Tag: avenger

Romans 13:4 – Authority of Vengeance

Posted on by Will

For he is God's minister for your good. but if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to bring wrath on him who practices evil.

Truth to Learn

We are to submit to those in authority and give God the glory.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “minister” is diakonos, which means “one who waits on tables.” It is the word from which we get our English word “deacon.” It specifically means one who serves the needs and desires of someone else, and it is most often used in reference to a spiritual hierarchy. It is sometimes translated as “servant.”

The word translated “avenger” is ekdikos, which is made up of ek, meaning “out” or “from” and dike, meaning “justice.” Thus, we see that this refers to someone who carries out justice, that is, a punisher or an executioner.

“Wrath” is from orgē, which we have looked at before. It refers to “excitement of the mind.” This word can be interpreted as “strong desire,” but it can also be interpreted as “violent passion, anger, or wrath.”

 

Meaning Explained

The first thing that we need to ascertain in this verse is who “he” is. “He” is a reference to “the authority” spoken of in the previous verse, and it refers both to the position and to the person in that position. Those who are in authority are placed there as ministers or servants in God’s hierarchy and they are there for the purpose of doing good.

In the previous verse Paul told us that the way to not fear those in authority is to do good. In this verse he addresses the other side of that coin. “But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain.” The use of the word sword here is a reference to the ability of those in authority to execute justice on those who disobey. It may, in fact, be a reference to the ability of civil government to execute capital punishment. Paul even supports this in his next phrase, “for he is God's minister, an avenger to bring wrath on him who practices evil.”

Clearly, Paul is telling us that the power and authorization of those who are in authority over us comes directly from God for the purpose of keeping peace and punishing evildoers. But what about those in authority who are themselves evil; should we resist them? Let’s look at David as our example here. In 1Samuel 24 he was being pursued by Saul, the King, even though David has done nothing to warrant this persecution. David and his men, hidden in a cave, have the opportunity to kill Saul when he comes into the same cave to take a nap. David refuses to kill Saul because he is God’s anointed.

And he said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD." (1Samuel 24:6)

If David refused to strike Saul because he was God’s anointed ruler, then we should also refuse to act against one who God has ordained to be over us.

 

Application

We Christians must respect those in authority over us though they have power to do evil to us. We may not like them and they may not like us, but we are to submit ourselves to them because of their position. Such submission pleases God.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Thessalonians 4:6 – Avoid The Avenger

Posted on by Will

that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in the matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.

Truth to Learn

Don’t deceive, either in business or in marriage.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “take advantage” is huperbainō, which is made up of huper, meaning “over” or “beyond” and bainō, meaning “to go.” Thus it means “to go beyond (what is right)” or “to go too far.”

“Defraud” is translated from pleonekteō. This word is made up of pleiōn, which means “more in quantity or quality” and a form of echō, meaning “to have.” As used in the New Testament, pleonekteō properly means “to have more than someone else.” Through usage it has come to mean “to have an advantage over someone else,” then, to mean “to take advantage of someone else” or “to take something by means of fraud.”

The word “matter” is from pragma, which means “a business matter” or “a deed.”

Ekdikos is the Greek word translated “avenger.” It is made up of ek, meaning “out” or “out of” and dikē, meaning “justice.” Ekdikos refers to “one who executes justice,” that is, “one who gets revenge” or “one who punishes.”

 

Meaning Explained

There are two main interpretations of this verse. Some claim that Paul is now talking about business matters in general. Others say that it is a continuation of Paul’s teaching about fornication (sex with someone other than one’s marriage partner.)

Those who hold to the former interpretation explain that Paul is teaching the wrong of transgressing the bounds of justice and cheating, or taking unfair advantage, of someone in a business transaction. This could be in the form of tricking someone into purchasing something for more than it is really worth or intentionally violating a contract in order to gain at the expense of the other party in the contract. Clearly, this is not the behavior that God expects from His children, and Paul warns that God will execute revenge against any Christian who conducts business in this manner.

Others point out, however, that Paul refers to such action in “the matter,” not in “a matter.” Therefore, they say that it is clear that he is referring to the matter currently being spoken of (fornication). He says that no one should “go beyond what is right” regarding sexual relations. It is right that a married man and woman should enjoy the sexual act which God approves of, and it is wrong to go beyond the bounds of marriage and engage in sexual relations with anyone else. He also says that it is wrong to take advantage of someone else, that is, taking advantage of someone else’s wife.

If this second interpretation is the correct explanation of what Paul is teaching here, why does he talk about taking advantage of his “brother” and not of his “sister?” The only way this could be interpreted is if the sexual immorality is committed between a man and his (spiritual) brother’s wife. But the fornication that Paul is talking about refers to sexual activity between a married person and another person to whom he or she is not married (whether the other person is married or not).

Whichever interpretation you accept (I believe the first interpretation is correct), Paul makes it clear that the one committing the fraud should expect that God will stand on the side of the one being wronged and will take vengeance on the one committing the wrong.

 

Application

Whether in the sanctity of the marriage bed or business transactions, God will take vengeance against the evil doer. I don’t know about you, but I would rather have God as my defense attorney, not as the prosecuting attorney, because He always wins his case and He is the ultimate avenger.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Thessalonians 4:6 – Avoid The Avenger

Posted on by Will

that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.

Truth to Learn

Don’t deceive, either in business or in marriage.

Behind the Words

The word translated “take advantage” is huperbainō, which is made up of huper, meaning “over” or “beyond” and bainō, meaning “to go.” Thus it means “to go beyond (what is right)” or “to go too far.”

“Defraud” is translated from pleonekteō. This word is made up of pleiōn, which means “more in quantity, number, or quality” and a form of echō, meaning “to have.” As used in the New Testament, pleonekteō properly means “to have more than someone else.” Through usage it has come to mean “to have an advantage over someone else,” then to mean “to take advantage of someone else” or “to take something by means of fraud.”

The word “matter” is from pragma, which means “a business matter” or “a deed.” In the Greek text, it is written as tō pragmati, meaning “the matter,” that is, the particular matter under discussion (sex with someone other than one’s marriage partner).

Ekdikos is the Greek word translated “avenger.” It is made up of ek, meaning “out” or “out of” and dikē, meaning “justice.” Ekdikos refers to “one who executes justice,” that is, “one who gets revenge” or “one who punishes.”

Meaning Explained

There are two main interpretations of this verse. Some say that it is a continuation of Paul’s teaching about fornication (sex with someone other than one’s marriage partner.) Others claim that Paul is now talking about business matters in general.

Those who hold to the latter interpretation explain that Paul is teaching the wrong of transgressing the bounds of justice and cheating, or taking unfair advantage, of someone in a business transaction. This could be in the form of tricking someone into purchasing something for more than it is really worth or intentionally violating a contract in order to gain at the expense of the other party in the contract. Clearly, this is not the behavior that God expects from His children, and Paul warns that God will execute revenge against any Christian who conducts business in this manner.

Notice, however, that Paul refers to such action in “the matter,” not in “a matter.” Therefore, it is clear that he is referring to the matter currently being spoken of (fornication). He says that no one should “go beyond what is right” regarding sexual relations. It is right that a married man and woman should enjoy the sexual act which God approves of, and it is wrong to go beyond the bounds of marriage and engage in sexual relations with anyone else. He also says that it is wrong to take advantage of someone else, that is, taking advantage of someone else’s wife.

Whichever interpretation is correct, Paul makes it clear that the one committing the fraud should expect that God will stand on the side of the one being wronged.

Application

Whether in the sanctity of the marriage bed or business transactions, God will take vengeance against the evil doer.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 13:4 – Authority of Vengeance

Posted on by Will

Romans 13:4 – Authority of Vengeance

For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

Truth to Learn

We are to submit to those in authority and give God the glory.

Behind the Words

The word translated “minister” is diakonos, which means “one who waits on tables.” It is the word from which we get our English word “deacon.” It specifically means one who serves the needs and desires of someone else, and it is most often used in reference to a spiritual hierarchy. It is sometimes translated as “servant.”

The word translated “avenger” is ekdikos, which is made up of ek, meaning “out” or “from” and dike, meaning “justice.” Thus, we see that this refers to someone who carries out justice, that is, a punisher or an executioner.

“Wrath” is from orgē, which we have looked at before. It refers to “excitement of the mind.” This word can be interpreted as “strong desire,” but it can also be interpreted as “violent passion, anger, or wrath.”

Meaning Explained

The first thing that we need to ascertain in this verse is who “he” is. “He” is a reference to “the authority” spoken of in the previous verse, and it refers both to the position and to the person in that position. Those who are in authority are placed there as ministers or servants in God’s hierarchy and they are there for the purpose of doing good.

In the previous verse Paul told us that the way to not fear those in authority is to do good. In this verse he addresses the other side of that coin. “But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain.” The use of the word sword here is a reference to the ability of those in authority to execute justice on those who disobey. It may, in fact, be a reference to the ability of civil government to execute capital punishment. Paul even supports this in his next phrase, “for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.”

Clearly, Paul is telling us that the power and authorization of those who are in authority over us comes directly from God for the purpose of keeping peace and punishing evildoers. But what about those in authority who are themselves evil; should we resist them? Let’s look at David as our example here. In 1Samuel 24 he was being pursued by Saul, the King, even though David has done nothing to warrant this persecution. David and his men, hidden in a cave, have the opportunity to kill Saul when he comes into the same cave to take a nap. David refuses to kill Saul because he is God’s anointed.

And he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.” (1Samuel 24:6)

If David refused to strike Saul because he was God’s anointed ruler, then we should also refuse to act against one who God has ordained to be over us.

Application

We Christians must respect those in authority over us though they have power to do evil to us. We may not like them and they may not like us, but we are to submit ourselves to them because of their position. Such submission pleases God.

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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