Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 64:1 (Mar 2021)
Article: A Mind For The Body
Author: Craig S. Keener

JETS 64:1 (March 2021) p. 3

A Mind For The Body

Craig Keener*

^* Craig Keener is F. M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary, 204 N. Lexington Ave., Wilmore, KY 40390.

This article adapts my 2020 ETS presidential address, and as such it exhibits a sort of hybrid genre. As a NT scholar, I first explain a biblical passage, in this case Romans 12:1–8, elaborating on the theme there of a mind for the body.1 But insofar as the role of ETS president includes pastoral interests, I develop at some length pastoral applications of one of this passage’s points that I believe is very relevant and timely for ETS.

The latter section focuses on our unity as believers, particularly (as emphasized in some other Pauline passages) our cross-cultural and multiracial unity. Beyond direct exegesis of Paul, therefore, I will include contemporary examples as something like case studies. My address might thus sound like two papers: half as a NT scholar on the exegesis of Romans 12:1–8 and half from a pastoral perspective on evangelical unity. Nevertheless, exegesis about Christ’s one body should have significant practical implications for how we treat one another.

I. Serving Christ’s Body In Romans 12:1–8

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Ps 111:10; Prov 1:7; 9:10), and God blesses intellects devoted to his service. As our minds are renewed, we also devote our own individual bodies to serve the purposes of Christ’s body. Romans 12:1–8 addresses minds renewed for serving Christ’s body. As ETS members, we are among evangelicalism’s intellectual mentors, training many of the movement’s future leaders. As Christian academicians, we naturally care about developing minds renewed to share the ways of what Paul elsewhere calls the mind of Christ and the mind of the Spirit.2

1. Our rational service (12:1). In Romans 12:1, Paul urges us to present our own bodies as sacrifices; in light of verses 4–6, we offer the actions of our bodies for serving Christ’s body. Paul describes our sacrifice with three adjectives: living, holy,

JETS 64:1 (Marc...