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1 Peter 5:6 – Humbled Exaltation

Posted on March 2, 2017 by Will

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

Truth to Learn

Embrace humility and resist pride and let God lift you up.

Behind the Words

The word translated “humble yourselves” is tapeinoō. It refers to the act of being “brought low” or being “humiliated.” It is different from the word for “under rank” or “submit” (the Greek word hupotassō) that was used in the previous verses. The word for “humble yourselves” is expressed here in the passive voice meaning action that is done to you, rather than the middle voice meaning action that you do to yourself. So the proper translation is “be humbled.” It is also expressed in the imperative mood, meaning that we are commanded to be humbled.

The word translated “He may exalt” is hupsoō, which means “to be elevated” or “to be lifted up.” It is expressed here in the fairly rare telic subjunctive mood, which is used to express purpose. That is to say that God’s purpose in humbling you is so that He might exalt you.

“Mighty” is from the Greek word krataios, which is a derivative of kratos, meaning “power, dominion, or strength.” Hence, krataios refers to God’s powerful or strong hand.

Meaning Explained

This verse is a little tricky, so let’s look carefully at it in order to get the full meaning. This verse says that we are to allow ourselves to be humbled, to be brought down a notch or two. It refers more to a state of mind than to a state of being. Humbleness, as used in today’s verse, is something that we feel rather than something that we do. This is contrary to what our sin nature and the world system wants of us. The Apostle John tells us that the makeup of this world system is:

… the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. (1John 2:16)

The pride of life is just the opposite of humbleness. Peter has been talking about suffering for righteousness’ sake and has even said that at times this is brought on by the providence of God. When God brings suffering to you, be humbled! Don’t be defiant and shake your fist at God, declaring, “This isn’t fair!” Be humbled!

The next phrase tells us why, “… that He may exalt you in due time …” In other words, God’s purpose in humbling you right now in your suffering is so that He might exalt you in His time.

This is a real key verse, along with the next verse, in responding properly to situations in which we are caused to suffer. God does not do these things capriciously or without a purpose. If we allow God to be in control and allow ourselves to be humbled by God, in time He will lift us up and ultimately He will glorify himself!

Application

Are you just looking out for good ol’ number one right now, or are you allowing yourself to be humbled? God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. Do not resist humility, embrace it! In His time He will lift you up, and He will receive the glory!

In God's service, for His glory,

James 4:6 – Humbled before God

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Will

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God sets Himself against proud ones, but gives grace to humble ones."

Truth to Learn

Humility before God is a key to having a fulfilling relationship with Him.

Behind the Words

The word translated “more” is meidzona, which is the comparative form of megas, meaning “big or large.” Hence, this word means “bigger or larger.”

“sets … against” is from antitassō, a compound word made up of anti, meaning “against” and tassō, meaning “to arrange in an orderly manner.” This is a military term meaning “to set-up battle lines against an enemy.”

The word “proud” is translated from huperēphanos, which is made up of huper (or hyper), meaning “above” or “over” and a form of phainō, meaning “to show forth” or “to shine.” Hence, literally, it is someone who overly shows himself or herself. That is, someone who is arrogant or personally proud.

The word “humble” is translated from the Greek word tapeinos, which refers to “those who are low, particularly in attitude or social position.”

Meaning Explained

When we make “stuff” our idol and seek it instead of God, it does not please Him. In fact, it makes God jealous because we are His beloved bride and He wants us to seek only Him. When we desire anything other than God, we are acting like an unfaithful wife.

In spite of our sinful selfishness, James tells us that God shows us grace greater than our selfish, self-serving attitude. But God does not show us this grace while we are filled with selfish pride. He only gives it when we are consumed with self-less humility. When we are proud, James tells us here, God sets up battle lines against us, and who in their right mind wants to go to battle against Him?

Throughout the Bible, we see that one of the keys to a fulfilling relationship with Almighty God begins with humility. Look at 2 Chronicles 7:14, where it says:

And if My people, on whom my name is called, shall be humbled, and shall pray, and shall seek my face, and shall turn from their evil ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Also, look at 1 peter 5:6, which says:

Be humbled, then, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in time

We are repeatedly told that humbleness before God is what He wants of us. We live in a world system, however, that is constantly delivering a message of pride and self-reliance, and it is constantly enticing our desire for stuff. That’s what advertising is all about! But as Christians, we need to continually humble ourselves before God and seek His will rather than our own.

Application

Take a pen and paper right now and make a list of the things that you really want in this life. Go ahead, stop reading at the end of this sentence and write down that list.

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:9 – Humble Exaltation

Posted on February 6, 2015 by Will

Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation,

Truth to Learn

Being poor and unimportant is humbling. As a Christian, you have been elevated to the position of a child of God. God’s children are neither unimportant or poor.

Behind the Words

The word translated “humble” is the word tapeinos which means “not rising far off the ground” and metaphorically means one who is “depressed, humbled, or lowly.” In this verse it is expressed as “the brother, the lowly one.” This word order emphasizes the fact that he is a brother, not of physical relation but of spiritual relation as a child of God, and only secondarily that he is lowly.

“Glory” is translated from kauchaomai which can mean “to boast” or “to glory,” either in a good sense or a bad sense. In this verse it is used in a good sense. Once again, we see James using the imperative mood of the verb indicating a command of encouragement, therefore, the translation “glory” is most appropriate.

The word translated “exaltation” is hupsos which is from the root huper or hyper meaning “over or above.” It refers to a position of elevation or dignity, so it could be translated as being “elevated” or “lifted up.”

Meaning Explained

This verse seems to introduce a new topic for James, and yet it should be tied in to the previous section, particularly with:

My brothers, consider it all joy when you fall into various trials, (James 1:2)

Although there is some disagreement as to what James meant by “lowly,” it seems most natural that he is making a reference to a Christian brother who does not have riches or who has a lowly station in life. This is based primarily on the fact that in the next verse James speaks to the one who has much of the world’s goods, that is, a rich person. The thesis of this entire section of James’ letter is that we should find delight in trials and among the most difficult trials are being in poverty and/or lacking health.

Being poor can be humbling and at times it can even be humiliating. James commands those of us who are in a humble station in life to glory in it. His reason for glorying is that the lowly person is actually elevated, or lifted up, by God when he becomes a Christian. In Christ we are all on the same level and God receives the glory.

If you read the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) you will see that while on this earth the rich man had all this world had to offer, while Lazarus had nothing, not even health. After death, because of his faith, Lazarus was elevated to an exalted position by the side of Abraham, while the rich man, due to his lack of faith, was reduced to the torment of hell fire.

Application

If you are lacking in the things that this world has to offer, then you know how humbling it can be. Instead of complaining about it, however, you should give God the glory for raising you up in Christ Jesus and making you His child.

One day when this life is over, you will assuredly give glory to God for His having made you His child! Why not do it now!

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Peter 5:6 – Humbled Exaltation

Posted on March 11, 2009 by admin

1 Peter 5:6

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

Truth to Learn

Embrace humility and resist pride and let God lift you up.

Behind the Words

“Mighty” is from the Greek word krataios, which is a derivative of kratos, meaning “power, dominion, or strength.” Hence, krataios refers to God’s powerful or strong hand.

Meaning Explained

… the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. (1John 2:16)

The next phrase tells us why, “that He may exalt you in due time …” In other words, God’s purpose in humbling you right now in your suffering is so that He might exalt you in His time.

Application

In God’s service, for His glory,

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1 Peter 5:5 – Humble Submission

Posted on March 10, 2009 by admin

1 Peter 5:5

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Truth to Learn

Submission is the key to life within the Body of Christ.

Behind the Words

The word translated “younger people” is neōteros, which is a form of neos, meaning “new in relation to time.” This could be referring either to more youthful members of the church or those who are younger in Christian maturity.

The word translated “submit yourselves to” is hupotassō, a word we have looked at before. This word means “to under-rank oneself.” It is the same word used of wives and employees who are to submit themselves to their husbands and bosses.

The expression “be clothed with” (some translations have “put on”) is a translation of the Greek word egkomboomai, which means to put on clothing. It is particularly used of an apron which is a symbol of servitude. This particular Greek word is written in the imperative mood, indicating a command, and in the middle voice, which means that it is an action which we are to do to ourselves. We are not to do it to others or have others do it to us.

Meaning Explained

Any verse that starts off with a connective word or phrase (therefore, wherefore, in the same manner, likewise, similarly, etc.) requires the reader to pay special attention to the preceding verses to glean the full meaning. This verse starts off with “Likewise” (some translations have this as “In a similar way”), so we need to see what this verse is tied to. Peter has just been talking to the pastors (elders), instructing them how to treat the flock under their care. They are to take on the task willing, eagerly, not as dictators, but as examples. This is a picture of humble leadership.

Now Peter turns his attention to younger ones in the congregation. Peter tells them that, in the same manner as the pastor is to exercise his office (with humility and submission to the Chief Shepherd), they are to submit themselves to the elders of the church.

Peter is telling the congregation that it is their responsibility to voluntarily submit to the authority of the pastor, having just told the pastors how to treat those under their care. This is further corroborated by the following expression, “be submissive to one another.” This is a beautiful picture of the Church of Christ willingly submitting to one another as situations dictate, recognizing that we are all subjects of the God of all creation.

Why are we to submit to each other in the church and to clothe ourselves with humility? Peter tells us, ‘”because God resists the proud (ones) but gives grace to the humble (ones).” Do you want to receive the fullness of the grace of God? Peter tells us that submission is the key!

Application

Whether you are a church leader or a church member, it is your responsibility under God to be submitted to others in the Body of Christ. Members are to be submissive to the elders and the elders are to be examples by submitting to the Chief Shepherd.

In God’s service, for His glory,

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1 Peter 3:8 – Christ-Like Attributes

Posted on January 14, 2009 by admin

1 Peter 3:8

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;

Truth to Learn

God has specific expectations regarding how we are to treat each other.

Behind the Words

The construction of this verse is very interesting. He says “Finally,” summing up what he has been saying about how we are all to live in relation to one another. This is followed by a series of adjectives. There is no verb present. It is implied as a command “to be.” Thus, the translation “Finally, all of you be.”

“Of one mind” is from homophrōn, made up of homo, meaning “all the same” and a form of phrēn, which specifically refers to the feelings, but by extension it refers to “the mind.” Hence, this means “the same mind” or “the same thinking.”

The word translated “having compassion for one another” is sumpatheis, from which we get out English word “sympathy.” It is made up of sun, meaning “together” and a form of pathos, meaning “strong feelings, either good or bad.” Hence, it literally means “feeling joys and sorrows with each other.”

The next word is philadelphos, which is made up of a form of philos, meaning “friend” and adelphos, meaning “brother.” Hence, it refers to being “brother friendly.” The noun form of this word is often translated as “brotherly love.”

The word translated “tenderhearted” is eusplangchnos, which is made up of eu, meaning “good” or “well” and splangchnos, which literally refers to “the intestines.” This may seem strange to us, but in the first century it was believed that emotional feelings came from the intestines. Hence this word refers to “good emotions” toward one another.

“Courteous” is translated from tapeinophrones, made up of tapeinos, meaning “low, particularly in attitude or social position” and a form of phrēn, referring to the mind. So this word literally means “humble minded.”

Meaning Explained

Peter now summarizes how we all are to behave in this life. A few verses back Peter said that Christ was our example of how we ought to suffer patiently when we suffer for doing good. He is, in fact, our ultimate example of living. Think of how Christ lived his life here on earth as you read this translation of today’s verse concerning how we are to live our lives:

And in conclusion, all of you be agreeable, be sympathetic, be a friend to your brothers, be compassionate, be humble minded.

The world will not treat you this way! In fact, if you behave this way you will probably suffer for it. Will you suffer patiently?

Whether He was a baby in a manger, a teacher, a healer or a savior on the cross, Jesus was always… agreeable, sympathetic, brotherly friendly, compassionate, and humble.

Application

Do these words describe you in your relationships with other Christians? If not, then pray to the Father to help you develop these attributes in your daily walk.

In God’s service, for His glory,

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