Romans · Chapter 12 · Wisdom

Romans 12:2 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context

Read this verse slowly. Let it settle before you move on.

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Topics #wisdom

Read in chapter context · Romans 12

Both translations, side by side

WEB · World English Bible

"Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God."

KJV · King James Version

"And2532 be4964 not3361 conformed4964 to this5129 world165: but235 be ye transformed3339 by the renewing342 of your5216 mind3563, that1519 ye5209 may prove1381 what5101 is that good18, and2532 acceptable2101, and2532 perfect5046, will2307 of God2316."

How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses not, acceptable, while the WEB renders these as don, you, well, pleasing. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.

In context

Romans 12:2 in Romans 12

A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Romans 12:2 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Romans 12. Read the full chapter →

v.1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.
v.2 Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.
v.3 For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.
v.4 For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don’t have the same function,

Book background

About the Book of Romans

Testament: New Testament
Genre: Pauline epistle
Author: Paul the apostle
Date written: c. 57 AD
Audience: The Christians at Rome (whom Paul had not yet met)
Chapters: 16

Romans is Paul's most systematic exposition of the gospel — that all have sinned, are justified freely by faith in Christ apart from works, are united with Him in His death and resurrection, and live by the Spirit in confident assurance ("nothing can separate us from the love of God" — chapter 8). It has transformed every major Christian revival in history.

Setting: Written from Corinth on the eve of Paul's final trip to Jerusalem.

Key themes: righteousness · faith · justification · sin · gospel

Read Romans from the beginning →

Memorisation aid

How to memorise Romans 12:2

Romans 12:2 contains 30 words in 5 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.

1

Don’t be conformed to this world

DBCTTW
2

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind

BBTBTR
3

so that you may prove what is the good

STYMPW
4

well-pleasing

W
5

and perfect will of God.

APWOG

Frequently asked

FAQ about Romans 12:2

What does Romans 12:2 say?

Romans 12:2 reads: "Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God." — from the New Testament, Romans (Pauline epistle). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.

What book of the Bible is Romans 12:2 in?

Romans 12:2 is in the book of Romans, traditionally attributed to Paul the apostle and written around c. 57 AD. Romans is pauline epistle in the New Testament, originally addressed to The Christians at Rome (whom Paul had not yet met). Best known for "the just shall live by faith" and Romans 8:28.

What is Romans 12:2 about?

Romans 12:2 is primarily a Bible verse about Wisdom. Within Romans, Romans is Paul's most systematic exposition of the gospel — that all have sinned, are justified freely by faith in Christ apart from works, are united with Him in His death and resurrection, and live by the Spirit in confident assurance ("nothing can separate us from the love of God" — chapter 8). Read the full passage above with surrounding context.

What is the difference between Romans 12:2 in WEB and KJV?

Romans 12:2 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "And2532 be4964 not3361 conformed4964 to this5129 world165: but235 be ye transformed3339 by the renewing342 of your5216 mind3563, that1519 ye5209 may prove1381 what5101 is that good18, and2532 acceptable2101, and2532 perfect5046, will2307 of God2316.". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.

How long is Romans 12:2?

Romans 12:2 is 30 words in the WEB translation (162 characters), broken into 5 clauses. It is a longer verse, often broken into smaller phrases for memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 9 seconds.

How can I memorise Romans 12:2?

To memorise Romans 12:2, split it into its 5 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.

Why does Romans 12:2 matter in Romans?

How can I apply Romans 12:2 today?

Many readers use Romans 12:2 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Romans 12:2 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.

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