G507 ἄνω (ánō)

Above (507)(ano) is an adverb of place and means higher in place, a position above another position, and used figuratively of heaven (Jn 8:23, Gal 4:26, Php 3:14, Col 3:1,2), of the direction upward (Lxx of Ex 20:4, Dt 4:39; when Jesus prayed Jn 11:41ESV, the sky Acts 2:19, figuratively of a root growing He 12:15). Ano is the root of the more "famous" adverb anothen (ano + -then = from) used by Jesus in John 3:3 speaking of men's need to be born "from above". Ano - 9x in 9v - John 2:7; 8:23; 11:41; Acts 2:19; Gal 4:26; Phil 3:14; Col 3:1, 2; Heb 12:15. NAS = above(5), brim(1), upward(1). Ano - 35x in 31v in the non-apocryphal Septuagint - Exod 20:4; Deut 4:39; 5:8; 28:43; 29:17; 30:12; Josh 2:11; 15:19; 16:5; 21:22; Judg 7:13; 1 Kgs 8:23; 10:22; 12:24; 2 Kgs 18:17; 19:30; 1 Chr 7:24; 22:5; 2 Chr 4:4; 8:5; 26:8; 32:30; Ps 49:4; 113:11; Prov 8:28; Eccl 3:21; Isa 7:3; 8:21; 34:10; 36:2; 37:31 Believers have had their unregenerate hearts of stone circumcised by the Spirit and have received a "heart transplant", a brand new heart, with new divine desires, a heart which now receives on the "FM Band" and enables them to be tuned into the "beautiful music" from above. Paul explained earlier in the sound doctrinal section that... in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ (Col 2:11-note) (See also Excursus on Circumcision Of the Heart) Comment: Beloved, our new heart enables a new aim and creates in us a desire for the things of heaven (cp Ps 51:10, Ezek 11:19, 20, 18:31), but this does not relinquish us from our obligation to work out that desire in fear and trembling (Our part = Php 2:12-note, God's part = provides the desire and the power in Php 2:13-note, cp the two clauses in Ezek 36:26, 27 and note God's part and man's responsibility in v27) The...above - Note that these are the first words in the Greek which emphasizes that the direction is to be heavenward. Look to heavenly things first. We note a dramatic contrast of "mindset" in the unregenerate man or woman... whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite ("belly"), and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds (same verb used in Col 3:2 = phroneo in the present tense = continually, habitually, as their normal manner of life) on earthly things. (but) our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for (present tense = our general attitude and affection) a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ Who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. (Php 3:19-note, Php 3:20, 21-note) Set you mind - Set your affection (KJV) is not a bad translation. Affection is defined as tender attachment, a propensity, a disposition, a feeling that includes an inclination or liking, a bent of the mind towards particular object. Webster's 1828 dictionary says affection holds a middle ground between disposition which is natural and passion which is excited by the presence of the exciting object. Other nuances of affection include a settled good will, love or zealous attachment or leaning. A feeling of fondness or tenderness or warmth. Now using these meanings of affection think about what it means to set our mind on the things that are above. Ask yourself "Is my mind bent toward heaven or toward earth?" "To what is my mind most tenderly attached - things of heaven or things on earth?" I think most of us would experience varying degrees of conviction that perhaps our tender feelings are focused far too often on the temporal and visible than on the eternal and invisible! (see 2Co 4:18-note) Spurgeon phrases it this way Have a relish for things above, study industriously things above. Spurgeon may have been quoting Johann Bengel who wrote... They who truly seek the things that are above, cannot but relish or set their affections on the things that are above. The Williams translation says Practice occupying your minds with the things above This setting of one's mind, affection and heart calls for a definite act of our wills (not self effort but Spirit enabled - Php 2:13-note) to daily, continually, moment by moment be thinking about and directing our minds towards the things of heaven and eternity. In fact believers should "filter" everything they see and experience on earth through the lens of eternity. Believers are other worldly and are to be heavenly-minded, and not weighed down, worried and bothered (Lk 10:41) by the fleeting fancies of this material, mundane present passing age. Spurgeon writes that... On board iron vessels (ships) it is a common thing to see a compass placed aloft, to be as much away from the cause of aberration as possible; a wise hint to us to elevate our affections and desires; the nearer to God, the less swayed by worldly influences. (Ed: Lord place the "compass" of our heart as near heaven as possible while our feet yet touch this decaying globe of dust. In Jesus' Name and for His fame. Amen) (cp David's prayer in 1Chr 29:18) A T Robertson makes the point that... It does matter what we think and we are responsible for our thoughts. Paul does not mean that we should never think the things upon the earth, but that these should not be our aim, our goal, our master. The Christian has to keep his feet upon the earth, but his head in the heavens. He must be heavenly-minded here on earth and so help to make earth like heaven.