Tag: dechomai

2 Thessalonians 2:10 – Unrighteous Deception

Posted on by Will

and with all deception of unrighteousness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

Truth to Learn

The world ruler during the Tribulation will be a great deceiver.

 

Behind the Words

Apatē is the Greek word translated “deception.” It refers to that which is deceitful or a delusion (something that is perceived despite strong evidence to the contrary).

The word “unrighteousness” is from adikia, which is made up of the privative a, meaning “not” or “without” and dikē, meaning “that which is right or just.” Thus, adikia means “not right” or “not just.”

 “Perish” is from the Greek verb apollumi, which is made up of apo, meaning “from” or “away from” and ollumi, meaning “to destroy.” Therefore, apollumi means “to completely destroy.” The word does not imply complete annihilation (cessation of being), but physical destruction.

The word “receive” is translated from the verb dechomai, which means “to take to oneself” or “to deliberately and readily accept something offered.”

“Saved” is translated from sodzō, which means “to preserve safe from danger, loss, or destruction.”

 

Meaning Explained

The Apostle Paul has been teaching the Christians in Thessalonica about the Day of the Lord. False teachers had told them that this day of God’s judgment against the “permanent earth dwellers” had already arrived. Why do I call them “permanent earth dwellers?” Because throughout the book of Revelation, the unbelievers are referred to as katoikountes epi tēs gēs , which means “those who are permanently dwelling on the earth.” This expression is in contrast to believers who are said to be “sojourners and pilgrims” (1 Peter 2:11)

In response to the false teaching about the Day of the Lord, Paul explained that this time of God’s wrath would not happen until two specific events occurred. The first is the apostasia, either a reference to a great “falling away” from true faith or to the rapture of the church. The second event is the revealing of “the lawless one,” the antichrist.

He taught that this “lawless one” would become evident because of great signs and miraculous deeds which will be performed through the power of our great adversary, Satan. Paul now gives some more details about how this future world ruler will become evident.

The antichrist will be a great deceiver who, like a modern day illusionist, will use deception to convince people that he is righteous. According to 2 Thessalonians 2:4, he will declare himself to be a god, and the great signs and wonders that he and his false prophet perform will convince many that he really is a god. To a Bible believing Christian, this seems hard to believe. We know that there is only one true God, but those who reject the truth taught in the Bible (the permanent earth dwellers) will readily accept this imposter for who he claims to be.

True Christians not only believe the truth about God and His Son, Jesus Christ, but they have a love of the truth taught in Scripture. We love to read our Bibles and we love to learn the truth about God’s desire to have a personal relationship with us. But, the unbelievers in the last days will not have this love of the truth and will be easily deceived. As a result, they will not receive salvation, but will, instead, perish in the lake of fire for all eternity.

 

Application

Do you love the truth of God’s Word? If so, hold fast to sound Biblical teaching. If not, prepare yourself to be easily deceived.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Thessalonians 2:13 – God’s Effective Work

Posted on by Will

For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe.

Truth to Learn

Any success we might have is because of God, not us.

 

Behind the Words

The words “we … thank” are translated from the verb eucharisteō, which is made up of eu, meaning “good” or “well” and a form of charidzomai, meaning “to grant” or “to give.” The basic meanings of this word include “to show oneself to be pleased or grateful” or “to give thanks.”

Adialeiptōs is the Greek word translated “without ceasing.” It is a double compound word made up of a, meaning “without,” dia, meaning “through” or “between,” and a form of the verb leipō, meaning “to leave.” Thus, adialeiptōs literally means “without leaving space between.” In other words, it means doing something without pausing or stopping.

“You received” is from the Greek verb paralambanō. This word is made up of para, meaning “from” and lambanō, meaning “to take” or “to receive.” This word means “to receive from someone else” or “to receive to oneself.”

“You accepted” is translated from dechomai, which means “to accept something deliberately and readily.”

The word “works” is from the verb energeō. This word is based on energēs, meaning “operative, active, or working.” Thus, energeō means “to be at work” or “to be effective.”

 

Meaning Explained

One of the hallmarks of the Apostle Paul’s ministry is his repeated thankfulness to God. He realized, without a doubt, that his ministry, its effectiveness, and its result were all due to God’s working in him, not his own efforts. He also realized that his message was not something that he made up or delivered in his own personal eloquent style. He knew that he was not the originator of the message, simply the messenger. As a result, he reminded the Christians in Thessalonica that the message they heard from him is not of human origin, but God’s word.

You may recall from the first chapter of this letter that these believers were undergoing persecution (a point which he will reiterate in the upcoming verses). Under similar persecution, Christians of all ages have found comfort and encouragement in the words of Holy Scripture. Paul also reminds his readers here that God’s word is truth. Notice that in His closing prayer at the last supper, Jesus declared plainly that it is the truth which sets us apart from the rest of the world (John 17:17). In similar fashion, throughout the apostolic teaching in the New Testament, the writers give testimony that God’s word is truth (2 Corinthians 4:2, 6:7; Ephesians 1:13; Colossians 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:15; James 1:18; 1 John 3:18).

 

Application

Let us all remember that we are here to serve God, not ourselves. In whatever ministry we find ourselves, our responsibility is to represent our King and it is His message we deliver. Therefore, any success which we might have is the result of His working, not ours. Give Him thanks and praise!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Thessalonians 1:6 – Affliction and Joy

Posted on by Will

And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,

Truth to Learn

Committed Christian living will result in affliction – and joy.

 

Behind the Words

 “Imitators” is translated from mimētēs, from which we get our English word “mimic.” It means “someone who mimics, imitates, or follows the example of someone else.”

The words “having received” are from dechomai, meaning “to receive.” It is very similar in meaning to the verb lambanō except that lambanō implies more of an active participation (to take to oneself) while dechomai implies more of a subjective or passive participation (to receive for oneself).

Thlipsis is the Greek word translated “affliction.” It is derived from the verb thlibō, meaning “to crush” or “to squeeze.” Thlipsis refers to “pressure, trouble, affliction, tribulation, or distress.”

“Joy” is translated from chara, which is derived from the verb chairō, meaning “to rejoice.” Therefore, chara refers to “joy, rejoicing, or gladness.”

 

Meaning Explained

As we mentioned yesterday, belief in the good news about Jesus Christ is the substance of our salvation. The whole discussion of election versus “free will” becomes a moot point at the moment of conversion. It doesn’t matter whether you believe that God chose or man chooses; what matters is that a lost sinner becomes a child of God and is credited with the righteousness of Christ at the moment of belief in the gospel message.

Then, at the end of yesterday’s verse Paul said, “as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.” Paul did not expect the people to whom he preached to pay him for what he did. Instead, he worked as a tent maker to pay for his own expenses. He, along with Silvanus and Timothy, lived exemplary lives in spite of the persecution they faced from the local Jews, who even traveled to Berea to harass Paul after he began preaching there. It is important to note that Paul’s ministry didn’t stop when people got saved. He simply switched from evangelist mode to teacher mode. He taught them the fundamental truths of how to live a life committed to God, and as an example to be followed he lived the kind of life that he taught about.

As a result, we learn in today’s verse that the Thessalonians became imitators of Paul and his companions. They didn’t just listen to their teaching, smile politely, say a few amens, and then continue living as they always had. They changed. They put into practice what they were taught, using as their living examples Paul and his companions. And what did they get for it? They received the same persecution that Paul continually endured. We are told here that it wasn’t just a little teasing that they received, they suffered “much affliction.”

Those who afflicted them did so intentionally to make them suffer, but they didn’t complain; instead, they endured it with joy in their hearts. That’s committed Christian living.

 

Application

Christ told His disciples, “In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer …” (John 16:33b) Rather than causing us sadness, persecution and hardship should cause us to be as joyous as the Thessalonians, particularly if it has come upon us as a result of our living our Christian faith. Are you willing to suffer for Christ? Think about how much He gave for you!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 6:17 – The Sword, The Word

Posted on by Will

And receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

Truth to Learn

Christians have a sword to use in our spiritual battle.

 

Behind the Words

“Receive” is translated from the Greek verb dechomai, meaning “to deliberately and readily accept what is offered.” It is different from the word lambanō, which means “to take as a self-prompted action.”

The word “helmet” is from perikephalaia, which is made up of peri, meaning “around” and a form of kephalē, meaning “head.” Hence, we see that perikephalaia means something that goes “around the head.”

Sōtērion is the word translated “salvation.” This is derived from the verb sōdzō, meaning “to save,” “to deliver,” or “to preserve safe from danger.”

The word “sword” is from makaira, which is derived from machē (from which we get the word machete). Machē refers to “a knife.” Makaira refers to a short sword (a knife) used in close hand-to-hand combat. It is used in a thrusting or slicing manner. A different Greek word, rhomphaia, refers to a longer “broadsword.”

 

Meaning Explained

For a Roman soldier, the large shield (thureos) protected most of his body, but during actual hand-to-hand combat, the head had to protrude above the shield. Therefore, the helmet became a crucial piece of his armor. It was typically made of iron or brass, often adorned with a horsehair crest, dyed red. The helmet was so crucial that a soldier might continue to fight (and win) while missing any other part of his armor, but without his helmet he was as good as dead.

Paul said ours is a “helmet of salvation.” Like a Roman soldier in the physical world, any person is spiritually dead without salvation. In this metaphor a Christian is never without his or her helmet, but it must be worn to protect us in our battle. In other words, we must always be aware that salvation by grace, through faith, guarantees us forgiveness of all our sins and it secures for us the promise of eternal life. Notice that Paul tells us to receive (dechomai) this salvation. It’s not something we can take or earn; it is a gift that we can only receive by faith.

The final piece of our armor is the sword. This is the only offensive weapon in the arsenal. The Greek machaira was shorter than the romphaia, being slightly curved and having a single sharp edge designed for slicing. Paul tells us that our machaira is “the word of God.” Knowledge of Scripture is of vital importance in fending off attacks from our enemy. It is what Jesus Himself used against the temptations of Satan. It is good and useful to memorize Scripture, but it is even more important to read and study the Bible on a regular and consistent basis. I always encourage new believers to read their Bible daily, even if they think they’re not getting anything out of it. The Holy Spirit will direct our use of the Sword.

 

Application

Fifteen minutes a day is about 1/100th of your life, yet fifteen minutes a day spent reading the Bible can make your life 100% better. Are you willing to devote 1/100th of your day, every day, so that you can wield your sword in battle?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Corinthians 2:14 – The Truth Revealed

Posted on by Will

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Truth to Learn

Christians understand the Bible because of the Holy Spirit.

Behind the Words

The word translated “natural” is psuchikos, which is based on psuchō, meaning “to breathe” or “to blow.” In this sense, psuchikos is very similar to pneumatikos (like a blast of air or a breeze). The distinction is between a natural breath and a spiritual breath. In Greek writings, man is distinguished from animals in that he has a psuchē (often translated as “soul”), the ability to reason and communicate. In the New Testament, especially here, psuchē (soul) is distinguished from pneuma (spirit), in that the latter implies the ability to reason and communicate in the realm of the divine.

“Receive” is from dechomai, which means “to take to oneself that which is offered by someone else.” The closest English words to translate dechomai are “accept” or “receive.”

Dunamai is the Greek word translated “can.” It refers to the ability or power to do something.

The word “know” is from ginōskō, which can mean “to come to know” or “to understand.” The expression “nor can he know” in today’s verse could be translated as “he does not have the ability to understand.”

“Discerned” is from anakrinō. This word fundamentally means “to examine” or “to scrutinize.” In a judicial sense, it is used of examining a witness in order to determine the facts.

Meaning Explained

In this chapter, Paul is defending his style of preaching and teaching, showing the distinction between his style and the style of the leaders and orators of the world system. In verse two he says, “my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.”

Then, in yesterday’s verse, he said that his own words were not words of man’s wisdom, but those which the Holy Spirit of God teaches. Now he explains why the preaching of the truth from God’s word is looked on by the world around us as foolishness. In this verse and the next, he declares that there are two types of people in this world: “the natural man” (literally “a natural man”) and “he who is spiritual.” A natural man is someone who does not believe that Jesus Christ is God or that His death on the cross paid for our sins (he’s not a Christian).

Because he does not believe in this truth, a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God. Instead, the things taught by the Holy Spirit are foolishness to him. Notice that Paul does not say that they seem like foolishness, but that they are foolishness. He also teaches us why such things are foolishness to unsaved people. A natural man does not have the ability to know (or understand) spiritual truths because such truths can only be examined and ascertained by the Spirit who lives within us (the Holy Spirit of God).

Application

Have you ever been reading your Bible not understanding what it was saying? Did you pray to God to reveal the spiritual truths being taught there? When was the last time you thanked God for revealing the truth to you?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2013 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

2 Thessalonians 2:10 – Unrighteous Deception

Posted on by Will

and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

Truth to Learn

The world ruler during the Tribulation will be a great deceiver.

Behind the Words

The word “unrighteousness” is from adikia, which is made up of the privative a, meaning “not” or “without” and dikē, meaning “that which is right or just.” Thus, adikia means “not right” or “not just.”

Apatē is the Greek word translated “deception.” It refers to that which is deceitful or a delusion (something that is perceived despite strong evidence to the contrary).

“Perish” is from the Greek verb apollumi, which is made up of apo, meaning “from” or “away from” and ollumi, meaning “to destroy.” Therefore, apollumi means “to completely destroy.” The word does not imply complete annihilation (cessation of being), but physical destruction.

The word “receive” is translated from the verb dechomai, which means “to take to oneself” or “to deliberately and readily accept something offered.”

“Saved” is translated from sodzō, which means “to preserve safe from danger, loss, or destruction.”

Meaning Explained

The Apostle Paul has been teaching the Christians in Thessalonica about the Day of the Lord. False teachers had told them that this day of God’s judgment against the “permanent earth dwellers” had already arrived. In response to that, Paul explained that the time of God’s wrath would not happen until two specific events occurred. The first is the apostasia, either a reference to a great “falling away” from true faith or the rapture of the church. The second event is the revealing of “the lawless one,” the antichrist.

He taught that this “lawless one” would become evident because of great signs and miraculous deeds which will be performed through the power of our great adversary, Satan. Paul now gives some more details about how this future world ruler will become evident.

The antichrist will be a great deceiver who, like a modern day illusionist, will use deception to convince people that he is righteous. According to 2 Thessalonians 2:4, he will declare himself to be a god, and the great signs and wonders that he and his false prophet perform will convince many that he really is a god. To a Bible believing Christian, this seems hard to believe. We know that there is only one true God, but those who reject the truth taught in the Bible will readily accept this imposter for what he claims to be.

True Christians not only believe the truth about God and His Son, Jesus Christ, but they have a love of the truth taught in Scripture. We love to read our Bibles and we love to learn the truth about God’s desire to have a personal relationship with us. But, the unbelievers in the last days will not have this love of the truth and will be easily deceived. As a result, they will not receive salvation, but will, instead, perish in the lake of fire for all eternity.

Application

Do you love the truth of God’s Word? If so, hold fast to sound Biblical teaching. If not, prepare yourself to be easily deceived.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

1 Thessalonians 2:13 – God’s Effective Work

Posted on by Will

For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

Truth to Learn

Any success we might have is because of God, not us.

Behind the Words

The words “we … thank” are translated from the verb eucharisteō, which is made up of eu, meaning “good” or “well” and a form of charidzomai, meaning “to grant” or “to give.” The basic meanings of this word include “to show oneself to be pleased or grateful” or “to give thanks.”

Adialeiptōs is the Greek word translated “without ceasing.” It is a double compound word made up of a, meaning “without,” dia, meaning “through” or “between,” and a form of the verb leipō, meaning “to leave.” Thus, adialeiptōs literally means “without leaving space between.” In other words, it means doing something without pausing or stopping.

“You received” is from the Greek verb paralambanō. This word is made up of para, meaning “from” and lambanō, meaning “to take” or “to receive.” This word means “to receive from someone else” or “to receive to oneself.”

“You welcomed” is translated from dechomai, which means “to accept something deliberately and readily.”

The words “effectively works” are from the verb energeō. This word is based on energēs, meaning “operative, active, or working.” Thus, energeō means “to be at work” or “to be effective.”

Meaning Explained

One of the hallmarks of the Apostle Paul’s ministry is his repeated thankfulness to God. He realized, without a doubt, that his ministry, its effectiveness, and its result were all the result of God’s working in him, not his own efforts. He also realized that his message was not something that he made up or delivered in his own personal eloquent style. He knew that he was not the originator of the message, simply the messenger. As a result, he reminded the Christians in Thessalonica that the message they heard from him is not of human origin, but God’s word.

You may recall from the first chapter of this letter that these believers were undergoing persecution (a point which he will reiterate in the upcoming verses). Under similar persecution, Christians of all ages have found comfort and encouragement in the words of Holy Scripture. Paul also reminds his readers here that God’s word is truth. Notice that in His closing prayer at the last supper, Jesus declared plainly that it is the truth which sets us apart from the rest of the world (John 17:17). In similar fashion, throughout the apostolic teaching in the New Testament, the writers give testimony that God’s word is truth (2 Corinthians 4:2, 6:7; Ephesians 1:13; Colossians 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:15; James 1:18; 1 John 3:18).

Application

Let us all remember that we are here to serve God, not ourselves. In whatever ministry we find ourselves, our responsibility is to represent our King and it is His message we deliver. Therefore, any success which we might have is the result of His working, not ours. Give Him thanks and praise!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Thessalonians 1:6 – Affliction and Joy

Posted on by Will

And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,

Truth to Learn

Committed Christian living will result in affliction – and joy.

Behind the Words

 “Followers” is translated from mimētēs, from which we get our English word “mimic.” It means “someone who mimics, imitates, or follows the example of someone else.”

The words “having received” are from dechomai, meaning “to receive.” It is very similar in meaning to the verb lambanō except that lambanō implies more of an active participation (to take to oneself) while dechomai implies more of a subjective or passive participation (to receive to oneself).

Thlipsis is the Greek word translated “affliction.” It is derived from the verb thlibō, meaning “to crush” or “to squeeze.” Thlipsis refers to “pressure, trouble, affliction, or distress.”

“Joy” is translated from chara, which is derived from the verb chairō, meaning “to rejoice.” Therefore, chara refers to “joy, rejoicing, or gladness.”

Meaning Explained

As we mentioned yesterday, belief in the good news about Jesus Christ is the substance of our salvation. The whole discussion of election versus “free will” becomes a moot point at the moment of conversion. It doesn’t matter whether you believe that God chose or man chooses; what matters is that a lost sinner becomes a child of God and is credited with the righteousness of Christ at the moment of faith.

Then, at the end of yesterday’s verse Paul said, “as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.” Paul did not expect the people to whom he preached to pay him for what he did. Instead, he worked as a tent maker to pay for his own expenses. He, along with Silvanus and Timothy, lived exemplary lives in spite of the persecution they faced from the local Jews, who even traveled to Berea to harass Paul after he began preaching there. It is important to note that Paul’s ministry didn’t stop when people got saved. He simply switched from evangelist mode to teacher mode. He taught them the fundamental truths of how to live a life committed to God, and he lived the kind of life that he taught about.

As a result, we learn in today’s verse that the Thessalonians became imitators of Paul and his companions. They didn’t just listen to their teaching, smile politely, say a few amens, and then continue living as they always had. They changed. They put into practice what they were taught, using as their living examples Paul and his companions. And what did they get for it? They received the same persecution that Paul continually endured. We are told here that it wasn’t just a little teasing that they received, they suffered “much affliction.”

Those who afflicted them did so intentionally to make them suffer, but they didn’t complain; instead, they endured it with joy in their hearts. That’s committed Christian living.

Application

Christ told His disciples, “In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer …” (John 16:33b)  Rather than causing us sadness, persecution and hardship should cause us to be as joyous as the Thessalonians, particularly if it has come upon us as a result of our living our Christian faith. Are you willing to suffer for Him? Think about how much He gave for you!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 6:17 – The Sword, The Word

Posted on by Will

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

Truth to Learn

Christians have a sword to use in our spiritual battle.

Behind the Words

“Take” is translated from the Greek verb dechomai, meaning “to deliberately and readily accept what is offered.” It is different from the word lambanō, which means “to take as a self-prompted action.” Thus, we could more accurately translate this word as “receive.”

The word “helmet” is from perikephalaia, which is made up of peri, meaning “around” and a form of kephalē, meaning “head.” Hence, we see that perikephalaia means something that goes “around the head.”

Sōtērion is the word translated “salvation.” This is derived from the verb sōdzō, meaning “to save,” “to deliver,” or “to preserve safe from danger.”

The word “sword” is from machaira, which is derived from machē (from which we get the word machete). Machē refers to “a knife.” Machaira refers to a short sword (a knife) used in close hand-to-hand combat. It is used in a thrusting or slicing manner. A different Greek word, rhomphaia, refers to a longer “broadsword.”

Meaning Explained

For a Roman soldier, the large shield (thureos) protected most of his body, but during actual hand-to-hand combat, the head had to protrude above the shield. Therefore, the helmet became a crucial piece of his armor. It was typically made of iron or brass, often adorned with a horsehair crest, dyed red. The helmet was so crucial that a soldier might continue to fight (and win) while missing any other part of his armor, but without his helmet he was as good as dead.

Paul said ours is a “helmet of salvation.” Like a Roman soldier in the physical world, any person is spiritually dead without salvation. In this metaphor a Christian is never without his or her helmet, but it must be worn to protect us in our battle. In other words, we must always be aware that salvation by grace, through faith, guarantees us forgiveness of all our sins and it secures for us the promise of eternal life. Notice that Paul tells us to receive (dechomai) this salvation. It’s not something we can take or earn; it is a gift that we can only receive by faith.

The final piece of our armor is the sword. This is the only offensive weapon in the arsenal. The Greek machaira was shorter than the romphaia, being slightly curved and having a single sharp edge designed for slicing. Paul tells us that our machaira is “the word of God.” Knowledge of Scripture is of vital importance in fending off attacks from our enemy. It is what Jesus Himself used against the temptations of Satan. It is good and useful to memorize Scripture, but it is even more important to read and study the Bible on a regular and consistent basis. I always encourage new believers to read their Bible daily, even if they think they’re not getting anything out of it. The Holy Spirit will direct our use of the Sword.

Application

Fifteen minutes a day is about 1/100th of your life, yet fifteen minutes a day spent reading the Bible can make your life 100% better. Are you willing to devote 1/100th of your day, every day, so that you can wield your sword in battle?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved.