Definition
Phroneo (Gr. φρονέω = to think, to be minded, to set one’s mind) is the Greek term for the mindset, disposition, or orientation of the spirit that the Holy Spirit works in the believer, in conformity with the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5). The concept refers not to abstract intellectual content but to the orientation of the mind — the directedness of the human spirit toward the things above (Col. 3:1-2) in contrast to the mindset of the flesh (Rom. 8:5-7). For Noordzij, phroneo functions as the pneumatological principle that protects the believer against satanic deception through the Bible or theology.
Usage in the Corpus
Cees and Anneke Noordzij
Noordzij explicitly connects the renewed mind (Rom. 12:2) to the mindset of Jesus himself: “We must have the disposition of Jesus, His phroneo (= mindset). He thought spiritually. He said: ‘I am from above’ (John 8:23).” The background is the satanic temptation in the wilderness: Satan uses Scripture, but interprets heavenly truths in earthly ways. Only the phroneo of Christ — spiritual thinking from above — protects the believer against this danger: “We can only be safeguarded from the subtle temptations of Satan if we also have the way of thinking that was in Christ Jesus. Therefore Paul calls us to ‘seek the things that are above’ (Col. 3:1).”
The relation of phroneo to the indwelling of the Spirit is direct: the renewed mind is the work of the indwelling Spirit (Rom. 12:2), not the result of Bible study alone. Only when the Spirit renews the mind can the believer bring all thoughts “into captivity to the obedience of Christ and test them against Scripture (2Cor. 10:5).” [Noordzij, The Word of God and Scripture, section “Scripture: useful for correction”]