Tag: anyone

1 Corinthians 3:17 – Destruction Equals Destruction

Posted on by Will

If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Truth to Learn

Destroying a church has dire consequences.

Behind the Words

“Anyone” is translated from the indefinite pronoun tis, which means “someone,” “a certain one,” or “anyone.”

The words “defiles” and “destroy” are both translated from the same Greek verb. It is phtheirō, which means “to corrupt, spoil, or destroy, in a moral or spiritual sense.” In classical Greek it nearly always means “to destroy.”

“Temple” is again translated from naon, which refers to the most sacred part of the temple, where God dwells.

Hagios is the word translated “holy.” It is based on hagos, meaning “that which inspires awe.” The basic meaning of hagios is “that which is set apart from common use to be used in the service of God.” Therefore, hagios is sometimes translated “holy” or “sanctified.” All Christians have been set-apart from the world and set-apart to God.

The word “which” is from the Greek indefinite, relative pronoun hostis. It is made up of hos, meaning “he” or “who” and tis, meaning “anyone” or “someone” Thus, hostis means “someone who.” Grammatically, it refers to “holy,” not “temple.”

“You” is from humeis, meaning “you (plural).” And the verb “are” is from the second person plural form of eimi, meaning “you (plural) are.”

Meaning Explained

In order to get the correct meaning from this verse we have to keep in mind that Paul is talking to the Christians in Corinth about the divisions that had been caused in the church there. Groups of people (cliques) had formed to follow different teachers within the church. Paul has been using the metaphor of constructing a building in reference to the building up of the body of Christ. Back in verse ten of this chapter, he cautioned us that we need to be mindful of the way we build on the foundation (the person and work of Jesus Christ). When people are working at odds with each other, instead of working together for a common goal, the building is weakened and may be destroyed.

Here Paul warns us that anyone who destroys the temple (the body of Christ, the local church in this case), God will destroy him or her. This does not mean that a Christian will lose his or her salvation as a result of destroying the church, because Paul teaches elsewhere that there is nothing that we can do to lose our salvation (see study on Romans 4:24). Therefore, the destruction that he is talking about is either a reference to physical death or it is a reference to unsaved people who destroy the church.

Paul further emphasizes the seriousness of destroying the temple (the local body of Christ), by declaring that we who make up the temple are holy. We have been set apart “from the world” and set apart “to God for His use.”

Application

Be careful how you work on building up the body of Christ. Good work will result in a reward, poor work will go up in smoke, and destructive work will result in your own destruction. Let’s all focus on good construction work.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2013 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

1 Corinthians 3:14 – Crowns of Victory

Posted on by Will

If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

Truth to Learn

Our works in building up the church will be tested by fire and the good works will result in a reward.

Behind the Words

“Anyone’s” is translated from a form of tis, meaning “someone.” It is expressed in the genitive case, indicating possession or source. In the Greek, this reads, “the work of anyone.”

The words “he has built on” are translated from the verb epoikodomeō, which we saw back in verses ten and twelve. It means “to build a structure” or “to build upon.” It is expressed here as an aorist verb indicating past, completed action.

“Endures” is from the Greek word menō, which means “to remain” or “to stay.”

Lambanō is the word translated “receive.” This verb means “to take or receive, either as a self-prompted action or as the result of someone else offering something.” It is expressed in the future tense, indicating action that will take place in the future.

The word “reward” is translated from the Greek noun misthos. This word can refer to something earned or to a reward for an action taken or a deed done.

Meaning Explained

We learned in yesterday’s verse that the works we do in building up the church will be tested (judged) by fire at the Judgment Seat of Christ, also called the Bema Seat Judgment. Those deeds that we do for ourselves or for our own recognition will be burned up like wood, hay, or straw. However, those works that we do under the direction of the Holy Spirit, giving the glory to God, will remain after the fiery trial.

In both Romans 14:10 and 2 Corinthians 5:10 the word translated “judgment seat” is the Greek word bematos, which literally means “an elevated step.” The bematos often had a seat upon it where a judgment or tribunal was held. In the first century AD a Bema Seat (bematos) was where the victor in a race or other contest was awarded a crown by a judge who sat on the Bema Seat. There are at least five different crowns mentioned in the New Testament as rewards for faithful Christians. In each of those references, the word translated “crown” is a form of the Greek word stephanos. This is from the root stephō, which means “to twine” or “to wreath.” This is often referred to as a “victor’s crown.” Since the bema seat judgment is for the purpose of finding good in our works done in this physical body, it follows that at the bema seat judgment we will be awarded our crowns.

One other thing to note regarding our victor’s crowns: In Revelation 4:10, 11 there is a description of the church in the throne room of God casting their crowns before Him declaring, “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

Application

All Christians are called to serve the Lord in the building up of the church. If we perform our works with a humble heart, we’ll receive a crown. Will you have a crown to cast at our Savior’s feet, or will you be standing there with nothing but ashes?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2013 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

 

1 Corinthians 1:15 – It’s a Testimony

Posted on by Will

lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.

Truth to Learn

Baptism is a testimony of the salvation in the name of Christ.

Behind the Words

“Lest” is translated from the two Greek words hina mē. The first of these, hina, means “in order that” and mē is the conditional negative particle meaning “not.” So, literally these two words mean “in order that not.” The best English translation is “lest.”

The word “anyone” is translated from tis, which refers to some person or thing that is not specifically named or identified. It can be translated as “anyone, a certain person, something, or anything.”

The words “I had baptized” is transliterated from baptidzō, which we looked at in yesterday’s verse. There is some variation in the form of this verb depending on the text it is translated from. The better texts have this as an aorist passive verb in the second person, plural. Thus, it should be translated as “you were baptized” rather than “I had baptized.”

Meaning Explained

Apparently the people in the church in Corinth were making a great thing out of who they were baptized by. This may have been the original source of the division within the Corinthian church. As we have seen, Paul gets to the point in no uncertain terms that there were only a few in that church whom he had baptized.

Also, Paul makes it very clear that when he did baptize anyone, he did not do so “into my own name.” In other words, he did not proclaim, “I now baptize you in the name of Paul the Apostle.” Instead, he did so either “In the name of Jesus Christ,” or more likely, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” The fact that Paul did not baptize most of the converts under his ministry is in keeping with the example that Jesus gave. Jesus did not baptize people; instead, his disciples did the baptizing.

Let me say a few words about the method of baptism. As we have pointed out, the Greek word baptidzō means “to immerse,” not “to sprinkle” or “to pour.” Therefore, it is most likely that Christian baptisms were originally performed by laying people completely under water and raising them up again. So, if people are baptized by sprinkling or by pouring, are they not really baptized? In the sixteenth century there was a group of Christians who became known as Anabaptists, from the Greek word meaning “baptize again.” Some people believe that their baptizing was a reaction to someone not being “properly” baptized in the first place. In reality, they were baptizing people who had been baptized as an infant. Since an infant could not possibly have confessed Christ as savior, they “baptized again” after a person was truly saved.

Keep in mind, however, that baptism is not necessary for salvation. Rather, it is a testimony regarding the salvation that has already taken place. Therefore, whether you were immersed, sprinkled, or poured upon, you have given a testimony that you are a Christian.

Application

If you were baptized after you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, it doesn’t really matter how you were baptized. The important matter is that you did it as a witness to the fact that you are saved. Anything more than that is ritual.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2013 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

Ephesians 2:9 – Unearned and Secure

Posted on by Will

Ephesians 2:9  – Unearned and Secure

not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Truth to Learn

We didn’t do anything to earn our salvation.

Behind the Words

“Not” is translated from the Greek particle ou, meaning “no or not.” It expresses direct and full negation, independently and absolutely.

The word translated “works” is ergon, from which we get our English word ergonomics. Ergon refers to “any work, deed, act, or action;” that is, it refers to “something done.” It is expressed here in the genitive case, which implies “of” or “from.” But here it is coupled with ou by means of the preposition ek, which means “out of” or “from.” Thus we could translate the first part of this verse as “not as a result of something you do.”

“Lest” is from two Greek words. The first is the conjunction hina, meaning “to the end that” or “in order that.” The second Greek word is mē, which indicates a conditional negation.

“Anyone” is translated from tis, which is an indefinite pronoun. It is variously translated as “anyone, someone, or a certain one.”

The words “should boast” are from the verb kauchaomai, meaning “to boast, glory, or exalt, either in a good or a bad sense.” It is expressed in the subjunctive mood, indicating something that is not happening but might have the possibility of happening.

Meaning Explained

In order to get the full meaning of today’s verse, let’s look at it along with yesterday’s verse.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

In the preceding verses Paul has been talking about the incredible value of God’s grace. We saw in verse seven that God’s purpose in salvation is to shine the spotlight on His marvelous grace. Paul went on to point out in yesterday’s verse that our salvation is the result of this grace of God. We also learned that His grace and our faith unto salvation are a gift to us from God. Now he completes that thought.

Paul tells us that salvation is not the result of any action or actions taken on our part. If we did something to gain this salvation, then it is not a gift; instead, it would be something that we earned. Here’s what Paul says in the book of Romans about earning something as opposed to receiving it as a gift:

Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, (Romans 4:4-5)

Now, if we did not do anything to earn this salvation which we count so precious, then we cannot “un-earn” it. That is to say that if we didn’t do anything to earn it, we can’t do anything to lose it, and God does not take away the gift of salvation.

Application

The precious truth which we see in this verse is that we didn’t earn salvation, so we can’t lose it once we have it – ever!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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