Tag: ekklesia

1Thessalonians 1:1 – Grace and Peace

Posted on by Will

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

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, located on the Via Egnatia (the main east-west highway of the Roman Empire), with a population of about 200,000 people.

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 writer 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 © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 5:23 – God Honoring Submission

Posted on by Will

For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body

Truth to Learn

Submission is part of God’s plan and it honors Him.

Behind the Words

“Head” is translated from kephalē, which means “the uppermost part of something” or “the head.” Thus, it is used both literally and figuratively to refer to the head of something.

The word “Christ” is from the Greek word christos, which is derived from chriō, meaning “to anoint.” In the Old Testament, a prophet or high priest anointed a person with oil as a symbol that the person was chosen by God for a specific purpose. The Jews believe that the anointed one (Hebrew Mashiach or Messiah) is God’s chosen redeemer who will come to rescue the Jews. Christos is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew title Mashiach.

The word translated “church” is ekklesia, which is a compound word made up of ek, meaning “out” or “out of” and a form of kaleō, meaning “to call.” Thus, this term refers to “the called-out ones.” Originally, this term was applied to any group of people called out to a public assembly. The Jewish equivalent of ekklesia is sunagogē (those who are gathered together). Since the church was often considered a sect of Judaism, a church body was initially referred to as an episunagogē. However, wanting to distinguish themselves from the members of the Jewish faith, early Christians referred to their assembly as ekklesia.

Meaning Explained

Yesterday’s verse introduced a topic that many Christian women today find troubling. They think that it is demeaning to expect a woman to submit to her husband. There are two important things to remember in this discussion, however. The first is that Christianity was directly responsible for raising up the position of women from that of a man’s possession to that of a man’s partner. The second thing to remember is that God expects more from a man because he is head of the family unit. “But, it’s not fair that it is always the woman who has to submit to the man,” you might say. However, it is no more unfair than that Jesus Christ, who is completely God, always has to submit to the will of the Father and that the Holy Spirit always has to submit to the will of the Father and the Son. It is the way that God determined it to be.

In today’s verse Paul tells us that the reason that a wife is to voluntarily submit to her husband is because God designed the marriage relationship with the man as the head. It is God’s plan that a man be the head of the family just as it is His plan that Christ is head of the church. The church, also called “the body of Christ,” is elsewhere referred to as “the bride of the Lamb”:

Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. (Revelation 19:7)

So the picture of the church submitting to Christ is the same as the wife submitting to her husband.

Application

Ladies, your act of submission to your husband is not demeaning, it is God honoring! Submitting to your husband is an act of obedience to God and He will bless you for it.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

Ephesians 3:21 – Praise God!

Posted on by Will

to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Truth to Learn

God deserves all our praise!

Behind the Words

The word “glory” is translated from doxa, from which we get our English word doxology. It is derived from the verb dokeō, meaning “thought or opinion, especially favorable human opinion.” The word doxa refers to “honor, praise, glory, splendor, excellence, or renown.”

“Church” is from the Greek word ekklēsia, a compound word made up of ek, meaning “out” or “out of” and a form of kaleō, meaning “to call someone.” Therefore, ekklēsia refers to “a called out group of people.” It was a common term for a congregation or “citizens who were called out to assemble for a public meeting.”

The word “generations” is translated from genea, which is derived from the verb ginomai, meaning “to come into being.” Initially this word simply meant “a generation,” but later it came to refer to “a space of time” or “a circle of time.” As it is used in this verse, it clearly refers to “generations.”

“Forever and ever” is an interesting expression. The Greek words are tou aiōnos tōn aiōnōn, which literally translate to “of the age of the ages.” So technically, “forever and ever” is a paraphrase, but it is probably the closest English expression to expressing the idea of the Greek words.

Meaning Explained

Paul is now closing the prayer for the members of the church in Ephesus (and by extension for all Christians). This prayer, which began in verse fourteen, contains four petitions:

  1. That the Father would strengthen us internally by the Holy Spirit
  2. That Christ would dwell in our hearts through faith
  3. That we might experientially know the love of Christ
  4. That we would be filled with all the fullness of God

Take a minute to recognize how effective Paul’s prayer is. All of us who are committed Christians experience all four of those things that Paul prayed for. Thank you, Paul!

In closing his prayer, the Apostle first proclaimed that God has more than enough power to do far more than we could ever ask or think, indicating how mighty He is. Now he proclaims a statement of the recognition that God deserves.

Notice that Paul proclaims the renown, the honor, and the praise that God is due (and which He receives) within the church. Outside the church, however, we see that God receives very little recognition for who He is or for what He has done. For the most part, those outside the church want to ignore God. Like ostriches, they think that if they hide their head in the sand by denying their own sinfulness or God’s sovereignty, they won’t have to face the consequences of their sins. How wrong they are, and how horrified they will be when they finally discover the truth and their fate.

Application

Like Paul, let us give God the recognition, honor, and praise that He is due. He deserves it all, and we owe Him all that we can possibly give to Him.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

Ephesians 1:22 – Supreme Authority

Posted on by Will

Ephesians 1:22  – Supreme Authority

And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,

Truth to Learn

Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for your sins and He is now your supreme authority with regard to all things physical and spiritual.

Behind the Words

The words “put … under” are translated from hupotassō, which is made up of hupo, meaning “under” or “beneath” and tassō, meaning “to place in an orderly arrangement.” Thus, hupotassō means “to intentionally place in a lower position.”

“Gave” is from the Greek verb didōmi, which means “to give” or “to grant.”

The word “head” is from the noun kephalē, which refers to “a head.” It can refer to the physical head of a body or, metaphorically, it can refer to “the supreme position of authority.”

“All” is the translation of the Greek word pas. It is expressed here in the neuter gender. Therefore, it refers to “all things.”

The Greek word ekklēsia is translated “church.” Ekklēsia is made up of ek, meaning “out” and a form of kaleō, meaning “to call.” So, ekklēsia refers to something that has been “called out.” Originally, this word referred to an assembly of citizens who were called out by civil authorities. It is used throughout the New Testament to refer to a church, either a local assembly or the world-wide church.

Meaning Explained

Paul has been talking about the awesome power that God displayed when He raised Jesus Christ from the dead. As He did this, He also seated Jesus at His right hand, the position of greatest honor. In this position He is far above all of creation, both physical and spirit. This is an indication of the supreme position of honor in which Jesus has been placed. Now, to emphasize the point a little bit more, Paul says that God the Father also put all of creation beneath His feet. This is a direct fulfillment of the words spoken in the Psalms:

You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, (Psalms 8:6)

In other words, Jesus Christ is not only supreme in honor, but He is also supreme in authority. All of creation must submit to the authority of Jesus Christ or face the outpouring of His wrath. Those who submit to His authority during this life will not experience His wrath at the judgment. Notice that as Christians, we are commanded to submit to the authority of Jesus Christ and we are commanded to submit to each other as well, as Paul teaches later in this letter (see Ephesians 5:21).

As supreme authority over all of creation, Jesus has also been given a special position with regard to all Christians. He is our Lord individually, but He is also placed in the highest position regarding the church. He is our spiritual authority.

Application

As a Christian, you have humbled yourself before God and accepted the blood of Jesus as payment for your sins. At the same time, you placed yourself under His authority.

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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Romans 16:5 – Committed and Active

Posted on by Will

Romans 16:5 – Committed and Active

Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.

Truth to Learn

Christianity involves active participation, not passive attendance.

Behind the Words

Notice that the word “greet” is in an italic font. That’s because it does not appear in the Greek text, but has been inserted by the translators. The Greek text actually reads, “Likewise the church that is in their house.”

“Church” is from the Greek noun ekklēsia, which is made up of ek, meaning “out of” and a form of kaleō, meaning “to call.” Hence, we see that ekklēsia literally means “a group of called out ones.” It originally referred to citizens who were called out by a herald for a public meeting. As Christians gathered in the first century they were initially referred to as a synagogue (from the Greek sunagogē, meaning “gathered together ones”). But, in order to distinguish them from a Jewish gathering, they were soon referred to as a church (ekklēsia).

The word “firstfruits” is translated from aparchē. This is another compound word. This one is made up of apo, meaning “from” and archomai, meaning “to begin.” Thus, aparchē literally means “begin from.” In other words, it is the beginning of something from which other things follow.

The word “Achaia” does not appear in some of the major Greek texts. Instead, the word Asia appears.

Meaning Explained

The first thing we learn from this verse is that Aquila and Priscilla were totally involved in ministering for the Lord. Not only did they work with Paul in both secular and spiritual activities, helping Paul and even risking their own lives for him, but they also had a church meeting in their own house. Some have speculated that this simply indicated some of the members of the church in Rome gathering in their home from time to time. However, we know that Aquila and Priscilla seemed to use their home for church meetings elsewhere as well. Since Paul wrote 1Corinthians from Ephesus, we see that Aquila and Priscilla had a church meeting in their house in Ephesus as well.

The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. (1Corinthians 16:19)

Paul now moves on from Aquila and Priscilla, sending greetings to a man named Epaenetus. His name means “praised.” We know nothing about this man other than what Paul proclaims here. He was someone very special to Paul because he refers to Epaenetus as his “beloved.” He also indicates that this man was the firstfruits of Achaia (or Asia). This implies that Epaenetus was the first (or one of the first) people to become a Christian in that area.

Application

Aquila and Priscilla were active members involved in ministering to the body of Christ no matter where they were. Likewise, Phoebe used what God had given to her to support the body, especially those who had a particular need. Are you an active member of the body of Christ, or do you just go to church?

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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