Tag: antitasso

Romans 13:2 – Authoritative Submission

Posted on by Will

Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has ordained, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

Truth to Learn

We are to submit ourselves to those in authority over us, or we will find ourselves resisting what God has put in place.

 

Behind the Words

The first occurrence of the word “resists” is translated from antitassō, which is made up of anti, meaning “against” and tassō, which we looked at in the previous verse meaning “to place in order.” Therefore, we see that antitassō means “to put in an orderly arrangement against.” It is the word that is used of an army put in battle formation against the enemy.

“Ordained” is from the Greek word diatagē, which is made up of dia, meaning “through,” but which also implies thoroughness, and a form of tassō, “to arrange.” Hence, this word refers to something that is “thoroughly arranged” or “ordained.’

The second occurrence of “resists” and the word “resist” are both translated from the Greek word anthestemi, which is another compound word. This one is made up of anti, meaning “against” and histemi, meaning “to stand.” Thus we see that these two words both mean “to take a stand against” or “to resist.”

“Bring” is from a form of the Greek word lambanō, meaning “to take.” It is in the active voice in this verse indicating that it is something being actively taken as opposed to something being passively received.

 

Meaning Explained

Before we talk about this verse, notice the heavy use of the root word tassō (to set in an orderly arrangement) in both the previous verse and this one. It is as if the Apostle Paul is making a stark contrast between what God has put in place and what mankind tries to put in place. Paul is very fond of using such a “play on words” to emphasize the point he is making. This is especially poignant given the fact that he spent the entire last chapter teaching us to be living sacrifices, not seeking our own will, but God’s.

In the previous verse he warned us to submit ourselves to the authorities that are over us, whether religious, occupational, or civil. We are not to fight against authority, and in this verse he tells us why:

Therefore whoever opposes the authority is standing against the orderly arrangement that God has set in place, and those who take such a stand will take judgment on themselves.

In other words, if we are contemplating the resisting of any authority that we are under, whether it is religious, occupational, or civil, we had better make absolutely certain that we are not resisting what God has put in place. Remember, that the only example that God gives us where we are to resist authority is when that authority is asking us to act contrary to God’s specific instructions to us, such as an authority telling us not to witness concerning salvation through Jesus Christ.

 

Application

We do not have to respect or even like people who are in authority over us, but we are to respect their position of authority and submit to them. Otherwise, we are resisting what God has put in place.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 4:7 – Resistance Through Submission

Posted on by Will

Therefore be submitted to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Truth to Learn

Submitting to God is the only way to resist our enemy.

Behind the Words

The word translated “submit” is the Greek word, hupotassō which is made up of hupo (or hypo), which means “under,” as in hypodermic (under the skin), and tassō, which means “to place in an orderly manner.” Therefore, to submit means to place yourself under. This is a military term which means to place yourself in a lower rank than someone else, committed to obeying your superior’s orders. It is used here in the passive voice implying action done to the subject (you) and in the imperative mood, indicating that it is a command.

We saw the word “resist” in the previous verse. It is translated from the Greek word antitassō, meaning “to set-up battle lines against an enemy.” This word is also in the imperative mood indicating a command.

The word translated “flee”; is the Greek word pheugō, which means “to run away” or “to vanish.”

Meaning Explained

I hope we’re all prepared to hear James’ message about submission, because he’s going to say it more than once. He is saying that since God sets Himself against the proud and gives grace to the humble, we should allow ourselves to be placed under God (be submitted to Him) and stand firm against the devil. If we do these two things, we are told that the devil will run away. The scene I imagine is of a little child who has been harassed by the town bully. The child then runs to the biggest, strongest person around (who just happens to be his or her dad) and stands there in his shadow smiling confidently at the bully who runs away when he sees the child’s dad.

If we take this in context with the preceding verses, it is clear that James is telling us that when we are filled with envy and the lust to have more of what the world has to offer (the worldly lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of position and power), we need to be humbled before our God and resist these temptations. These desires for stuff, pleasure, and power are an integral part of the world system of which Satan is the prince.

Notice, however, that James does not simply say that we are to resist the Devil. Trying to resist the Devil without being submitted to God is like the child trying to resist the bully on his own. We all know what happens to the child when his or her father is not around. We are no different in our spiritual warfare against Satan and his world system. We cannot take him on by ourselves. It is only as we are submitted to God’s will and committed to doing things His way that we can have victory over our adversary.

Application

I have learned from experience that when I try to stand like a lone gladiator against the temptations that this world throws at me, I fail miserably. However, when I recognize my weakness from the start and fall on my knees before God, seeking His victory over the temptation, it often vanishes into thin air. Try it yourself, even today. When you find yourself tempted by this bullying world system, submit your will to your Heavenly Father and resist! For His glory!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 4:6 – Humbled before God

Posted on by Will

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God sets Himself against proud ones, but gives grace to humble ones."

Truth to Learn

Humility before God is a key to having a fulfilling relationship with Him.

Behind the Words

The word translated “more” is meidzona, which is the comparative form of megas, meaning “big or large.” Hence, this word means “bigger or larger.”

“sets … against” is from antitassō, a compound word made up of anti, meaning “against” and tassō, meaning “to arrange in an orderly manner.” This is a military term meaning “to set-up battle lines against an enemy.”

The word “proud” is translated from huperēphanos, which is made up of huper (or hyper), meaning “above” or “over” and a form of phainō, meaning “to show forth” or “to shine.” Hence, literally, it is someone who overly shows himself or herself. That is, someone who is arrogant or personally proud.

The word “humble” is translated from the Greek word tapeinos, which refers to “those who are low, particularly in attitude or social position.”

Meaning Explained

When we make “stuff” our idol and seek it instead of God, it does not please Him. In fact, it makes God jealous because we are His beloved bride and He wants us to seek only Him. When we desire anything other than God, we are acting like an unfaithful wife.

In spite of our sinful selfishness, James tells us that God shows us grace greater than our selfish, self-serving attitude. But God does not show us this grace while we are filled with selfish pride. He only gives it when we are consumed with self-less humility. When we are proud, James tells us here, God sets up battle lines against us, and who in their right mind wants to go to battle against Him?

Throughout the Bible, we see that one of the keys to a fulfilling relationship with Almighty God begins with humility. Look at 2 Chronicles 7:14, where it says:

And if My people, on whom my name is called, shall be humbled, and shall pray, and shall seek my face, and shall turn from their evil ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Also, look at 1 peter 5:6, which says:

Be humbled, then, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in time

We are repeatedly told that humbleness before God is what He wants of us. We live in a world system, however, that is constantly delivering a message of pride and self-reliance, and it is constantly enticing our desire for stuff. That’s what advertising is all about! But as Christians, we need to continually humble ourselves before God and seek His will rather than our own.

Application

Take a pen and paper right now and make a list of the things that you really want in this life. Go ahead, stop reading at the end of this sentence and write down that list.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 13:2 – Authoritative Submission

Posted on by Will

Romans 13:2 – Authoritative Submission

Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

Truth to Learn

We are to submit ourselves to those in authority over us, or we will find ourselves resisting what God has put in place.

Behind the Words

The first occurrence of the word “resists” is translated from antitassō, which is made up of anti, meaning “against” and tassō, which we looked at in the previous verse meaning “to place in order.” Therefore, we see that antitassō means “to put in an orderly arrangement against.” It is the word that is used of an army put in battle formation against the enemy.

“Ordinance” is from the Greek word diatagē, which is made up of dia, meaning “through,” but which also implies thoroughness, and a form of tassō, “to arrange.” Hence, this word refers to something that is “thoroughly arranged” or “ordained.’

The second occurrence of “resists” and the word “resist” are both translated from the Greek word anthestemi, which is another compound word. This one is made up of anti, meaning “against” and histemi, meaning “to stand.” Thus we see that these two words both mean “to take a stand against” or “to resist.”

“Bring” is from a form of the Greek word lambanō, meaning “to take.” It is in the active voice in this verse indicating that it is something being actively taken as opposed to something being passively received.

Meaning Explained

Before we talk about this verse, notice the heavy use of the root word tassō (to set in an orderly arrangement) in both the previous verse and this one. It is as if the Apostle Paul is making a stark contrast between what God has put in place and what mankind tries to put in place. Paul is very fond of using such a “play on words” to emphasize the point he is making. This is especially poignant given the fact that he spent the entire last chapter teaching us to be living sacrifices, not seeking our own will, but God’s.

In the previous verse he warned us to submit ourselves to the authorities that are over us, whether religious, occupational, or civil. We are not to fight against authority, and in this verse he tells us why:

Therefore whoever opposes the authority is standing against the orderly arrangement that God has set in place, and those who take such a stand will take judgment on themselves.

In other words, if we are contemplating the resisting of any authority that we are under, whether it is religious, occupational, or civil, we had better make absolutely certain that we are not resisting what God has put in place. Remember, that the only example that God gives us where we are to resist authority is when that authority is asking us to act contrary to God’s specific instructions to us, such as an authority telling us not to witness concerning salvation through Jesus Christ.

Application

We do not have to respect or even like people who are in authority over us, but we are to respect their position of authority and submit to them. Otherwise, we are resisting what God has put in place.

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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