Author: Will

1 Thessalonians 1:4 – Chosen and Loved

Posted on by Will

knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.

Truth to Learn

All Christians are chosen by and loved by God.

 

Behind the Words

The word “knowing” is from the Greek verb oida, which means “to see with perception,” that is, “to be aware of.” It is expressed here as a casual participle, so it could be translated as “since we know.”

“Beloved” is a form of the verb agape, a self-sacrificing love which is spoken almost exclusively of God. Therefore, we could refer to them as “brothers who are loved by God.”

“Election” is translated from the noun form of the verb eklegō. This verb is composed of ek, meaning “out” or “out of” and the verb legō, meaning “to choose” or “to select.” As used here it means “someone who has been selected, or chosen, by God.”

 

Meaning Explained

We have been talking about the fact that Paul and his two companions, Silvanus (Silas) and Timothy, regularly and unceasingly pray for and praise the Christians in the church at Thessalonica. Paul adds here that the Thessalonica Christians have been chosen by God and therefore, are among those who are loved by God with an everlasting, self-sacrificing love.

Election is one of those theological concepts that many Christians love to hate. Opponents of the concept say, “How can a loving God choose some and send others to Hell? That’s just not fair and God wouldn’t do that.” First of all, God does not choose anyone to go to Hell. It’s what we all deserve because we are all unrighteous sinners, and God’s holiness and righteousness demand that all sinners must be judged since we are all deserving of death:

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Jesus, Himself, told his disciples:

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, (John 15:16a).

And, Apostles Peter and Paul clearly teach that God chooses whom He decides (Romans 9:11; Romans 11:5; Romans 11:7, 8; Ephesians 1:4; 2Peter 1:10). And Paul argues very strongly that God loved Jacob and hated Esau, arguing that God is not unrighteous in doing so. After all, as Paul says, doesn’t the potter (God) have power over the clay (you and me), from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? This is stated very clearly in Romans 9:10-21.

In today’s verse Paul is telling his readers that he and those with him know (they have seen and perceived) the election of the Christians in Thessalonica. And from the previous verse we see that it is the deeds of faith and labor of love that demonstrate the election of these saints.

 

Application

None of us deserves God’s grace. We didn’t deserve to be chosen and we don’t know why He chose us. What we do know is that all Christians have been given a gift of immeasurable worth that we didn’t earn and we don’t deserve. Let’s show our gratitude by serving Him faithfully.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Thessalonians 1:3 – Hang In There!

Posted on by Will

Constantly remembering your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,

Truth to Learn

The Christian life requires hard work and patience.

 

Behind the Words

“Constantly” is translated from adialeiptōs, made up of a, meaning “without,” dia, meaning “through” or “between,” and a form of the verb leipō, meaning “to leave.” Thus, adialeiptōs literally means “without leaving space between.” In other words, it means doing something without pausing or stopping, that is, constantly.

Ergon is the Greek word translated “work.” It refers to “toil, labor, or work.” It doesn’t necessarily refer to “hard work,” but any kind of work, any act, or any deed performed.

The word “labor” is from the Greek word kopos, which is derived from the verb koptō, meaning “to cut” or “to beat on one’s chest in grief.” Kopos refers to the pain of toil or hard work. By analogy it refers to wearisome labor.

“Patience” is from the word hupomonē, which is made up of hupo, meaning “under” or “beneath” and a form of the verb menō, meaning “to remain” or “to stay in place.” It is a picture of a beast of burden remaining under a heavy load instead of shaking it off. Therefore, it carries the meaning of being steadfast or patient.

“Hope” is from elpidos, which means more than just a wish. It implies a desire for some good thing with the full expectation that it will come to pass.

 

Meaning Explained

Yesterday we learned that Paul and his partners were persistent in praying for the people to whom they had been ministering. They cared so much for the Thessalonians that they prayed for them regularly. Here we learn that the prayers weren’t for God to help the Thessalonians; Paul and his companions gave praise to God for the way they lived-out their faith.

In their prayers they remembered and praised the work of faith that the Christians in Thessalonica were engaged in. Being a committed Christian is not easy. It involves persistence because our work of spreading the gospel and building up our fellow Christians is constantly under attack from those who oppose us. The members of the church in Thessalonica apparently were undaunted in their efforts. Paul referred to it as both a work of faith and labor of love. Note the distinction between work of faith (our works will follow us into heaven where we will get rewards for them) and the labor of love (in heaven we will have rest from our hard labor).

Paul also praised the Thessalonians for their patience. The Greek word hupomonē is a very descriptive word. Remaining steadfast in our faith is difficult at times because we can’t see God, we can’t feel His hand of comfort, and we can’t hear His words of encouragement except by faith. But in spite of that, we have a hope (a firm expectation) that we will be eternally in His presence one day, and that helps us remain under the load.

 

Application

Be steadfast and patient in your good deeds and hard labor for God. He sees all that you do, and He will reward you for everything you do to bring Him glory. Hang in there! You will receive the rewards of your labor one day.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Thessalonians 1:2 – Prayer Warriors

Posted on by Will

We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers,

Truth to Learn

Our ministry should be focused on what God will do for others.

 

Behind the Words

The words “We give thanks” are translated from the Greek verb eucharisteō, which is made up of eu, meaning “good” or “well” and a form of charidzomai, meaning “to grant” or “to give.” The basic meanings of this word include “to show oneself to be pleased or grateful” or “to give thanks.”

“Always” is from pantote, which is a compound word composed of pan, meaning “all” or “every” and tote, which literally means “the when,” but by usage it means “then.” So a completely literal translation of this word would be “every when,” that is, “at all times.”

“Making mention” is translated from poioumenoi mneian. Poioumenoi is the present participle of the verb poieō (to make), so it literally means “making.” Mneian is based on the verb mnaomai, meaning “to remember.” Thus mneian refers to “a remembrance.” So, Paul is literally saying “making a remembrance of you …”

The word translated “prayers” is proseuchē, which is made up of pros, meaning “to” or “toward” and a form of euchomai, meaning “to wish” or “to pray.” Proseuchē refers specifically to a prayer (or wish) expressed to God.

 

Meaning Explained

We see something here that is very characteristic of the Apostle Paul. He is a person of prayer as much as (perhaps even more than) he is a preacher. His letters often talk about how he remembers in his prayers, and is thankful for, those to whom he is writing (Romans 1:9; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:4; Colossians 1:3; 2 Timothy 1:3; Philemon 1:4). We also see here an example of how often Paul is engaged in prayer (pantote = “every when”), that is, all the time. Based on what he has written to this church and others, Paul was constantly in prayer. Perhaps, he was not audibly praying at all times, but he seems to have been in constant communication with our Heavenly Father. He obviously practiced what he preached, for later in this very letter he admonishes his readers to “pray without ceasing” (1Thessalonians 5:17).

However, Paul was not a lonely prayer warrior. He states very clearly here that “We give thanks …” It appears that Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy spent time together praying about their ministry and praying for those to whom they ministered. These servants of God did not just preach the gospel to one group of people and then move on to preach to others, forgetting those to whom they ministered as soon as they were out of sight. No, they made constant remembrances of every church they had ministered to and probably remembered most of the people by name.

These faithful ministers were not focused on what God would do for them; they were focused on what God would do for others through them.

 

Application

Do you have a specific ministry within the church? If so, are you ministering to others for what you can get out of it, or are you ministering to others for what they can get from God? And, do you pray regularly for those to whom you minister?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Thessalonians 1:1 – Grace and Peace

Posted on by Will

Paul and Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

Truth to Learn

All Christians can know peace in the midst of attack.

 

Behind the Words

“Church” is translated from the Greek word ekklēsia, which is made up of ek, meaning “out” and a form of the verb kaleō, meaning “to call.” It literally refers to “the called out ones.” Originally, this word referred to an assembly of citizens who were called out by civil authorities. It is used throughout the New Testament, however, to refer to the church, either a local assembly or the world-wide church.

The word “Thessalonians” is transliterated (not translated, but moved directly from Greek into English) from the Greek word Thessalonikeus. The city of Thessalonica, located on the coast of Macedonia (northern Greece), was built beside a large natural harbor on the Aegean Sea. At the time of this letter it was the capital of Macedonia with a population of about 200,000 people. It was located on the Via Egnatia (the main east-west highway of the Roman Empire),.

 

Meaning Explained

Paul starts off this letter with a very short introduction, shorter than most of his letters. He indicates that it comes not just from him, but from Silvanus and Timothy as well.

Silvanus, also called Silas, was Paul’s chosen companion for his second missionary journey (Acts 15:40). Also, in the fifteenth chapter of Acts we find that Silas is referred to as a prophet (Acts 15:32). It is believed by some that he is also the Silvanus mentioned as the scribe of Peter’s first general epistle (1Peter 5:12), but this has not been historically verified. We first encounter Silvanus (Silas) in Acts 15:22 where he was chosen by the apostles and elders of the church in Jerusalem to accompany Paul and Barnabas in carrying an important letter to the church at Antioch. This same Silvanus was the one imprisoned with Paul in Philippi where they prayed and sang hymns together, resulting in the conversion of their jailer (Acts 16:15-34).

Timothy was also a constant companion to the Apostle Paul. His name is mentioned in all of Paul’s letters with the exception of those to the Galatians and the Ephesians. Although a younger man, the son of a Greek father and a Jewish mother, he had a good reputation among those who knew him (Acts 16:1, 2). After their short stay in Thessalonica, while Paul was ministering in Corinth, Timothy was the one whom he chose to return to Thessalonica to establish and comfort the church members there.

Paul’s opening message to the Thessalonian church is one of grace and peace. These two represent the source and the result of our salvation. For by grace we are saved (Ephesians 2:5), and this salvation results in a peace that is beyond our understanding (Philippians 4:7). His desire of peace for them is especially important given the persecution and confusion that existed in the church at that time.

 

Application

This letter was intended to provide peace and comfort to Christians who are under attack from within and without. Let’s study it carefully to know this peace that Paul proclaims.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Thessalonians – Introduction

Posted on by Will

Introduction

The City of Thessalonica

The city of Thessalonica (today it is called Salonica or Thessaloniki) is located on the coast of Macedonia (northern Greece). The city was originally built beside a large natural harbor (called the Thermaic Gulf) on the Aegean Sea. At the time it was given the name of Therma, because of the many hot springs nearby. In 315 B.C. it was renamed Thessalonica after the half-sister of Alexander the Great.

When Rome conquered Macedonia in 168 B.C., the city was made capital of the province of Macedonia. At the same time it was given the status of a “free city,” allowing it to be ruled by its own citizens, instead of the Roman Empire. By the first century A.D. it had a population of about 200,000 people. With its large, well-protected harbor, and the fact that it was a key city on the Via Egnatia (the main east-west highway of the Roman Empire), Thessalonica became a center for political and economic activity. It also became a trade-port for goods from all over the Roman Empire. As a result, it became known as “the mother of all Macedonia.”

The city was inhabited by a combination of Greeks, Romans, and Jews. The people of Thessalonica worshipped many gods, but a particular favorite was Jupiter, the father of Hercules, the alleged founder of Therma’s ancient royal family. Thessalonica had a celebrated amphitheater, where gladiatorial contests were put on for the amusement of the citizens, and a circus for public games.

Who Wrote This Letter?

Twice in the letter the author identifies himself as the Apostle Paul (1Thessalonians 1:1 and 1Thessalonians 2:18). Paul’s authorship was completely unquestioned until the twentieth century, but these critics have failed to make a significant case against the overwhelming internal and historical evidence. Not only does the writer claim to be Paul, but the details of the letter correspond completely with the details of Paul’s ministry as described in Acts chapters sixteen through eighteen. In addition, the early church fathers all ascribed Paul as the author and he is identified as such in Marcion’s canon in A.D. 140.

From Where Was This Letter Written?

Once again, based on internal evidence and other New Testament writings, we know with a high degree of certainty that this letter was written while Paul was in Corinth. After Paul left Thessalonica, he spent a brief time in Berea (Acts 17:10-14), and a short time in Athens (Acts 17:15-34). He then moved on to Corinth, where Silvanus and Timothy joined him. It was during this period, with Timothy and Silvanus at his side, that Paul wrote this letter to the Thessalonians (1Thessalonians 3:6).

When Was This Letter Written?

Based on the eighteenth chapter of the book of Acts, we know that Paul had been in Corinth for about a year and a half when the Jews accused him before the proconsul Gallio (Acts 18:1-11). Archeologists have uncovered an inscription in the temple of Apollos at Delphi (near Corinth) indicating that Gallio served as proconsul in Achaia between A.D. 51 and 52. Thus, it is most likely that Paul wrote this letter sometime in A.D. 50 or 51. Based on this information, it appears that this was the earliest of Paul’s writings to be included in the Bible. Chronologically, it was one of the earliest writings of the entire New Testament, with only James’ letter having been written previously.

Historical Background

When Paul initially arrived in Thessalonica he went to the Jewish synagogue, witnessing to them for three Sabbaths that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, for whom all Jewish believers had been waiting. As a result of Paul’s persuasive testimony, some of the Jews converted to Christianity along with a large number of Greeks who had previously become believers in the Jewish religion, as well as quite a few of the leading women of the city. This mass conversion caused some of the devout Jews to become angry and they accused the Christians of supporting another king beside Caesar.

As a result of the uproar that was caused, Paul and Silvanus were secretly escorted out of town by night and they headed to Berea, some ten miles or so to the south. Once again Paul headed to the local synagogue and testified that Jesus is the Christ. And, just like in Thessalonica, many of the Jews, Greeks, and prominent women believed. But when the Jews of Thessalonica heard that Paul was gaining converts in Berea, they stirred up trouble in Berea, so Paul headed to Athens while Silvanus and Timothy remained in Berea.

After Paul arrived in Athens, he sent word to Silvanus and Timothy that they should join him there, which they apparently did a short time later. Then Timothy was sent back to Thessalonica to encourage and comfort the church there and Silvanus was sent to Philippi, while Paul travelled to Corinth, about forty-five miles west of Athens. It was after Timothy and Silvanus rejoined Paul in Corinth that he wrote 1 Thessalonians in response to Timothy's good report of the church.

Why Was This Letter Written?

Upon hearing about the church in Thessalonica from Timothy, Paul decided to write to them. It appears that there were a number of objectives that Paul had in writing this letter, which include:

  • To encourage the church (1Thessalonians 1:2-10).
  • To answer to allegations that had been made about Paul by those who opposed his ministry in Thessalonica (1Thessalonians 2:1-12).
  • To comfort the church which had apparently suffered persecution from the Jewish believers of the city (1Thessalonians 2:13-16). In doing so, Paul also expressed his joy in the strength of their faith and their love for the Apostle (1Thessalonians 2:17-3:13).
  • To remind the new believers of the importance of maintaining moral purity (1Thessalonians 4:1-8).
  • To admonish those in the church who were not working, to pitch-in and work hard as a witness to those outside the church (1Thessalonians 4:9-12).
  • To more clearly explain some misunderstanding within the church concerning the Rapture and the coming Day of The Lord (1Thessalonians 4:13-5:11)
  • To instruct the church in the importance of submitting to the leadership of the church and to work toward unity and peace within the body by supporting each other (1Thessalonians 5:12-15).
  • To briefly recite some of the basics of Christian living (1Thessalonians 5:16-22).

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 6:24 – Eternal Joy

Posted on by Will

Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Truth to Learn

God’s grace and His love are unfading and eternal.

 

Behind the Words

“Grace” is translated from the Greek word charis. This is from the verb chairō, meaning “to rejoice.” It specifically refers to “an undeserved act of kindness causing joy or gratification, which is done without expectation of anything in return.” Here it is a specific reference to the joy that comes from knowing that God has granted salvation to those who don’t deserve it.

The word translated “Lord” is kurios, which is derived from kuros, meaning “might” or “power.” Thus, kurios refers to “someone who has legal power or supreme authority over you.”

“Sincerity” is from aphtharsia, which is derived from aphthartos, meaning “incorruptible” or “imperishable.” When used as it is here it refers to the way in which we love our Lord. In other words, it refers to a love that does not fade away or decrease, an incorruptible love.

The word “Amen” is transliterated from the Hebrew word amen, meaning “to be firm, steady, trustworthy, certainly, or completely true.” When used at the end of a statement or prayer, as it is here, it means “this is certainly the truth.”

Some translations end this verse with “amen,” but that word is not in the better Greek texts.

 

Meaning Explained

As we mentioned in yesterday’s verse, Paul is concluding this letter with a benediction, good words expressing his desire for those who read this letter. It is declared here as an implied prayer. In the previous verse he expressed his desire for all Christians to know the peace of God, which is beyond all understanding (Philippians 4:7), the love of God demonstrated by the gift of His only begotten Son (John 3:16), and saving and sanctifying faith which gets us through even the most difficult times (Ephesians 6:16).

In today’s verse he adds to these a joyous heart. Many of us have been taught in the past that “grace” means “unmerited favor.” In a sense that is true when it is referring to the gracious act that God has done for us. However, in its root meaning it really refers to the joy which is produced in our hearts as a result of God’s unmerited favor to us. We are all sinners and the penalty for our sins is death (separation from God for all eternity). For anyone who has accepted God’s gift of salvation, however, there is unspeakable joy in knowing that our sins have been forgiven. That joy can never be taken away from us, even in the face of physical death because we have a joyous hope of being in God’s presence forever.

Finally, in closing this letter Paul tells us something about the love that we Christians have for our God. This love, like our joy, not only will not cease, it will never diminish or fade. 

 

Application

No matter what kind of difficulty you may go through, if you are a Christian you can rest on the fact that God loves you as if you were His only child, and He has forgiven you all your sins. Paul teaches elsewhere that you can never do anything to lose that salvation because you didn’t do anything to earn it; it is God’s gracious gift. Therefore, you will never be separated from God or from His love. You may suffer heartache or pain, but you will know eternal peace and joy because of His love.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 6:23 – Peace, Love, and Faith

Posted on by Will

Peace to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Truth to Learn

You can experience peace and the love of God through faith.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “peace” is eirēnē. It can refer to an absence of war and dissention, that is, harmony among individuals. However, it can also refer to peace of mind and mental tranquility. This seems to be Paul’s intent here.

The word “love” in this verse is our old friend agapē, referring to a self-sacrificing love demonstrated by our actions.

“Faith” is translated from the Greek word pistis. It is derived from the verb peithō, meaning “to persuade” or “to win over.” Therefore, faith refers to “a firm persuasion, conviction, or belief in a truth.”

 

Meaning Explained

Having finished his teaching and having informed his readers that Tychicus would relay to them all that has been transpiring with Paul and his associates; the Apostle now makes his final closing benediction. A benediction (from the Latin bene, meaning “well” and dicere, meaning “to speak”) was a common form of closing a letter like this. The practice may have been derived from the ritual benediction that the Jewish High Priest proclaimed:

"The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD cause His face to shine on you, and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His face to you, and give you peace."  (Numbers 6:24-26)

This particular benediction is still recited today at the end of many protestant church services. Paul’s use of the benediction, however, is not simply a ritualistic blessing. If you look carefully at this verse you will see that there are three things that Paul offers for his readers: peace, love, and faith. These are actually three themes that occur throughout this letter.

Peace (Ephesians 1:2; 2:14, 15; 2:17; 4:3; and 6:15) comes from God the Father. It is delivered in the person of Jesus Christ, who established peace between Old Testament believers and New Testament believers. Our peace with God was purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ and it is the bond that unites all Christians. Finally, as part of our battle armor, peace with God is that which allows us to stand firm against all the attacks of our enemy.

Love (Ephesians 1:15; 4:2, 4:15-16; 5:25, 5:28, and 5:33) is the central characteristic of the Christian faith. It is what allows us to bear one another’s burdens and to gently encourage each other so that we can work together to build up the body of Christ. It is that which a husband demonstrates to his wife, portraying a picture of God’s love for us.

Faith (Ephesians 6:16; 1:15; 2:8; 3:12, 3:17; 4:5, and 4:13) is the essence of Christianity. Without it we cannot please God. Through faith we can quench the fiery arrows slung against us by our spiritual enemy. It gives us boldness as we approach our Almighty God in prayer. And, because of this faith, Christ lives in our hearts and unites us as His body and His bride-to-be.

 

Application

You, too, can experience the love of God and know the peace that exceeds all understanding. However, these only come through faith in the blood of Christ. You can’t earn them, you can only accept them as part of God’s gift of salvation.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 6:22 – A Personal Comforter

Posted on by Will

whom I sent to you for this very purpose, that you might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.

Truth to Learn

The church needs people of comfort and encouragement.

 

Behind the Words

“I have sent” is translated from the Greek verb pempō, which means “to send out” or “to dispatch.” It is expressed here in the aorist tense, indicating past completed action at a point in time. Thus it is translated as “I sent,” not “I have sent.”

The words “that you might know” are translated from the verb ginōskō, which can indicate either “to come to know” or “to know completely.” It is expressed here in the subjunctive mood indicating the probability or possibility of occurrence.

“Our affairs” is from ta peri hēmōn, which literally means “the things about us.” This is much like the expression Paul used in the previous verse (“the things concerning me”).

Parakaleō is the Greek verb translated “might comfort.” It is made up of para, meaning “beside” and kaleō, meaning “to call.” Thus, parakaleō literally means “to call alongside.” By application it means “to comfort” or “to encourage.”

 

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse we learned that Paul sent a man named Tychicus to the church in Ephesus so that the members of the church there might know how he was doing. It appears that Tychicus was used by Paul as a messenger. He apparently is the one who carried this letter to the church and he also possessed in depth knowledge of what was going on with the Apostle and all those with him.

We learned with yesterday’s verse that Paul was not in the habit of talking about himself in his letters to the churches. Instead, he sent trusted messengers who could relate in detail what was happening. He knew that anything communicated regarding his welfare would produce more questions. By sending someone like Tychicus, all the people’s questions could be answered in a calm and confident manner without having to wait for another letter.

This verse also highlights once again what a tender heart Paul had toward those with whom he had ministered in the past. We know from the nineteenth chapter of the book of Acts that the Apostle spent more than two years at the church in Ephesus. This appears to be the longest length of time that he spent with any one church. During that time he built strong personal ties with the members of that church. A large number of these people were likely led to the Lord as a direct result of Paul’s preaching ministry. For this reason, Paul wanted to make sure that his beloved friends in the church were well informed and comforted regarding what was happening to him while in a Roman prison.

 

Application

There are some members of every church who are specially gifted in giving words of encouragement and comfort to those around them. This is an important ministry, especially as the church and its members are coming under increasingly strong attacks. If there is someone that you know with this gift in your church, be sure to tell them thank-you for using their gift in the body of Christ.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 6:21 – The Beloved Waiter

Posted on by Will

But that you also might know the things concerning me and what I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you;

Truth to Learn

God gives recognition to those who serve humbly.

 

Behind the Words

The words “that you … might know” are translated from the verb eidō, which technically means “to see.” However, as in English, it is used in the sense of seeing with the mind, or knowing something. It is expressed here in the subjunctive mood indicating the possibility or probability of knowing.

“The things concerning me” is translated from ta kat eme, which refers to the events surrounding Paul and his ministry.

The word “doing” is from prassō, which refers to “something done repeatedly or continually.” It is sometimes translated as “practice,” but here it refers to the general activities of daily living.

“Beloved” is translated from agapētos. This is based on the verb agape, which refers to “a self-sacrificing love.” It is a stronger expression than phileō, meaning “brotherly love.” Paul expressed it here with the definite article, so it is translated as “the beloved.”

“Minister” is from the Greek word diakonos. This is derived from the verb diakō, meaning “to run errands.” It is the word used to describe someone who serves others while they are eating, what we would call “a waiter.”

 

Meaning Explained

The Apostle Paul has finished his teaching in this letter to the Christians in the church at Ephesus. He now concludes with a very brief salutation. Paul has a singularity of purpose in his letters to the various churches, that of proclaiming the doctrines of the Christian faith. He spends almost no time at all telling about himself. Instead, he suggests that his dear friends talk to Tychicus about what is happening to him.

What do we know about Tychicus? He is first mentioned in Acts 20:4 where we learn two things about him. The first is that he was from Asia (modern day Turkey) of which Ephesus was the capitol city. The second thing we learn about him is that he was faithful to the Apostle, having accompanied him during part of his travels. It is possible that he became a Christian as a result of Paul’s two year ministry in Ephesus, although we are not told that anywhere.

Another thing that we learn about this man, based on today’s verse, is that he has spent much time with Paul in the Roman prison. Because of this, he is able to tell the brothers and sisters in Ephesus all about what has been happening with Paul. The Apostle refers to Tychicus as “the beloved brother.” This indicates that not only was he a very special friend to Paul, but he was well known among the Ephesians. Finally, we learn that this man was a faithful minister. In other words, he was not hung-up on how great he was. Rather, he was a humble servant, willing to do whatever the Apostle needed him to do.

 

Application

Most often, those who are called out as special are those who have accomplished some great feat. Not so with Tychicus. He was special because he was a humble servant. What would your pastor say about you? Does he even know who you are?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 6:20 – Proclaim It Boldly!

Posted on by Will

for which I am an ambassador in a chain; that in it I might speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Truth to Learn

We need to boldly proclaim the Gospel message.

 

Behind the Words

Presbeuō is the Greek word translated “ambassador.” It literally means “to be an old man,” but it is used metaphorically to mean “a representative” or “an ambassador.”

“Chain” is from the Greek noun halusis, which refers to any kind of restraint for either the hands or feet (shackles, manacles, or chains). This particular word is most often used to describe a “coupling chain” which bound a prisoner hand-to-hand to a guarding soldier. Given that Paul wrote this letter from prison, it is likely that this is the type of chain he is referring to.

The words “I might speak boldly” are from the Greek verb parrēsiadzomai. This is the verb form of parrēsia, which we saw in yesterday’s verse. It means “to speak openly” or “to speak boldly.” It is expressed here in the subjunctive mood indicating the possibility or probability of such action.

“I ought” is translated from the Greek verb dei, which means “it needs to happen,” “it is necessary,” or “it is inevitable.”

 

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse the Apostle Paul expressed a prayer request that everyone reading this letter (and those hearing this letter read to them) might pray for him. Specifically, he requested that he might be given the words to speak regarding the mystery of the Gospel and that he might be given boldness to declare the message forthrightly. In today’s verse he tells us that it is because of the Gospel message that he is currently chained to a Roman soldier. Here’s how that came to be.

After Paul’s third missionary journey, he returned to Jerusalem to deliver an offering from the churches of Greece and Asia. He felt compelled to go there “to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” even though he knew that he would be put in chains there (Acts 20:22-24). When reminded that he would be taken prisoner in Jerusalem, he told those around him that he was ready even to die for the Gospel (Acts 21:10-13).

While in Jerusalem, he was falsely accused of defiling the Temple, and he was put under protective custody. While in custody, the Lord told him that he must also proclaim the Gospel message in Rome (Acts 23:11). Then, because the Jews had plotted to kill him, Paul was taken to Caesarea so that he might appear before the Roman governor Felix, as well as his successor Porcius Festus. While appearing before Festus, Paul exercised his right of appeal as a Roman citizen to be judged at Caesar’s court in Rome. So, after having already been imprisoned for two years, he was sent to Rome. It was while in Rome, chained to a Roman soldier, that Paul wrote this letter to the church at Ephesus. We see that quite literally, Paul was in chains because of his bold proclamation of the Gospel. Now he is asking for prayers so that he might continue to proclaim the Gospel with boldness, which he still feels compelled to do.

 

Application

How many of us are reluctant to proclaim the Gospel message because of what someone might think about us? Paul was ready to face prison and death to share the good news. We have peace and hope because Christ suffered and died, and now He is risen! Let us boldly proclaim the Gospel, just like Paul did!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved