A WORD STUDY ON “TRANSFORMATION” AS USED IN THE BOOK OF ROMANS 12:2

From Strong’s Concordance we discover the word Transform.

#3339 μεταμορφόω metamorphoo {met-am-or-fo'-o}

metamorphoó: to transform

Original Word: μεταμορφόω (Greek)
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: metamorphoó
Phonetic Spelling: (met-am-or-fo'-o)
Short Definition: I change the form, transform
Definition: I transform, transfigure.

TRANSFORMATION

Following the command, “Do not conformed to this age,” the Christian is commanded to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  The Greek word translated “transformed” is metamorphoo.  
This is the word from which the English word “metamorphosis” is derived.  This word refers to an inward change brought about completely apart from the power of the individual himself.  The individual Christian is powerless to bring about this metamorphosis.

In 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, Satan “transforms himself into an angel of light” and his ministers “also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness.”  In the Greek text the word “transformed” is not the same in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 as it is in Romans 12:2.  The word used in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 is metaschematizo, referring to an outward change; and, textually (v.13), this change is brought about through an individual’s own power.

Satan, thus, seeks to counterfeit the work of the Spirit by substituting an outward change in place of the inward change.  And the nature and source of this pseudo change often go unrecognized.

Christians who themselves seek to bring about the change of Romans 12:2 will always effect a metaschema (outward change) rather than a metamorphosis (inward change).  At the time of the birth from above the Spirit of God began a work in the Christian that He will continue “until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).  No effort on the part of Christians can help the Spirit of God effect this change.