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The Mind of the Spirit: Paul's Approach to Transformed Thinking
Leading Scholar Explores Paul's Teaching on the MindThis major work by a leading New Testament scholar explores an important but neglected area of Pauline theology, Paul's teaching about the mind. In discussing matters such as the corrupted mind, the mind of Christ, and the renewal of the mind, Paul adapts language from popular intellectual thought in his day, but he does so in a way distinctively focused on Christ and Christ's role in the believer's transformation. Keener enables readers to understand this thought world so they can interpret Paul's language for contemporary Christian life. The book helps overcome a false separation between following the Spirit and using human judgment and provides a new foundation for relating biblical studies and Christian counseling.
800 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 21, 2016
80 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
About the author
Craig S. Keener
146 books247 followersCraig S. Keener (PhD, Duke University) is professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. He is the author of many books, including Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts, the bestseller The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, The Historical Jesus of the Gospels, Gift and Giver, and commentaries on Matthew, John, Romans, 1–2 Corinthians, and Revelation.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 3, 2021
A wonderful book. Academic and yet very understandable and in some places even pastoral. The understanding of the Christocentric nature of the mind transformed by the Spirit is shown throughout the book. I came away with both a greater understanding of Paul’s approach to transformed thinking as well as its place in the wider philosophy of the time. One of my favorite books I have read this year.
January 4, 2017
Very thorough and heavily footnoted. If you are studying what Paul's understand was of how a Christian's mind is transformed and how the original hearers would have understood these Pauline passages, then this book is a must. It wasn't always the most fun to read, but I am glad that I did. His final chapter is particularly helpful for application.
September 19, 2017
Is it possible for Craig S. Keener to fail in scholarship, exhaustive detail, thoroughness, or attention to primary sources? I doubt it; and certainly this book gives no reason to think so!
Keener here, with ample attention to Greek, Roman, and Jewish texts dealing with similar themes, scrutinizes the way Paul discusses the human mind and ways of thinking: the corrupted mind of Romans 1 (which is "the pagan mind, corrupting the evidence for God with a false worldview and thus misconstruing the rest of reality, including humans' own identity and purpose" [28]), the fleshly mind of Romans 7 (which shows the inability of reason to "free one from the verdict of one's passions," as "one can be freed only by the gift of a new life based on divine righteousness" [112]), the faithful mind of Romans 6 (which receives a new identity by "regularly recognizing that Christ has already defeated sin," thus transforming the battle against temptation into "a battle of faith in Christ's triumph" [54]), the "mind of the Spirit" in Romans 8 (which receives inner and communal tranquility through the resources of God's Spirit, which are greater than the cognitive resources offered by Greco-Roman philosophers [141]), the renewed mind of Romans 12 (which enables a higher rationality that "enables [believers] to evaluate the present age from the values of the perfect world to come, and thus not to be pressured into conformity with the character of the present age," and which reasons in patterns of service [172]), the "mind of Christ" in 1 Corinthians 2 (which understands true wisdom as cruciformity, without which one cannot competently exercise spiritual or moral evaluation [216]), the Christlike mind in Philippians 2-4 (which focuses on virtue and unity [236]), and the heavenly mind in Colossians 3 (which, where pagan philosophers and astronomers abstractly exhorted focus on the eternal heavens, puts heavenly focus squarely on Christ as the vision of God, leading to a transformed character [251]). What emerges is the profound wisdom of a new reality.
While the book is highly academic, its fruits are pastorally useful - I've already gotten some fine mileage in my teaching from it. Keener wins again!
Keener here, with ample attention to Greek, Roman, and Jewish texts dealing with similar themes, scrutinizes the way Paul discusses the human mind and ways of thinking: the corrupted mind of Romans 1 (which is "the pagan mind, corrupting the evidence for God with a false worldview and thus misconstruing the rest of reality, including humans' own identity and purpose" [28]), the fleshly mind of Romans 7 (which shows the inability of reason to "free one from the verdict of one's passions," as "one can be freed only by the gift of a new life based on divine righteousness" [112]), the faithful mind of Romans 6 (which receives a new identity by "regularly recognizing that Christ has already defeated sin," thus transforming the battle against temptation into "a battle of faith in Christ's triumph" [54]), the "mind of the Spirit" in Romans 8 (which receives inner and communal tranquility through the resources of God's Spirit, which are greater than the cognitive resources offered by Greco-Roman philosophers [141]), the renewed mind of Romans 12 (which enables a higher rationality that "enables [believers] to evaluate the present age from the values of the perfect world to come, and thus not to be pressured into conformity with the character of the present age," and which reasons in patterns of service [172]), the "mind of Christ" in 1 Corinthians 2 (which understands true wisdom as cruciformity, without which one cannot competently exercise spiritual or moral evaluation [216]), the Christlike mind in Philippians 2-4 (which focuses on virtue and unity [236]), and the heavenly mind in Colossians 3 (which, where pagan philosophers and astronomers abstractly exhorted focus on the eternal heavens, puts heavenly focus squarely on Christ as the vision of God, leading to a transformed character [251]). What emerges is the profound wisdom of a new reality.
While the book is highly academic, its fruits are pastorally useful - I've already gotten some fine mileage in my teaching from it. Keener wins again!
August 1, 2021
Inspired by the Apostle Paul's instruction in his letter to the Romans particularly in 12:1-2, the author in cosidering human psycholy, maps out the road of transformation of the mind from engaging in the works of the flesh, to flinging it out and ultimately possessing the mind of the spirit that is in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5-8).
February 19, 2024
A Lot of Footnotes; A bit Laborious
I wanted to give this book five stars but couldn't. No doubt the subject matter is important, and the author did a huge amount of research. But over half the book are footnotes and bibliography. The author could have trimmed the notes down and streamlined the material.
I wanted to give this book five stars but couldn't. No doubt the subject matter is important, and the author did a huge amount of research. But over half the book are footnotes and bibliography. The author could have trimmed the notes down and streamlined the material.
April 30, 2019
Superb book that bridges the academic and the practical in Keener's unique way. Powerful for reflection on the theme of the mind of Christ from a pneumatological perspective across the whole NT (with plenty of awareness of the Old Testament).
Will write a full review on my blog eventually.
Will write a full review on my blog eventually.
August 19, 2019
This is like a collection of journal articles on passages connected to how Paul views thinking. The wealth of Keener's research is found through his footnotes. (A significant portion of the book is footnotes.)
October 25, 2021
Dr. Keener is in rare air, in my opinion. I put him up there with N. T. Wright and Robert Alter. His use of thousands (no exaggeration) of contemporary sources to Paul’s writings is breathtaking. This is not an easy read, but it’s a worthwhile one.
February 21, 2018
Excellent book, very well documented, persuasive reading of Romans.
May 25, 2020
Interesting read. Looking forward to The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit seminary class, which should help me better understand this book!
August 20, 2016
The Mind of the Spirit: Paul’s Approach to Transformed Thinking by Craig S. Keener is both dense with detail and saturated with a familiarity of the Greco-Roman world. This isn’t a book for the faint of heart, but the payoff is well worth the journey. Keener seeks to provide a contrast between the corrupted mind and the transformed mind, not by providing a long list of rules and regulations, but rather by presenting various windows into a new reality (p. 253).
Transformed thinking (or the renewing of mind) is the result of embodying the mindset of Christ and contemplating the things of God. This reality, according to Keener, is a continual and daily undertaking for the believer. Keener explains, “Walking by the Spirit rather than by the flesh requires a continuing, deliberate rethinking and retuning, with many determined decisions to believe God's truth about our identity, until our brain is rewired enough that the new way becomes the more prevalent way” (p.263). Thus, the renewing of the mind is actualized by regular and predictable patterns of thought and reflection upon the things of Christ.
While this is a necessary task for the believer, and one aided by the transforming power of the gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit, it is likewise an increasingly difficult task. There exists today a tension in this world (and churches) that seems to negate the need for a transformed mind in the life of the believer. Keener rightly reminds the reader that despite the overwhelming joy of a life governed by the transformed mind of the Spirit, such is by no means an escape from the realities of the tension and conflict in this life (p. 258). That is, for Keener, taking up the mind of the Spirit is a daily endeavor that takes discipline and determination despite the world around us.
The aim of The Mind of the Spirit is admirable and Keener has accomplished his purpose therein with much to be praised. Keener’s expertise in the background literature of the New Testament and his deep-seated longing to see the people of God flourish in all that God has for them in this life is contagious. This is a much needed subject of discussion that has, until now received very little serious and scholarly attention. The reader will appreciate the clarity and conviction that Keener has brought to the table, and leave encouraged knowing that such transformation is available today—indeed, available now! This is a book that will be read across Christian disciplines for many years to come. It comes highly recommended!!
I received a review copy of this books in exchange for and honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising
Transformed thinking (or the renewing of mind) is the result of embodying the mindset of Christ and contemplating the things of God. This reality, according to Keener, is a continual and daily undertaking for the believer. Keener explains, “Walking by the Spirit rather than by the flesh requires a continuing, deliberate rethinking and retuning, with many determined decisions to believe God's truth about our identity, until our brain is rewired enough that the new way becomes the more prevalent way” (p.263). Thus, the renewing of the mind is actualized by regular and predictable patterns of thought and reflection upon the things of Christ.
While this is a necessary task for the believer, and one aided by the transforming power of the gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit, it is likewise an increasingly difficult task. There exists today a tension in this world (and churches) that seems to negate the need for a transformed mind in the life of the believer. Keener rightly reminds the reader that despite the overwhelming joy of a life governed by the transformed mind of the Spirit, such is by no means an escape from the realities of the tension and conflict in this life (p. 258). That is, for Keener, taking up the mind of the Spirit is a daily endeavor that takes discipline and determination despite the world around us.
The aim of The Mind of the Spirit is admirable and Keener has accomplished his purpose therein with much to be praised. Keener’s expertise in the background literature of the New Testament and his deep-seated longing to see the people of God flourish in all that God has for them in this life is contagious. This is a much needed subject of discussion that has, until now received very little serious and scholarly attention. The reader will appreciate the clarity and conviction that Keener has brought to the table, and leave encouraged knowing that such transformation is available today—indeed, available now! This is a book that will be read across Christian disciplines for many years to come. It comes highly recommended!!
I received a review copy of this books in exchange for and honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising
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September 18, 2017I loved this book especially since it plugged a lot of holes in my thought processes which were already being driven by the thoughts of connecting the Spirit with the intellect. It is not an easy read as usual with Keener's works but it is well worth the effort of any Christian to take the time and read this book
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews