blaspheme – Ministry of Grace Church

Tag: blaspheme

Romans 2:24 – Visible Evidence

Posted on August 31, 2017 by Will

For "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you," as it is written.

Truth to Learn

The actions of some Christians bring shame to our God.

Behind the Words

The word “blasphemed” is transliterated from the Greek. That is, the Greek word is brought directly over into English. The Greek word is blasphēmeō, which is made up of a form of blax, meaning “slow” or “stupid” and phēmē, meaning “rumor” or “fame.” It refers to “abusive or reviling words, especially an attack on someone’s name or reputation.”

“Gentiles” is translated from ethnos, meaning “a race” or “a tribe.” It is used by Jews to refer to anyone who is not a Jew, implying idolatry and ignorance of God. It was used by early Christians in a similar way in reference to those who are ignorant of God.

Meaning Explained

For the past few verses Paul has been telling the Roman Christians (and us) that talking about faith and a relationship with God means nothing unless that faith is put into practice. It doesn’t matter how much we know about God and about what He expects of us if we aren’t putting it into action. Now he takes it one step further. He says that not only did the Christians in Rome dishonor God by not keeping the Law, he says that they are the reason that the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles. In this case, the term Gentiles is a reference to those who are not Christians. It’s one thing to be known as the people of God. It’s quite another thing to be known as the people of God but live such a life that God is disparaged because of you.

In this verse Paul says “as it is written” but he does not specifically mention where it is written. The implication is that he was quoting scripture but he recognized that these people knew the scriptures well enough that he didn’t have to quote it. He may have been talking about one of the following passages:

And now what have I here," says the LORD, "For My people are taken away for nothing? Those who rule over them Make them wail," says the LORD, "And My name is blasphemed continually every day. (Isaiah 52:5)

Therefore say to the house of Israel, “Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name, which you profane among the nations wherever you went. And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am Jehovah,’ says the Lord Jehovah, ‘when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.’” (Ezekiel 36:22, 23)

Keep in mind that to those who are unsaved and know that we are Christians, we are God’s representatives. The way we behave reflects directly on our God. What they see in us may be all they know of God. What kind of a God do we portray?

Application

I’m once again reminded of a saying I heard as a young Christian, “If you were convicted for being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

Well, would there?

In God's service, for His glory,

James 2:7 – Blasphemous Wealth

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Will

Don’t they blaspheme that beautiful name by which you are called?

Truth to Learn

The conversation of the rich and famous is more an indication of their devotion to God (or lack thereof) than their wealth.

Behind the Words

The word “blaspheme” is not a translation but a transliteration. That is, the translators took the Greek word and brought it directly into English. The Greek word is blasphemeō. The meaning of the word is “to vilify, speak evil of, or slander.”

“Beautiful” is translated from the Greek word kalos, which means “good” or “beautiful.” This serves to further emphasize the vileness of the blasphemy by these rich people.

The words “name by which you are called” could be more accurately translated, “the name having been called upon you.” The verb “you are called” is a form of epikaleō. This is made up of epi, meaning “on, over, or upon” and kaleō, meaning to call. It is expressed here in the passive voice, indicating something done to the subject. When we are called Christians, we are identified with the Lord Himself. But it is also the name given to us by God when He called us. God chose us and He called us to be His, as Paul says in the book of Romans:

And whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also declared righteous; and whom He declared righteous, these He also glorified. (Romans 8:30)

Meaning Explained

James has been speaking about how we hold rich people in higher esteem than poor people. We offer the choice seats in church to these rich people and we treat the poor as if they were trash. We do such things for strictly selfish reasons. We think we can benefit from the wealth of the rich people and we’re afraid of what others will think of us if we are friendly to poor people. That’s nothing more than selfishness, and it is sin! There are some rich people who love Jesus Christ and are submitted to his leading in their lives, but these are the exception rather than the rule. The value we place upon people should be based on their submission to God, not their wealth.

Three of the Gospel writers recounted the story about the devout, rich man who asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. After the man refused to give up his riches to follow Jesus, Jesus turned to his disciples and said:

“Children, how hard it is for those trusting on riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” (Mar 10:24b, 25)

To such people as this, the name of Christ is no more than a swear word.

Application

Do you judge people based on the type of job they have, the type of car they drive, or the house they live in? These may be signs of monetary wealth, but they give you no clue as to a person’s spiritual wealth. You can only tell that by observing how they respond to God’s Word, how they treat others, and especially how they talk.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 3:8 – Misrepresented Truth

Posted on October 25, 2009 by admin

Romans 3:8

And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.

Truth to Learn

All sin will be judged, no matter what our excuse may be.

Behind the Words

The phrase “Let us do” is translated from the verb poieō, meaning “to make” or “to do.” If you have followed our teaching on the use of the word “let,” you might assume that this verb is written in the imperative mood (a command), but it isn’t. It is expressed in the subjunctive mood, which indicates possibility or probability. So the quote might be translated as “We should do evil that good may come.”

“Slanderously reported” is from the Greek verb blasphēmeō, meaning “to speak evil of” or “to intentionally damage someone else’s reputation.” When used against God, this verb is often translated “blaspheme.”

The word translated “affirm” is the Greek verb phēmi. It is based on the obsolete verb phaō, meaning “to shine.” Phēmi means “to bring to light by speech” or “to make known one’s thoughts.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous verses Paul has taught that God is not glorified when someone commits sin; God is glorified when He judges sin. It is His act of judgment, in keeping with who He is, that brings Him glory. But the Jesuits of the first century, among others, had perverted Paul’s teaching on this subject claiming that Paul and the other Apostles were teaching that we all ought to sin greatly so that God would be greatly glorified. After all, as Paul surely had stated before and will later proclaim in this epistle:

But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more. (Romans 5:20)

Paul taught that God, in the salvation of people, would be glorified in proportion to the depth and pollution of the guilt which was forgiven. This is true, but how easy it is to misrepresent this as teaching that people ought to sin in order to promote God’s glory! You see, instead of stating it as an inference, which they drew from the doctrine, those who attacked Paul’s teaching declared that Paul taught we ought to sin to bring glory to God. He counters that argument right here by openly exposing the falsehood of what others say about his doctrine. At the same time, he openly declares that those who attack him will receive condemnation. He is also convinced that the condemnation that these false accusers will receive is appropriate because they perverted the truth of God for their own purposes.

Application

We are all sinners, so when our lives are compared to the perfect life that Christ lived we will all be found guilty as sinners and it will be shown that our righteousness is like filthy rags. For the past few verses Paul’s teaching has been “God will judge every sin of every man.” Those sins will either be judged at the cross and declared as fully paid for (everyone who believes and accepts this sacrificial gift) or the sins will be judged and the sinners declared guilty at the Great White Throne, where the payment for sins will be eternity in the lake of fire.

Where will your sins be judged?

In God’s service, for His glory,

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Romans 2:24 – Visible Evidence

Posted on October 6, 2009 by admin

Romans 2:24

For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.

Truth to Learn

The actions of some Christians bring shame to our God.

Behind the Words

Meaning Explained

For the past few verses Paul has been telling the Roman Christians (and us) that talking about faith and a relationship with God means nothing unless that faith is put into practice. It doesn’t matter how much we know about God and about what He expects of us if we aren’t putting it into action. Now he takes it one step further. He says that not only did the Christians in Rome dishonor God by not keeping the Law, he says that they are the reason that the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles. In this case, the term Gentiles is a reference to those who are not Christians. It’s one thing to be known as the people of God. It’s quite another to be known as the people of God but live such a life that God is disparaged because of you.

Now therefore, what have I here,” says the LORD, “That My people are taken away for nothing? Those who rule over them Make them wail,” says the LORD, “And My name is blasphemed continually every day. (Isaiah 52:5)

Therefore say to the house of Israel, “Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.’” (Ezekiel 36:22, 23)

Keep in mind that to those who are unsaved and know we are Christians, we are God’s representatives. The way we behave reflects directly on our God. What they see in us may be all they know of God. What kind of a God do we portray?

Application

I’m once again reminded of a saying I heard as a young Christian, “If you were convicted for being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

Well, would there?

In God’s service, for His glory,

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2 Peter 2:12 – God’s Precious Word

Posted on May 20, 2009 by admin

2 Peter 2:12

But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.

Truth to Learn

Those who do not respect God’s word will perish.

Behind the Words

The expression “brute beasts” comes from the Greek aloga zōa. Aloga means “one who does not reason” or “irrational” and zōa (from which we get our English word zoo) refers to “a living creature or “an animal.” Hence they are irrational animals.

“Creatures of instinct” is translated from phusikos, meaning “natural, yielding only to animal instincts.”

The words “destroyed” and “perish” are both from the root phthora, meaning “corruption, destruction, ruin, or decay.” It is a picture of a piece of rotting fruit sitting out in the hot sun; in fact, Peter uses words from this root three times in this verse. A literal translation of the end of this verse is “they shall utterly perish in their corruption.” In other words, “in their rottenness, they shall completely rot away.”

Meaning Explained

Peter now gives a very graphic description of these false teachers, what drives them, and what will ultimately happen to them. He says that they are “like brute beasts, creatures of instinct” In other words, Peter says that they are irrational animals who are totally controlled by physical impulses and desires without intellectual reasoning of any kind. And, like animals, they were born only to be caught and destroyed, which is precisely what God will do to them at the end of their lives.

He also says “these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand.” These teachers are not at all shy about condemning and speaking evil of others, even though they have no real understanding of the things about which they speak so disrespectfully.

Peter is not very kind at all in his description of these false teachers. He says they take the precious message of hope and peace from a loving God and turn it into a watered down, warm and fuzzy, feel-good-about-yourself message that is designed simply to provide for their own physical desires. These foolish people are totally missing the spiritual implications of what they are supposed to be doing. Peter says that they will rot like spoiled fruit.

We all have jobs to provide income to feed and clothe us and our families. These false teachers saw their ministry as simply a job, and they were just making a living. So what’s wrong with that? Anyone who teaches or preaches the Word of God should not be doing what they do because it is a job or to earn a living. They need to recognize that it is a ministry that they are entrusted with by God, the Creator of heaven and earth. It is a sacred responsibility with eternal consequences both for the minister and those being ministered to.

Application

How do you view the Word of God? Do you look at the Bible with respect and awe; a message for mankind from God Himself?

Keep in mind that God will not treat with kindness those who treat His message as anything but precious and sacred!

In God’s service, for His glory,

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1 Peter 4:14 – Suffering For His Glory

Posted on February 24, 2009 by admin

1 Peter 4:14

If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

Truth to Learn

Our obedient, righteous suffering glorifies God.

Behind the Words

The word translated “reproached” is the Greek word oneididzō, which means “defamed, taunted, or put down.” It refers to people saying slanderous or derogatory things about you because of your beliefs or actions in obedience to God.

The Greek word markarios is translated as “blessed” in this verse. It does not mean that we are happy, but that we are in a position of blessing. It specifically refers to someone “who is supremely fortunate.”

The expression “rests on you” is from the Greek eph humas anapauetai. The first part of this, eph huma,s means “upon you (plural)” with the sense of motion toward. The word anapauetai means “he rests himself.”

Meaning Explained

If your desire in life is to see God get the glory and honor that He is due, then today’s verse should pop into your head whenever you suffer for righteousness sake.

If you are being obedient to God, speaking and acting in obedience to Him, and you are verbally treated with contempt for it, either to your face or behind your back, you are supremely fortunate. This verse, like several of the preceding verses, seems to imply that there is pleasure in pain. However, you will notice that in all of Peter’s writings on suffering for righteousness, he never once says that it is pleasurable. Physically and emotionally it is painful, just as it was physically and emotionally painful to Christ when He suffered for us. What Peter is trying to get across is that in spite of the pain, we can feel a sense of peace and contentment knowing what the spiritual result will be.

We are told that the reason we are supremely fortunate when we are verbally buffeted in the name of Christ is because the Spirit of God, the spirit of glory, rests on us. There is something very beautiful about this that I don’t want any of us to miss. When we are suffering for righteousness sake, because we are being obedient to the Spirit of God, He comes upon us imparting a sense of inner peace in spite of the physical or emotional pain. That’s how martyrs of the faith in days gone by have been able to sing and give praise to God even while they were being consumed by flames.

In the last part of today’s verse, Peter tells us that even though those who are reviling us are intentionally blaspheming God, in reality He is being glorified by our obedience and faithfulness. We all tend to think that we will give God much glory when we do some great spiritual work in His name and to this end we work hard. What Peter is telling us is that simply by being humbly obedient, especially if we suffer for it, we are glorifying God.

Application

Let’s all commit ourselves to humility and obedience to God regardless of the potential consequences, knowing that He will give us peace in the middle of it and that He will be glorified if and when we suffer for His sake!

In God’s service, for His glory,

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