hegeomai – Ministry of Grace Church

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2 Thessalonians 3:15 – Loving Restoration, Not Punishment

Posted on September 15, 2016 by Will

Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Truth to Learn

Church discipline should be done as an act of love, with the objective being restoration and growth, not punishment.

Behind the Words

The word “count” is translated from the Greek verb hēgeomai, which is based on the verb agō, meaning “to lead” or “to go before.” Metaphorically, this word means “to lead out before the mind,” that is, “to regard, esteem, count, or reckon.” Today, we might say “… don’t think of him as …” It is expressed here in the imperative mood, indicating a command.

“Enemy” is from echthros, which refers to “someone who is an enemy” or “someone who is hated.”

The word translated “admonish” is translated from noutheteō. It is made up of nous, meaning “the mind” and tithēmi, meaning “to put” or “to place.” Thus, noutheteō means “to place in the mind” or “to warn, admonish, or exhort.” This verb is also expressed here in the imperative mood.

“Brother” is from the Greek word adelphos, which we saw a couple of verses back. As used here, it means “a brother or sister in the Lord,” that is, another Christian.

Meaning Explained

The concept Paul is talking about in yesterday’s verse and this one is often referred to as “church discipline.” It is necessary in any organization to have some form of action against those who cause problems. Within the church, it is just as important for such discipline to be done with love and with the end objective being to restore the person to full fellowship with the Lord and with the church. Notice that what Paul is talking about here is not a punishment; it is not to be used as retaliation for their actions, but as discipline with a loving attitude. This is to be done like a parent disciplining a child in order to make him or her a better person.

There are several kinds of behavior that require discipline within the church and each has its own proper response. If a brother or sister sins against you, you are to confront him or her in person, then confront him or her in the presence of two or three witnesses if he or she will not listen to you. Then you are to reveal it to the church if he or she still won’t listen. And, if all these fail, reject that person from the church (Matthew 18:15-17). If someone in the church is teaching doctrinal error, that person should be patiently taught the truth (2 Timothy 2:23-26) and if he or she persists, then the church leadership should rebuke that person (Titus 1:10-14). If a brother or sister is overtaken in sin, then one who is spiritually mature should restore him or her in love (Galatians 6:1-3). If a brother or sister is causing division within the church, he or she should be warned twice and then rejected (Titus 3:10). If someone in the church is living in open immorality, you are not to keep company with him or her (1 Corinthians 5:9).

What Paul is specifically addressing in this letter is the brother or sister who is a busybody and refuses to work. He says that if such a person does not respond to the teaching in this letter, we are not to have fellowship with that person, and we are to warn that person but not treat him or her as an enemy.

Application

Whenever discipline is necessary, it must be done with love and humility in order to cause restoration, not as vengeance or retribution.

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Thessalonians 5:13 – Respect, Honor, and Peace

Posted on June 24, 2016 by Will

and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

Truth to Learn

Respect and honor your pastor and be at peace with all your Christian brothers.

Behind the Words

“Esteem” is translated from hēgeomai, which means “to lead,” that is, “to command.” It is often used metaphorically, however, meaning “to lead the mind through a reasoning process arriving at a conclusion.” In other words, here it means “conclude, consider, view, regard, or reckon.”

The word “very” is from the Greek word huper (hyper), which means “above, over, or beyond.”

The Greek word translated “highly” is the comparative form of perissos, which means abundant. Thus, this word means “more than abundant, or highly.”

Ergon is the Greek word translated “work.” It represents the work that someone does in performing his or her job.

“Be at peace” is translated from the verb eirēneuō, which is based on eirēnē, meaning “peace.” Thus, eirēneuō means “to be at peace” or “to make peace.”

Meaning Explained

In yesterday’s verse we talked a little about three of the characteristics of church pastors (or elders). These are:

They are hard working. They often work six or seven days a week for very little pay.
God has placed them in authority over you and you need to submit yourselves to that authority.
Part of their job is to encourage and admonish you regarding what God expects from His children.

In today’s verse Paul tells us specifically how we are to feel about our pastors and how we are to treat all of our Christian brothers and sisters. He starts off today’s verse telling us that we are to regard our pastors very highly, not just a little and not just highly, but very highly. Within the church we are all given spiritual gifts by God and these gifts are to be used for the building-up of the Body of Christ. One of these gifts is that of pastor/teacher (see Ephesians 4:11). We are all to be using our gifts in a way that glorifies God. However, He has also ordained a specific order of authority within the church, and we are to honor and submit to those in authority, giving their position the respect that it deserves.

Keep in mind that your pastor has a sin nature, just as you do. He is not perfect! And, most church pastors work in relative obscurity (from a worldly viewpoint). From God’s viewpoint, however, pastors are a key part of His plan for all of His children. Because pastors are in a position of spiritual authority, when they do make mistakes or succumb to the temptations of sin, they receive harsher judgment than the rest of us (see James 3:1).

The other thing Paul teaches us in this verse is that we are to be at peace with others in the Body of Christ. None of us is perfect any more than our pastor is perfect. We need to display a lot of grace in dealing with our brothers and sisters in Christ and be at peace with them.

Application

Show respect to your pastor, give honor to his esteemed position, and submit yourself to his authority. Also, make peace with your brothers. This is God’s will for your life!

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:2 – Joyful in Trials

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Will

My brothers, consider it all joy when you fall into various trials,

Truth to Learn

Trials come to make us stronger Christians. They are not to be feared and avoided. They are to be embraced and endured.

Behind the Words

“Count” is translated from a form of the Greek word hēgeomai, which literally means “to go forth” or “to lead the way.” Metaphorically, however, it means “to lead out before the mind.” In other words, it can be translated as “to view, regard, esteem, count, consider, or reckon.” The interesting thing about this verb is that it is not written in the imperative mood. In other words, it is not a command, but an instruction (a lesson to be learned).

The word translated “joy” could also be translated as “calm delight,” “gladness,” or “happiness.” It is translated from charan, which is the noun form of the same word with which James ended the previous verse.

The expression “fall into” is from the Greek word peripiptō, which is a compound word made up of peri meaning “around” or “about” and piptō meaning “to fall.” Hence, this word means “to fall into the midst of something so as to be totally surrounded by it.”

The word translated “trials” is from the Greek, peirosmos which refers to “a trial, temptation, or a putting to proof by means of experimentation.”

Meaning Explained

Once again, James shows his humility by referring to his readers as “brothers.” Notice that there is no pretense with James about being a bishop writing to ordinary Christians. That’s because in Christ there is no distinction between priests and lay believers as some churches teach today. We are all equal in the body of Christ.

In the previous verse James gave his greeting with an expression of joy and delight. That’s precisely what he wants for us, and that’s how he wants us to respond to the everyday trials that come into our lives.

The main point of James’ message to his brothers (and sisters) in Christ is that we should not complain about the fact that we are being bombarded by all sorts of situations that try our patience and our faith, even though we repeatedly stumble. Rather, he says, we should consider it delightful because of what it will produce in us. Just as a jeweler has to strike and abrade a precious stone to bring out the best in it, so each of us needs difficulties and trials to help us grow into the type of servant of God who is more Christ-like.

And, just as a plant grown indoors away from any wind cannot survive outside because it has no strength, so we need challenging and toughening to make us stronger servants of the Lord. That way we can stand strong for Him in the life He has given us. Without continual trials and testing we, too, become weak and unable to stand in the midst of a sinful world.

Application

Don’t complain when things seem difficult spiritually, physically, or emotionally. Instead, count it as a joyful thing, and thank God for the opportunity to be made more like His Son!

The next time you feel like saying “Why, God! Why are You letting this happen to me?” try saying, “Thank you, God, for helping me to become more like Jesus Christ” and ask “What do you want me to learn from this, Lord?”

In God's service, for His glory,

2 Thessalonians 3:15 – Loving Restoration, Not Punishment

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Will

Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Truth to Learn

Church discipline should be done as an act of love, with the objective being restoration and growth, not punishment.

Behind the Words

“Enemy” is from echthros, which refers to “someone who is an enemy” or “someone who is hated.”

“Brother” is from the Greek word adelphos, which we saw a couple of verses back. As used here, it means “a brother or sister in the Lord,” that is, another Christian.

Meaning Explained

There are several kinds of behavior that require discipline within the church and each has its own proper response. If a brother or sister sins against you, you are to confront him or her in person, then confront him or her in the presence of two or three witnesses, then reveal it to the church, and if all these fail, reject that person from the church (Matthew 18:15-17). If someone in the church is teaching doctrinal error, that person should be patiently taught the truth (2 Timothy 2:23-26) and if he or she persists, then the church leadership should rebuke that person (Titus 1:10-14). If a brother or sister is overtaken in sin, then one who is spiritually mature should restore him or her in love (Galatians 6:1-3). If a brother or sister is causing division within the church, he or she should be warned twice and then rejected (Titus 3:10). If someone in the church is living in open immorality, you are not to keep company with him or her (1 Corinthians 5:9).

Application

Whenever discipline is necessary, it must be done with love and humility in order to cause restoration, not as vengeance or retribution.

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Thessalonians 5:13 – Respect, Honor, and Peace

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Will

and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

Truth to Learn

Respect and honor your pastor and be at peace with all your Christian brethren.

Behind the Words

The word “very” is from the Greek word huper (hyper), which means “above, over, or beyond.”

The Greek word translated “highly” is the comparative form of perissos, which means abundant. Thus, this word means “more than abundant, or highly.”

Ergon is the Greek word translated “work.” It represents the work that someone does in performing his or her job.

“Be at peace” is translated from the verb eirēneuō, which is based on eirēnē, meaning “peace.” Thus, eirēneuō means “to be at peace” or “to make peace.”

Meaning Explained

In yesterday’s verse we talked a little about three of the characteristics of church pastors (or elders). These are:

1. They are hard working. They often work six or seven days a week for very little pay.

2. God has placed them in authority over you and you need to submit yourselves to that authority.

3. Part of their job is to encourage and admonish you regarding what God expects from His children.

In today’s verse Paul tells us specifically how we are to feel about our pastors and how we are to treat all of our Christian brothers and sisters. He starts off today’s verse telling that we are to regard our pastors very highly, not just a little and not just highly, but very highly. Within the church we are all given spiritual gifts by God and these gifts are to be used for the building-up of the Body of Christ. One of these gifts is that of pastor/teacher (see Ephesians 4:11). We are all to be using our gifts in a way that glorifies God. However, He has also ordained a specific order of authority within the church, and we are to honor and submit to those in authority, giving their position the respect that it deserves.

Application

Show respect to your pastor, give honor to his esteemed position, and submit yourself to his authority. Also, make peace with your brethren. This is God’s will for your life!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 12:10 – Being an Example

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Will

Romans 12:10 – Being an Example

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

Truth to Learn

Christians are to treat other Christians in a special way.

Behind the Words

The word translated “kindly affectionate” is found nowhere else in the Bible. It is philostorgos, which is made up of philos, meaning “a friend” and a form of storgē, which refers to “natural family love” or “the kind of love that a mother has for her child.” It is that intimate fondness that binds members of a close family together no matter what happens.

The Greek word translated “brotherly love” is philadelphia. This is made up of philos, signifying “a kind of love signified by fondness or friendship” and a form of adelphos, which means “brother.” Thus, we see that philadelphia refers to “brotherly love” or “the kind of fondness and friendship that exists between good friends.” This is a completely different word than the one translated “love” in the previous verse. That word is agape, which is self-sacrificing love in action, the kind of love that God has for His redeemed children.

“Honor” is translated from timē, which is derived from tinō, referring to “the value or the price paid for something.” With regard to people, timē denotes “esteem, respect, or honor.”

The word translated “giving preference” is the Greek word proēgeomai, which is made up of pro meaning “before or in front of” and hegeomai, which means “to lead the way.” So literally it means “to lead the way before others” and could be interpreted as “setting an example.”

Meaning Explained

Paul now focuses on how Christians should treat each other. We are to have a brotherly love for each other. But Paul makes a special distinction about this brotherly love. He describes it as “kindly affectionate.” That is, the kind of fondness that we are to have for fellow Christians should be more than just friendship, it should be a binding love, the kind that exists in close families. I think if I were to paraphrase the first part of this verse it would say, “Make your love for your Christian brothers be like that which binds a parent and a child.”

In the second part of this verse, Paul tells us that we are to give preference to one another in honor. As we pointed out in “Behind the Words,” he is telling us that we should set an example of each other in honor. Therefore this phrase could be translated as, “setting an example in honoring each other.’

In other words, Paul is telling us in this verse that we should feel so personally attached to each other in the church that we will gladly set the example of seeking for others to receive honor before ourselves. In the opening verses of this chapter, Paul told us to present our living bodies as a sacrifice, to be used as God determines. Then in verse three he said:

For I say … to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think,

In the body of Christ, we should all consider the good of others more important than our own good, and we should be giving honor to others, not seeking it for ourselves.

Application

If every member of the church obeyed this verse, there would be no strife or dissention in the church and God would be truly glorified! Who wants to go first in being an example?

In God’s service, for His glory,

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