Tag: eulogeo

Romans 12:14 – Blessing, Not Cursing

Posted on by Will

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not wish them evil.

Truth to Learn

Being Christ-like is really, really hard – but not impossible.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “bless” is eulogeō, which is a compound word made up of eu, meaning “good or well” and a form of the noun logos, meaning “a word,” or the thoughts behind the word. So Paul is telling us that we should have good thoughts and say good things about those who persecute us. One more thing about the word translated “bless” is the fact that it is expressed in the imperative mood, which means that this is a command that Paul is giving us, not simply a suggestion.

“Persecute” is translated from a form of the Greek word diōkō, which is the same root as the word in the previous verse which was translated as “pursuing.” There we saw that this word means “to pursue” or “to persecute.” In other words, it means to be continually going after something, whether for good or for evil.

The Greek word translated “wish them evil” is kataraomai. This is the verb form of katara. This is made up of kata, meaning “down,” but often used as an intensifier, and ara. This word, ara, originally referred to “a prayer,” but over time it came to mean an imprecatory prayer or a wish for evil. In other words, it refers to a curse, or wish for a deity to execute upon someone. So we see that kataraomai refers to a prayer in which we ask God to take vengeance for us.

 

Meaning Explained

Now Paul gets down to a really difficult aspect of how Christians should act. He says that we should bless those who persecute us. The use of the word translated “persecute” may be a bit of a play on words by the Apostle Paul. We should be constantly pursuing opportunities to be hospitable to others (verse thirteen), and we should speak well of those who constantly pursue opportunities to do evil to us (verse fourteen).

Most Christians have experienced the pain of having someone make life difficult for them. It may have been because of something we have done, or it may have been completely unjustified. In either case, our natural reaction is to speak evil of them and maybe even pray that God would punish them for what they are doing. However, Paul tells us that instead of wishing revenge through imprecatory prayers, we should speak well of the one or ones persecuting us.

Is this easy? Absolutely not! Our fallen nature wants us to get revenge on those who continually try to do evil to us, but the Holy Spirit wants us to be Christ-like. As Jesus was lying on top of the cross having nails driven into His hands so that He could be tortured in a most painful manner, He said,

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)

If ever there was a person who would have been justified in asking God to take vengeance on those who are mistreating Him, it was Jesus. Instead of that, however, He prayed that they would be forgiven.

 

Application

Is there someone right now who is making your life difficult, someone who is persecuting you? If so, ask God to make this verse real to you and ask Him to empower you through the Holy Spirit to speak well of (and to) the person responsible for your pain.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Peter 3:14 – Unlikely Suffering

Posted on by Will

But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not fear their fear, nor be troubled."

Truth to Learn

We probably won’t suffer for behaving the way God expects us to. But if we do, we are fortunate, and we should not be afraid.

 

Behind the Words

There are 4 types of conditional sentences in the Greek grammar of the New Testament, although only the first three actually appear in the New Testament texts.. This sentence is closest in form to the least common of those, the 4th class conditional sentence. The 4th class condition indicates “less probable future condition.” In other words, “while it is possible, it is not likely that this will happen.”

There are two Greek words that are commonly translated “bless, blessed, or blessing.” They are eulogeo (“good words” or “well-spoken of”) and markarion which means “supremely fortunate” or “supremely well-off.” The word in today’s verse is the latter.

There are two instances of the word “fear” in this passage. The first is the verb phobeō and the second is the noun phobos. These are both from the same root (from which we get the English word “phobia”). So, literally, this verse says, “do not fear their fear.” There are two possible meanings, either a) Do not be afraid with the same sort of fear as wicked men are; with a worldly slavish fear of men, and of the loss of worldly things, and of life itself: or, b) Do not be afraid of those who inject fear into you; do not be afraid of their words and reproaches, of their threatenings and menaces, or even of death itself. This is a general quote from Isaiah 8:12 which says,

And you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it.

It appears that the proper translation is, “do not be afraid of them with the same kind of fear they have.”

 

Meaning Explained

In the previous 2 verses Peter told us that God is looking over us and is attentive to our prayers. This promise is not to all mankind. Peter is writing this letter to “the elect,” those who have been chosen by God.

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen sojourners of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father … (1Peter 1:1, 2a)

If you are a born again Christian then this promise is for you. As we said in the previous verse, however, this does not mean that nothing bad will ever happen to you.

If we behave as God has commanded us, keeping our tongues from speaking badly, turning away from evil, and pursuing peace, then we know that God is watching over us and listening to our prayers and nothing bad is likely to happen to us. But even if we should suffer because of righteousness, we are blessed.

Even if we should suffer for doing what is right, though it is very unlikely, then we are still extremely fortunate. We have been adopted by the great Lord of all creation, and we are to be the bride of His Son, and He loves us with a perfect love!

Because of that, Peter says in the last half of this verse, “then don’t fear their threats nor be troubled.” Even if you should suffer, don’t let it make you fearful. Here’s what our Lord said:

 

Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:28-31) [NASB]

 

Application

In John 16:33 Christ told His disciples that in this world we will suffer tribulation. If we behave like our Heavenly Father wants us to and if we are a constant witness for Him, the world will hate us. And if we should suffer for it, we are to count it a joyous thing, and we are not to fear because God is for us!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Peter 3:9 – Blessings for Insults

Posted on by Will

not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but on the contrary blessing, because you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

Truth to Learn

The proper response when someone insults you is to bless them.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “returning” is the Greek word, apodidantes, which means “to give away” or, as in this case, “to give back.” The notion is that it is not self-initiated action but reaction.

The word “evil” is from kakos, which means “worthless, bad, or evil.”

“Insult” is translated from loidoria, which refers to “insulting language or verbal abuse.”

The expression “on the contrary” is from the Greek word tounantion, which literally means “the opposite.”

The word translated “blessing” comes from our old friend, eulogeo, which literally means “good words.”

“Inherit” is translated from the verb klēronomeō, which is made up of klēros, meaning “a lot” or “a portion” and nemō, meaning “to hold” or “to distribute.” klēronomeō refers to the distribution of an inheritance to those who rightfully deserve it.

 

Meaning Explained

After telling us how we should behave, Peter now tells us how we shouldn’t behave. Few of us go around looking for people we can do bad things to or people we can cast a vicious insult at. On the other hand, how quickly we seem to react to the pain inflicted by others with a little pain infliction of our own. How effortlessly we can deliver a quick and powerful (and stinging) response to others when we are simply defending ourselves.

However, Peter says we should do just the opposite. We should respond with a blessing when we are insulted or when someone does something bad to us. We should eulogize them, we should respond with kind words (Yeah, right! That’s what I want to do when someone slams me!) The point is, the action we should take is not what we want to do, it is what God tells us to do.

“Why should I say something nice to someone who just did something bad to me?” you may ask. Peter says, in effect, that this is our purpose in life. Unto this we were called. Here’s what the Apostle Paul said to the Christians in Rome:

But whom He predestinated, these He also called; and whom He called, those He also justified. And whom He justified, these He also glorified. (Romans 8:39)

Because God chose us and called us, He also declared us as just, or righteous, and in God’s mind at least, He has already glorified us. Because of this calling, however, we are also expected to behave in a certain manner. We were called to inherit a blessing, that is, justification, glorification, and salvation! Therefore, we certainly should return a blessing on those who do bad things to us in light of what God has already done for us and in light of what He is going to do for us.

 

Application

The next time someone does something bad to you or insults you try saying something nice to them in return. You may be surprised by what happens!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 3:9 – Offending God?

Posted on by Will

With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.

Truth to Learn

When we curse a fellow member of the human race it is offensive to the God who created us.

Behind the Words

The word “bless” is translated from the Greek word eulogeō. This is a compound word made up of eu, meaning “good” and logeō, meaning “word.” Hence, James is saying that we say good things about God. This word could be translated as “bless” or “praise.” This Greek word is expressed in the present tense, active voice, and indicative mood, meaning present continuous action (we are continually blessing God).

“Curse” is from the verb form of katara, which is made up of kata, meaning “against” and ara, which originally meant “a prayer” but came to mean “a curse which a deity was to perform against someone.” Thus, we see that this word refers to “requesting evil against someone else.” This verb is expressed in the present tense, middle voice, and indicative mood. The middle voice implies that we are cursing ourselves. That is, we are cursing members of mankind (of which we are a part).

The Greek word translated “similitude” is homoiōsis, from the verb homoioō, which means “to make like” or “to make in a similar form.” Hence, homoiōsis means “to have a similar form” or “to have a likeness.” Although it often does, it does not have to refer to physical appearance.

Meaning Explained

James reminds us that with our tongues we are continually offering praise and blessing to our Lord. And well we should, because he is worthy of all our praise! He is our Heavenly Father who has created us and has given us spiritual life through the blood of His Son. Unfortunately, we use the same tongue to continually curse our fellow human beings who have been made in the image of God. In Genesis 1:26, 27 we are told that God intentionally made us in His image.

This image, however, is not a reference to our physical form. We know this because Paul tells us in Philippians 2:6, 7 that Jesus already had the form of God (because He is God) and He took on the form and likeness of Man:

who, being in the form of God, … taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

Mankind was a special creation of God, separate and distinct from all the animals. He gave man intellect, a moral nature, the power to communicate with others, and an emotional nature. These are characteristics of God which He only gave to humans. These are the ways in which we have been made in His likeness. Because we bear this likeness, this family resemblance, it is an act of deprecation against God Himself to curse man.

In the next verse we will see how James really feels about the tongue being used for both blessing and cursing.

Application

Try putting your ear in front of your own mouth (no, not literally, figuratively) and listen carefully to all you say. Are you continually blessing God, or offending Him?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 12:14 – Blessing, Not Cursing

Posted on by Will

Romans 12:14 – Blessing, Not Cursing

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Truth to Learn

Being Christ-like is really, really hard – but not impossible.

Behind the Words

The word translated “bless” is eulogeō, which is a compound word made up of eu, meaning “good or well” and a form of the noun logos, meaning “a word,” or the thoughts behind the word. So Paul is telling us that we should have good thoughts and say good things about those who persecute us. One more thing about the word translated “bless” is the fact that it is expressed in the imperative mood, which means that this is a command that Paul is giving us, not simply a suggestion.

“Persecute” is translated from a form of the Greek word diōkō, which is the same root as the word in the previous verse which was translated as “given to.” There we saw that this word means “to pursue” or “to persecute.” In other words, it means to be continually going after something, whether for good or for evil.

The Greek word translated “curse” is kataraomai. This is the verb form of katara. This is made up of kata, meaning “down,” but often used as an intensifier, and ara. This word, ara, originally referred to “a prayer,” but over time it came to mean an imprecatory prayer, that is, a curse which a deity was to execute upon someone. So we see that kataraomai refers to a prayer in which we ask God to take vengeance for us.

Meaning Explained

Now Paul gets down to a really difficult aspect of how Christians should act. He says that we should bless those who persecute us. The use of the word translated “persecute” may be a bit of a play on words by the Apostle Paul. We should be constantly pursuing opportunities to be hospitable to others (verse thirteen), and we should speak well of those who constantly pursue opportunities to do evil to us (verse fourteen).

Most Christians have experienced the pain of having someone make life difficult for them. It may have been because of something we have done, or it may have been completely unjustified. In either case, our natural reaction is to speak evil of them and maybe even pray that God would punish them for what they are doing. However, Paul tells us that instead of seeking revenge through imprecatory prayers, we should speak well of the one or ones persecuting us.

Is this easy? Absolutely not! Our fallen nature wants us to get revenge on those who continually try to do evil to us, but the Holy Spirit wants us to be Christ-like. As Jesus was lying on top of the cross having nails driven into His hands so that He could be tortured in a most painful manner, He said,

Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. (Luke 23:34)

If ever there was a person who would have been justified in asking God to take vengeance on those who are mistreating Him, it was Jesus. Instead of that, however, He prayed that they would be forgiven.

Application

Is there someone right now who is making your life difficult, someone who is persecuting you? If so, ask God to make this verse real to you and ask Him to empower you through the Holy Spirit to speak well of (and to) the person responsible for your pain.

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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