Biblical Concept: Mind
(Underlines and
parentheses are mine.)
Mind
and spiritual maturity:
NAS Romans 12:1 I urge
you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living
and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed
to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what
the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (The spiritually mature have spiritually renewed
their mind.)
NAS Ephesians 4:21 if
indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in
Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay
aside the old self,
which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that
you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, (The spiritually mature have an attitude of
improvement.)
NAS Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is
any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. (The spiritually mature have the proper
spiritual focus.)
NAS Colossians 3:2 Set
your mind on the things above, not on the things that
are on earth.
(The spiritually mature have the proper
spiritual focus.)
NAS Romans 8:5 For those
who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the
flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (The spiritually mature have the proper
spiritual focus.)
NAS 2 Peter 3:1 This is
now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring
up your sincere mind by way of
reminder, (The spiritually mature have a repetition of
proper spiritual focus.)
NAS Psalm 16:7 I will
bless the LORD who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. (An example of mental spiritual momentum, see
vv.7-9)
NAS Proverbs 15:14 The mind of the intelligent seeks
knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on folly. (The spiritually mature
have the proper spiritual focus.)
NAS Proverbs 18:15 The mind of the prudent acquires
knowledge,
And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. (The spiritually
mature have an attitude of improvement.) (The spiritually
mature have the proper spiritual focus.)
NAS Proverbs 22:17
Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply
your mind to my knowledge; (The spiritually mature have an attitude of
improvement.)
(The spiritually mature have the proper
spiritual focus.)
NAS Ecclesiastes 7:4 The mind of the wise is in the
house of mourning,
While the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure. (The serious wise and the laughing fool.)
NAS Isaiah 26:3 "The
steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in Thee. (An example of mental spiritual momentum.)
NAS Mark 12:30 AND YOU
SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH
ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR
STRENGTH.' (An example of mental spiritual momentum.) (The spiritually mature have the proper
spiritual focus.)
NAS 1 Peter 1:13
Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your
hope completely
on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (An example of mental spiritual momentum.) (The spiritually mature have the proper
spiritual focus.)
Mind
and God’s omniscience:
NAS 1 Chronicles 28:9
"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him
with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD
searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He
will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. (Believers miss, forget, ignore, put out of
mind, and rationalize the obvious: we cannot hide our mind from God.)
NAS Nehemiah 2:12 And I
arose in the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my
God was putting into my mind to
do for
NAS Psalm 7:9 O let the
evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; For
the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.
NAS Luke 24:45 Then He
opened their minds
to
understand the Scriptures,
(Resurrected Jesus for the disciples.)
NAS Philippians 4:7 And
the peace of God, which surpasses
all comprehension,
shall guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ
Jesus. (Divine Spiritual empowerment for the
Believer.)
NAS Hebrews 8:10
"FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF
NAS Revelation 2:23 'And
I will kill her children with pestilence; and all the churches will know that I
am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according
to your deeds.
(A great tribulation passage for the benefit of
church Thyatira.)
NAS Psalm 7:9 O let the
evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; For the
righteous God tries the hearts and minds.
NAS Proverbs 16:9 The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs
his steps. (Volition + Divine guidance.)
NAS 1 Kings 4:29 Now God
gave Solomon
wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand that is on
the seashore. Cp. James 1:5
Mind
and flesh:
NAS Romans 7:23 but I see
a different law in the members of my body, waging war
against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin
which is in my members.
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body
of this death?
25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I
myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my
flesh the law of sin. (War between our spiritual mind and our nature
to sin.)
NAS Romans 8:6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the
mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God;
for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; (Fleshly or spiritual mindset.)
NAS Ephesians 2:3 Among
them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging
the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature
children of wrath, even as the rest. (Unbelievers: Mind
dominated by flesh.)
Mind
malfunction:
NAS Romans 1:28 And just
as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God
gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which
are not proper,
(Rejection of God consciousness = unbeliever
mental malfunction.)
NAS Ephesians 4:17 This I say
therefore, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as
the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, (Attitude of improvement overcomes mind
malfunction.)
NAS Colossians 1:21 And
although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, (Unbelievers, hostile in
mind.)
NAS Colossians 2:18 Let
no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and
the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated
without cause by his fleshly mind,
(The relationship between religion
and mental malfunction.)
NAS 1 Timothy 6:5 and
constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the
truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. (The relationship
between religion and mental malfunction.)
NAS Titus 1:15 To the
pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving,
nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. (The relationship
between religion and mental malfunction.)
NAS Mark 8:33 But turning
around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter, and * said, "Get behind
Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's." (The relationship
between religion and mental malfunction.)
NAS Job 15:35 "They
conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity, And their mind prepares deception." Compare Psalm 36:1-4.
NAS Psalm 83:5 For they
have conspired together with one mind; Against Thee do they
make a covenant:
(Nations who conspired against
NAS Proverbs 12:8 A man
will be praised according to his insight, But one of perverse
mind
will be
despised. Compare Psalm 36:1-4.
NAS Proverbs 17:20 He who
has a crooked mind
finds no
good, And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.
NAS Proverbs 18:2 A fool does not delight
in understanding,
But only in revealing his own mind.
NAS Ecclesiastes 2:23
Because all his days his task is painful and grievous; even
at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity. (See the following context, 2:24-26, which concerns getting
oriented to God and enjoying life.
NAS Proverbs 24:2 For their
minds devise violence, And their lips talk of
trouble. Compare Psalm 36:1-4.
NAS Jeremiah 14:14 Then
the LORD said to me, "The prophets are prophesying falsehood in My name. I
have neither sent them nor commanded them nor spoken to them; they are
prophesying to you a false vision, divination, futility and the deception
of their own minds.
(The
relationship between religion and mental malfunction.)
NAS Acts 14:2 But the
Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles, and embittered them
against the brethren.
(Events in Iconium.) (The relationship
between religion and mental malfunction.)
NAS 2 Corinthians 3:14
But their minds were
hardened;
for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil
remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. (The relationship between
religion and mental malfunction.)
NAS 2 Corinthians 4:4 in
whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see
the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (Angelic Conflict and minds.)
NAS 2 Corinthians 11:3
But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your
minds
should be led
astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. (Angelic Conflict and minds.)
NAS Philippians 3:19
whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who
set their minds on earthly
things. (Reversionistic walk.)
NAS Jeremiah 14:14 Then
the LORD said to me, "The prophets are prophesying falsehood in My name. I
have neither sent them nor commanded them nor spoken to them; they are
prophesying to you a false vision, divination, futility and the
deception of their own minds.
(The relationship between religion
and mental malfunction.)
Miscellaneous:
NAS Isaiah 29:24
"And those who err in mind will know the truth, And
those who criticize will accept instruction. (A millennial passage concerning the spiritual
resuscitation of
NAS 1 Corinthians 14:19
however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind, that I may instruct
others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
NAS Psalm 36:1 {For the
choir director. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD.}
Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart; There is no fear of God
before his eyes. 2 For it flatters him in his own eyes,
Concerning the discovery of his iniquity and the
hatred of it. 3 The words of his mouth are wickedness
and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and
to do good. 4 He plans
wickedness upon his bed; He sets himself on a path that is not good; He does
not despise evil.
NAS James 1:5 But if any
of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and
without reproach, and it will be given to him.
NAS Psalm 2:1 Why are
the nations in an uproar, And the peoples devising a vain thing? 2 The kings of
the earth take their stand, And the rulers take counsel together Against the
LORD and against His Anointed: 3 "Let us tear their fetters apart, And
cast away their cords from us!"
NAS Ecclesiastes 2:24
There is nothing better for a man than
to eat and drink and
tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen, that it is from the
hand of God. 25 For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him? 26 For
to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy,
while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that
he may give to one who is good in God's sight. This too is vanity and striving
after wind.