Tag: apotithemi

Romans 13:12 – Prepare for Battle!

Posted on by Will

The night is nearly over, the day is at hand. Therefore, let us lay aside the works of darkness and put on the weapons of light.

Truth to Learn

Wake up! Prepare for battle! Our Lord is coming soon!

 

Behind the Words

The words “is nearly over” are from the verb prokoptō, which is made up of pro, meaning “before” or “forward” and koptō, which means “to cut, strike, or impel.” Thus, the root meaning of prokoptō is “to drive forward.” Figuratively, with regard to time, it means that it is “advanced, nearly used up, or well along.”

“Is at hand” is translated from the verb engidzō, based on the noun engus (which we saw in the previous verse), meaning “near.” Hence, engidzō means “to come near” or “to approach.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense, which in Greek implies a completed past action with an ongoing effect where the emphasis is on the effect. So, Paul is saying that the day has already drawn near and now is very near.

“Lay aside” is from the Greek verb apotithēmi, made up of apo, meaning “away” and tithēmi, meaning “to lay something down.” Thus, apotithēmi means “to lay something aside.”

The word translated “darkness” is skotos, which is based on the word skia, meaning “a shadow” or “shade.” Skotos literally means something shady or something dark.

The Greek word translated “put on” is enduō, which means “to sink into” or “to put ourselves into.” It is expressed in the middle voice which means that it is something that we must do to ourselves; it is not something that someone else can do for us.

The word “weapons” is hoplon, which refers to “instruments, or tools, or weapons of warfare.”

 

Meaning Explained

At nighttime we all sleep. While we are asleep, we are unaware of what is going on around us. We are in a dream world where nothing is real. But when we wake up, we see reality and we have to face up to it. Many of us get up before it is daylight. We do so because we know that the daylight is coming. If we were to wait for the daylight before rousing ourselves, we would be late. If we lay in bed when it is time to get up, we often fall back asleep.

This is precisely the picture that Paul is painting for us in the previous verse and the current one. The time of the return of Christ is close at hand. It is almost morning. We need to wake up and get to work. Paul tells us that we are to lay aside all of our works that are shady or those which spring from darkness, (a metonym for sinful).

Instead of doing those things that are wrong, instead of doing things that are even a little bit shady, Paul tells us to “lay them aside and put on the weapons of light.” Some translations have this as “the armour of light.” On the surface, this may sound like a defensive posture, but as we saw in “Behind the Words,” this refers to our tools of warfare against the powers of darkness. We are in a constant spiritual battle with our adversary and we need to be on the offensive, spreading the word of truth, the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to be witnessing and we need to be building up and encouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

Application

In case you don’t realize it, these verses represent God’s alarm clock and it just went off! It’s time to leave our dream world and prepare for the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So, let’s get up, let’s arm ourselves for the spiritual battle ahead, and let’s get to work! Our Lord is coming soon!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 4:25 – A Body of Truth

Posted on by Will

Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," because we are members of one another.

Truth to Learn

Honesty is critically important within the body of Christ.

 

Behind the Words

“Therefore” is translated from the Greek word dio, which is made up of dia, meaning “through” and ho, meaning “which.” Thus we see that dio literally means “through which.”

The words “putting away” are translated from the Greek verb apotithēmi, which in verse twenty-two we learned means “to put away or to take off.” It is expressed here as an aorist participle in the middle voice. Therefore, it is literally translated as “having already put away from yourself.”

 “Speak” is from the verb laleō, which refers to “the utterance of words” or “talking.” It is expressed here in the imperative mood, indicating a command.

The word “neighbor” is translated from plēsios, which is derived from pelos, meaning “near.” Plēsios refers to “someone who is close by” either physically or emotionally.

“Members” is from melos, which refers specifically to “a limb or other part of a body.”

 

Meaning Explained

In the past few verses we have been instructed that we are to put away from ourselves our sin nature and its ungodly desires. In its place we are to put on the new nature which God created for us when we were saved. Now we are told, having put away the lie which was part of that “old man,” we are to speak truth with each other as part of the “new man.” Once again, we see the Apostle’s teaching style of getting rid of something and replacing it with something else. His point is that instead of focusing on “not lying,” we are to focus on communicating truthfully with each other.

Paul ends this verse with an interesting comment. He says that “we are (body) members of one another.” You may recall that earlier in this chapter he told us that each of us is specially gifted to perform a function within the body of Christ, that is, the church. In verses fourteen and fifteen he instructed us that we should no longer be immature Christians, deceived by the trickery of men. Instead, we were told that we should speak the truth in love as we help the entire body grow. Therefore, it appears that today’s verse is specifically aimed at our communication with others within the body of Christ.

In the fourth century, John Chrysostom, the archbishop of Constantinople, interpreted today’s verse this way.

Let not the eye lie to the foot, nor the foot to the eye. If there be a deep pit, and its mouth covered with reeds shall present to the eye the appearance of solid ground, will not the eye use the foot to ascertain whether it is hollow underneath, or whether it is firm and resists? Will the foot tell a lie, and not the truth as it is? And what, again, if the eye were to spy a serpent or a wild beast, will it lie to the foot?

 

Application

It is critically important that we exercise our spiritual gifts within the church to build up the body. It is just as critical, however, that we do so with complete honesty, not trying to deceive, but doing all that we do as an expression of love for our fellow Christians.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 4:22 – Lose the Old Man

Posted on by Will

that you put off, concerning your former behavior, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,

Truth to Learn

Christians need to deny the desires of their sin nature.

 

Behind the Words

The words “put off” are translated from apotithēmi, which is made up of apo, meaning “from” or “away from” and tithēmi, meaning “to place” or “to put.” Thus, it literally means “to put away from.” Since this is grammatically coupled with enduō (to put on a garment) in verse twenty-four, it is most reasonably a reference to taking something off, like a garment.

“Former” is from proteros, a comparative form of protos, meaning “first.” Proteros refers to something prior or previous.

“Behavior” is translated from anastrophē, which is made up of ana, meaning “up” or “again” and a form of strephō, meaning “to turn.” The noun anastrophe, therefore, refers to “a turning around again.” Metaphorically, it is often a reference to one’s behavior or manner of life. It is similar to peripateō (to walk around) which we saw back in verse seventeen.

“Grows corrupt” are from the verb phtheirō, which means “to waste away, to become rotten, or to become corrupt.”

“Deceitful” is translated from apathē, which refers to “that which is deceptive or seductive.”

 

Meaning Explained

This particular train of thought of the Apostle Paul started back in verse seventeen where he said, “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind.” His reason for saying this was given in the previous two verses: because we have been taught the truth which is in Jesus Christ. He now gives some of the details of the truth that Christ teaches, which include, “quit behaving like you used to.”

In order to make his teaching even clearer, Paul introduces us to something that he calls “the old man.” He makes other references to this “old man” in Romans 6:6 and in Colossians 3:9. In the Romans passage, Paul tells us that our old man was crucified with Christ. Then, in Galatians 5:24, he tells us that it is our “flesh” with its passions and desires that has been crucified with Christ; thus, we see that our “old man” is equated with our “flesh.” And, in the eighth chapter of his letter to the Romans, Paul teaches a great deal about our “flesh.” There we learn that it is our “flesh,” our “old man,” sometimes referred to as our “sin nature” that draws us into sin and away from the righteousness of Christ.

In today’s verse (as in Colossians 3:9) we are told to take off the “old man.” Since Paul is talking to Christians, those who have previously professed Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior, it is clear that he teaches that Christians still have a sin nature. And, unfortunately, we will continue to possess the “old man” until that day when God will make us perfect (in Heaven). Even the Apostle Paul wrestled with his sin nature (see Romans chapter seven) and it frustrated him too!

 

Application

Don’t be alarmed that as a Christian you still commit sin. You haven’t lost your salvation. It is the old man you’re wearing. Whenever you find that you’re wearing him, confess your sins and lay him aside. Then focus again on serving your Savior.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 1:21 – Discard Filth

Posted on by Will

Therefore having laid aside all filthiness and abundance of wickedness, receive in meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Truth to Learn

We need to rid ourselves of our sinful thoughts and actions and let the Word of God grow in our hearts.

Behind the Words

The word translated “having laid aside” is a form of apotithēmi, a compound word made up of apo, meaning “from” or “away from” and tithēmi, meaning “to set in place” or “to lay down.” Hence, this word means “to set aside, away from oneself.” This particular verb is in the middle voice which in Greek means that the subject is acting upon itself. James is telling us is that we are to take action on ourselves by putting away all that is filthiness. It is expressed here as an aorist participle indicating something that was done previous to the main verb (receive).

“Filthiness” is translated from hruparia, which means “dirtiness” or “filthiness,” as it is translated here. In a moral sense it refers to those thoughts and actions of ours which are not clean or morally right. The picture James is portraying here is one of taking off a soiled garment and laying it aside.

The word translated “wickedness” is the Greek word kakia, which refers to “that which is intrinsically bad or worthless.”

The word translated “implanted” is emphutos, which is made up of en, meaning “in” and a form of phuō, meaning “to germinate” or “to spring up from a seed.” It refers to something that is implanted by an external force and springs up as an act of growth. This word is sometimes mistranslated as “in grafted” which is an entirely different word, egkentridzō, meaning “to cut in” or “to graft in.”

Meaning Explained

Remember that whenever you see a “therefore” or a “wherefore” you need to find out what it is there for. James already told us that God is the source of all good giving and completely good gifts. He also said that our own lustful sin nature is the source of our selfish sinfulness. Therefore, because of these facts, we need to get rid of all of our dirtiness and abundance of badness. This includes all of our evil thoughts and all self-serving actions. Remove these things from yourself, lay them aside, and don’t pick them up again.

Once we have laid these things aside, we are told to receive with humility the mighty Word of God which the Holy Spirit has implanted in our hearts. It has such power that it can even lead to the salvation of souls. When we have sin prevailing in our lives, we cannot receive the word of truth. When we lay aside our sinful thoughts and actions, we then allow the Word of God to grow and mature within us, making us more like Jesus Christ.

Albert Barnes in his Notes on the New Testament interprets the verse in this way:

In view of the fact that God has begotten us for his own service; in view of the fact that excited feeling tends only to wrong, let us lay aside all that is evil, and submit ourselves wholly to the influence of truth.

Application

Let us confess and forsake our sins, discarding all filth, and let us receive His truth, allowing it to grow in our hearts. All this, for His praise and glory! Can you do this?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 4:25 – A Body of Truth

Posted on by Will

Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.

Truth to Learn

Honesty is critically important within the body of Christ.

Behind the Words

“Therefore” is translated from the Greek word dio, which is made up of dia, meaning “through” and ho, meaning “which.” Thus we see that dio literally means “through which.”

The words “putting away” are translated from the Greek verb apotithēmi, which in verse twenty-two we learned means “to put away or to take off.” It is expressed here as an aorist participle in the middle voice. Therefore, it is literally translated as “having already put away from yourself.”

“Speak” is from the verb laleō, which refers to “the utterance of words” or “talking.” It is expressed here in the imperative mood, indicating a command.

The word “neighbor” is translated from plēsios, which is derived from pelos, meaning “near.” Plēsios refers to “someone who is close by” either physically or emotionally.

“Members” is from melos, which refers specifically to “a limb or other part of a body.”

Meaning Explained

In the past few verses we have been instructed that we are to put away from ourselves our sin nature and its ungodly desires. In its place we are to put on the new nature which God created for us when we were saved. Now we are told, having put away the lie which was part of that “old man,” we are to speak truth with each other as part of the “new man.” Once again, we see the Apostle’s teaching style of getting rid of something and replacing it with something else. His point is that instead of focusing on “not lying,” we are to focus on communicating truthfully with each other.

Paul ends this verse with an interesting comment. He says that “we are (body) members of one another.” You may recall that earlier in this chapter he told us that each of us is specially gifted to perform a function within the body of Christ, that is, the church. In verses fourteen and fifteen he instructed us that we should no longer be immature Christians, deceived by the trickery of men. Instead, we were told that we should speak the truth in love as we help the entire body grow. Therefore, it appears that today’s verse is specifically aimed at our communication with others within the body of Christ.

In the fourth century, John Chrysostom, the archbishop of Constantinople, interpreted today’s verse this way.

Let not the eye lie to the foot, nor the foot to the eye. If there be a deep pit, and its mouth covered with reeds shall present to the eye the appearance of solid ground, will not the eye use the foot to ascertain whether it is hollow underneath, or whether it is firm and resists? Will the foot tell a lie, and not the truth as it is? And what, again, if the eye were to spy a serpent or a wild beast, will it lie to the foot?

Application

It is critically important that we exercise our spiritual gifts within the church to build up the body. It is just as critical, however, that we do so with complete honesty, not trying to deceive, but doing all that we do as an expression of love for our fellow Christians.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

Ephesians 4:22 – Lose the Old Man

Posted on by Will

that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,

Truth to Learn

Christians need to deny the desires of their sin nature.

Behind the Words

The words “put off” are translated from apotithēmi, which is made up of apo, meaning “from” or “away from” and tithēmi, meaning “to place” or “to put.” Thus, it literally means “to put away from.” Since this is grammatically coupled with enduō (to put on a garment) in verse twenty-four, it is most reasonably a reference to taking something off like a garment.

“Former” is from proteros, a comparative form of protos, meaning “first.” Proteros refers to something prior or previous.

“Conduct” is translated from anastrophē, which is made up of ana, meaning “up” or “again” and a form of strephō, meaning “to turn.” The noun anastrophe, therefore, refers to “a turning around again.” Metaphorically, it is often a reference to one’s behavior or manner of life. It is similar to peripateō (to walk around) which we saw back in verse seventeen.

“Grows corrupt” are from the verb phtheirō, which means “to waste away, to become rotten, or to become corrupt.”

“Deceitful” is translated from apathē, which refers to “that which is deceptive or seductive.”

Meaning Explained

This particular train of thought of the Apostle Paul started back in verse seventeen where he said, “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind.” His reason for saying this was given in the previous two verses: because we have been taught the truth which is in Jesus Christ. He now gives some of the details of the truth that Christ teaches, which include, “quit acting like you used to act.”

In order to make his teaching even clearer, Paul introduces us to something that he calls “the old man.” He makes other references to this “old man” in Romans 6:6 and in Colossians 3:9. In the Romans passage, Paul tells us that our old man was crucified with Christ. Then, in Galatians 5:24, he tells us that it is our “flesh” with its passions and desires that has been crucified with Christ; thus, we see that our “old man” is equated with our “flesh.” And, in the eighth chapter of his letter to the Romans, Paul teaches a great deal about our “flesh.” There we learn that it is our “flesh,” our “old man,” sometimes referred to as our “sin nature” that draws us into sin and away from the righteousness of Christ.

In today’s verse (as in Colossians 3:9) we are told to take off the “old man.” Since Paul is talking to Christians, those who have previously professed Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior, it is clear that he teaches that Christians still have a sin nature. And, unfortunately, we will continue to possess the “old man” until that day when God will make us perfect (in Heaven). Even the Apostle Paul wrestled with his sin nature (see Romans chapter seven) and it frustrated him too!

Application

Don’t be alarmed that as a Christian you still commit sin. You haven’t lost your salvation. It is the old man you’re wearing. Whenever you find that you’re wearing him, confess your sins and lay him aside. Then focus again on serving your Savior.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

Romans 13:12 – Prepare for Battle!

Posted on by Will

Romans 13:12 – Prepare for Battle!

The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

Truth to Learn

Wake up! Prepare for battle! Our Lord is coming soon!

Behind the Words

The words “is far spent” are from the verb prokoptō, which is made up of pro, meaning “before” or “forward” and koptō, which means “to cut, strike, or impel.” Thus, the root meaning of prokoptō is “to drive forward.” Figuratively, with regard to time, it means that it is “advanced, nearly used up, or well along.”

“Is at hand” is translated from the verb engidzō, based on the noun engus (which we saw in the previous verse), meaning “near.” Hence, engidzō means “to come near” or “to approach.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense, which in Greek implies a completed past action with an ongoing effect where the emphasis is on the effect. So, Paul is saying that the day has already drawn near and now is very near.

“Cast off” is from the Greek verb apotithēmi, made up of apo, meaning “away” and tithēmi, meaning “to lay something down.” Thus, apotithēmi means “to lay something aside.”

The word translated “darkness” is skotos, which is based on the word skia, meaning “a shadow” or “shade.” Skotos literally means something shady or something dark.

The word “armor” is hoplon, which refers to “instruments, or tools, or weapons of warfare.”

Meaning Explained

At nighttime we all sleep. While we are asleep, we are unaware of what is going on around us. We are in a dream world where nothing is real. But when we wake up, we see reality and we have to face up to it. Many of us get up before it is daylight. We do so because we know that the daylight is coming. If we were to wait for the daylight before rousing ourselves, we would be late. If we lay in bed when it is time to get up, we often fall back asleep.

This is precisely the picture that Paul is painting for us in the previous verse and the current one. The time of the return of Christ is close at hand. It is almost morning. We need to wake up and get to work. Paul tells us that we are to lay aside all of our works that are shady or those which spring from darkness, (a metonym for sinful).

Instead of doing those things that are wrong, instead of doing things that are even a little bit shady, Paul tells us to “lay them aside and put on the armor of light.” On the surface, this may sound like a defensive posture, but as we saw in “Behind the Words,” this refers to our tools of warfare against the powers of darkness. We are in a constant spiritual battle with our adversary and we need to be on the offensive, spreading the word of truth, the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to be witnessing and we need to be building up and encouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Application

In case you don’t realize it, these verses represent God’s alarm clock and it just went off! It’s time to leave our dream world and prepare for the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So, let’s get up, let’s arm ourselves for the spiritual battle ahead, and let’s get to work! Our Lord is coming soon!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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