, or of the inferior part of the soul, as the Sorbonists explain this term, but of the mind, which is the most excellent part of us, and to which philosophers ascribe supremacy. They call it ἡγεμονικὸν, the leading power, and reason is imagined to be a most wise queen. But Paul pulls her down from her throne, reducing her to nothing by teaching us that we must be renewed in mind.

For however much we may flatter ourselves, that declaration of Christ is still true: everyone must be born again who wishes to enter the kingdom of God. For in mind and heart, we are entirely alienated from the righteousness of God.

That you may prove, etc. Here you have the purpose for which we must put on a new mind: that abandoning our own plans and desires, and those of all people, we may be attentive only to the will of God, the knowledge of which is true wisdom. But if the renewal of our mind is necessary so that we may prove what is the will of God, from this it is evident how opposed our mind is to God.

The epithets that are added are intended to recommend God’s will, so that we may seek to know it more eagerly. And to restrain our perversity, it is indeed necessary that the true glory of justice and perfection be ascribed to the will of God.

The world persuades itself that the works it has devised are good; Paul exclaims that what is good and right must be learned from God’s commandments.

The world praises itself and takes delight in its own inventions, but Paul affirms that nothing pleases God except what He has commanded.

The world, in order to find perfection, strays from the word of God into its own devices. Paul, by fixing perfection in the will of God, shows that if anyone goes beyond that mark, they are deceived by a false idea.