Tag: epistrepho

1 Thessalonians 1:9 – Turn From Idols

Posted on by Will

For they themselves declare about us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

Truth to Learn

We need to turn from idols and give all our devotion to God.

 

Behind the Words

“Declare” is from the Greek verb apangellō, which is made up of apo, meaning “from” and angellō, meaning “to announce” or “to declare.” This word literally means “to bring a message from any person or place.”

The word “entry” is from the Greek noun eisodon, which is made up of eis, meaning “in” or “into” and hodos, meaning “a road” or “a way.” Thus, eisodon literally means “a way in.”

Epistrephō is the verb translated “turned.” It is composed of epi, meaning “above, over, on, or motion toward something” and strephō, meaning “to turn.” Thus, epistrephō means “to turn on something” or “to turn toward something.”

The word translated “idols” is eidōlon, which refers to “an image or representation of some other thing.”

“God” is translated from theos, which was originally used by the heathen to refer to their gods (idols). It is based on the noun theteres, meaning “placers.” The heathen Greeks thought their gods were the makers and disposers (placers) of all things. For instance, the god of money was referred to as mammon, which Jesus referred to in Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13. In the New Testament, when you see word “god” it refers to a false god (see 1Corinthians 1:20) but when spelled “God” it refers to the one true God.

 

Meaning Explained

In this letter to the church in Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul has been praising the members of the church there for the manner in which they have been living their lives and proclaiming the gospel message. In yesterday’s verse he told them that the witness of their faith living has gone out into the entire world; so much so, in fact, that Paul says he and his associated don’t have to tell anyone about it.

Now he adds to that praise by saying the reason the Apostles don’t have to tell anyone about the Christian character of the Thessalonians is because people everywhere are talking about it. He tells us that these people are talking about the way that Paul and his companions initially came to the people of Thessalonica. He also says that people are talking about how the Christians in Thessalonica turned from idol worship to become dedicated followers of Jesus Christ.

This makes this church somewhat unique among the churches that Paul planted. Most of them were primarily converts from Judaism, but it appears that the Thessalonian Christians were pagans before hearing and believing the gospel message.

 

Application

Do you have idols in your life that are more important than Jesus Christ? What’s more important to you, money, clothes or other possessions, family, success at work, sports, your reputation …? Whatever it is, if it demands more of your time and devotion than serving God, it’s an idol and you need to turn from it to serve the living and true God.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 5:19 – Wandering from the Truth

Posted on by Will

My brothers, if anyone among you should stray from the truth, and someone should turn him back,

Truth to Learn

We need to lovingly reach out to those who have strayed from the truth.

 

Behind the Words

There are a couple of words we want to look at in this verse. The first is “stray.” Some translations have this as “err” or “wander.” The Greek word is planaō which means “to stray,” “to roam,” “to wander,” or “to be out of the way.” The implication is that this person knew the truth and has since changed direction and has wandered into something that is not the truth. This word is expressed in the subjunctive mood as part of a 3rd class conditional clause, indicating that it is possible, but there is no assumption as to whether it is true or not.

The other word we want to look at is “turn” which comes from the Greek epistrephō, which is made up of epi, meaning “upon” or “over” and strephō, meaning to turn. Hence, epistrephō literally means “to turn upon” or “to turn toward.” Here it carries the meaning “to turn back around to the original way.” This again emphasizes the fact that the person was originally going the correct way, has since turned away, but has now turned back around to the truth.

 

Meaning Explained

This verse does not stand on its own, but needs the next verse to make complete sense. We as Christians need to be ever on the guard against seducing doctrines that draw us away from the truth. That’s why it is so important for us to be reading the Bible daily and listening to doctrinally sound preachers, always seeking confirmation from the Spirit of God and the Bible itself as to the things that are being taught. Look at what was said of the believers in Berea concerning the teaching of Paul and Silas. These believers went directly to the Word to verify what they were being taught.

And the brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who having arrived went into the synagogue of the Jews. And these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:10,11)

Today’s verse is not talking about salvation, even though the word “convert” is used in some translations rather than “turn … back.” It is talking about a believer who has been led into false doctrine.

People who are trained to spot counterfeit money are not taught what all the various fakes look like, instead they are taught in excruciating detail what the real thing looks like. Likewise, we will be able to detect false doctrine only when we know without a doubt what true Biblical doctrine is. In the next verse we will see that James speaks very strongly about the effect of false doctrine.

 

Application

You obviously want to know the truth of God’s Word, otherwise you wouldn’t be going through these daily devotional verse studies. But it can’t stop here. You need to be reading your Bible daily and regularly hearing good sound preaching based on God’s Word and nothing else. Only by thoroughly knowing the true doctrines taught in the Bible will you be able to detect false doctrine.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Thessalonians 1:9 – Turn From Idols

Posted on by Will

For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

Truth to Learn

We need to turn from idols and give all our devotion to God.

Behind the Words

“Declare” is from the Greek verb apangellō, which is made up of apo, meaning “from” and angellō, meaning “to announce” or “to declare.” This word literally means “to bring a message from any person or place.” The form of this verb indicates continual action.

The word “entry” is from the Greek noun eisodon, which is made up of eis, meaning “in” or “into” and hodos, meaning “a road” or “a way.” Thus, eisodon literally means “a way in.”

Epistrephō is the verb translated “turned.” It is composed of epi, meaning “above, over, on, or motion toward something” and strephō, meaning “to turn.” Thus, epistrephō means “to turn on something” or “to turn toward something.”

The word translated “idols” is eidōlon, which refers to “an image or representation of some other thing.”

“God” is translated from theos, which was originally used by the heathen to refer to their gods (idols). It is based on the noun theteres, meaning “placers.” The heathen Greeks thought their gods were the makers and disposers (placers) of all things. For instance, the god of money was referred to as mammon, which Jesus referred to in Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13. In the New Testament, when you see word “god” it refers to a false god (see 1Corinthians 1:20) but when spelled “God” it refers to the one true God.

Meaning Explained

In this letter to the church in Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul has been praising the members of the church there for the manner in which they have been living their lives and proclaiming the gospel message. In yesterday’s verse he told them that the witness of their faith living has gone out into the entire Christian world; so much so, in fact, that Paul says he and his associated don’t have to tell anyone about it.

Now he adds to that praise by saying the reason the Apostles don’t have to tell anyone about the Christian character of the Thessalonians is because people everywhere are talking about it. He tells us that these people are talking about the way that Paul and his companions initially came to the people of Thessalonica. He also says that people are talking about how the Christians in Thessalonica turned from idol worship to become dedicated followers of Jesus Christ.

This makes this church somewhat unique among the churches that Paul planted. Most of them were primarily converts from Judaism, but it appears that the Thessalonian Christians were pagans before hearing and believing the gospel message.

Application

Do you have idols in your life that are more important than Jesus Christ? What’s more important to you, money, clothes or other possessions, family, success at work, sports, your reputation …? Whatever it is, if it demands more of your time and devotion than serving God, it’s an idol and you need to turn from it to serve the living and true God.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved