I was reading Romans 6 recently, and the raw purity soothed me. With new plans for the summer and fall, especially moving out (woo!), I needed some concrete. I read the ESV version, and then decided to compare it to three others here:
ESV: "For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God."
KJV: "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God."
In a sense, the versions seem to hold different dialects almost. The ESV, when stating "to set the mind on ____ is ____", sounds as if it's all us who are doing the mind-settting. That's where I liked the NIV better, as it reads "the mind governed by". Now that's a joint effort of of us and the Holy Spirit. Also, the words carnal and enmity in the KJV version are steel-cut. They lacerate. Also, I appreciated the word realm in the NIV version; just like the word govern, it contrasts sharply. The Holy Spirit will govern our hearts with us, but if we are carnally minded, we belong to an entirely different realm that even we don't have charge over. That realm? It's flesh.
So, if I were to do a "mash-up" of this verse, I'd combine elements from all three versions.
"For to be governed by the carnal mind is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The carnal mind is in hostile enmity against God and is not subject to God's law because it cannot be. So then those who belong to the realm of flesh cannot please God."
We must trust, and not in the flesh, so let us not walk in hostile enmity but trust. Let Him saturate your soul, for He will take us where He wants us to fly.
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