Tag: humeis

1 Thessalonians 5:5 – Spiritual Enlightenment

Posted on by Will

You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of night nor of darkness.

Truth to Learn

Christians have spiritual understanding given to us by the Holy Spirit.

 

Behind the Words

“You” is from humeis, the second person plural personal pronoun. Greek is different from English in that all verbs indicate not only what the action is, but also who performs the action. The verb in this case is “are,” which is the Greek verb eimi (the verb of being). The form of the verb in this verse is second person plural (you, plural). Therefore, the personal pronoun humeis (you, plural) is not needed to accurately portray what Paul is saying. That fact that he included it indicates emphasis on who are the sons of light.

The word translated “sons” is huios, which means “a male descendant.” However, it is often used in the New Testament to refer to a child, male or female.

Pas is the root word translated here as “all.” It carries the idea of “oneness” or “the totality of something.” Therefore, pas refers to “all of something without anything being left out.”

“Light” is from the Greek word phōs (or phōtos), which is derived from the verb phaō, meaning “to shine” or “to make visible.” This, phōs refers to “that which shines” or “that which makes visible.” In other words, it refers to light. It is used both of physical light and spiritual light (enlightenment).

The word “day” is from the Greek word hēmera, which can refer to a complete twenty-four hour period or to that portion of the day in which the sun is shining (daytime).

 

Meaning Explained

In order to completely understand Paul’s teaching here we need to understand that Paul was brought up as a Hebrew. The Hebrew language, like most other languages, has idiomatic expressions that don’t always translate easily into other languages. For instance, the Hebrew expression “with four eyes,” as in “the two men met with four eyes,” means that the two men met face to face without anyone else present. Paul often uses such Hebrew idioms (called Hebraisms) in his writing, even though he is writing in Greek.

The expression in the previous verse, “you are not in darkness” is a Hebraism meaning “you are not ignorant, unaware, or unenlightened.” Likewise, the expression “sons of light” is a Hebraism meaning “children of God, the heavenly Father, who is light and in whom is no darkness at all.” Throughout the Bible, the metaphor of light (with respect to God) is a reference to His holiness, righteousness, and sinlessness. As His adopted children, we have been given the righteousness of Christ. In Genesis 15:6 we read that Abraham was credited with righteousness because of his faith. Similarly, a Christian, one who has faith in the saving blood of Christ, is seen by God as completely righteous. In God’s record book we are sinless, righteous, and holy. Hence, we are children of light.

And – because we are righteous children of light, our minds are illuminated by the Spirit of God so that we can understand spiritual things like God’s coming judgment on the world of sinners. “We are not of night nor of darkness” is another Hebraism meaning that we are not ignorant sinners marching mindlessly towards God’s judgment and destruction.

Finally, note that Paul starts off this verse with “you,” speaking directly to those to whom he is teaching, but then says “we,” indicating that all Christians are in the same category.

 

Application

Unsaved people cannot understand the Bible because they are not spiritually enlightened like we are (see 1 Corinthians 2:10, 11). We, on the other hand, are taught by the Holy Spirit, and we can know future things as taught to us in Scripture.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Thessalonians 5:4 – Spiritual Darkness?

Posted on by Will

But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that this Day should seize you as a thief.

Truth to Learn

Christians do not live in darkness.

 

Behind the Words

The word “but” is translated from the Greek particle de, which we looked at in verse one. It indicates transition or conversion, serving to introduce a new topic.

Humeis is the word translated “you.” It is the second person plural pronoun (“you,” plural).

“Darkness” is from skotos, which is from the same root as skia, meaning “shade or a shadow.” It means “obscurity or darkness.” It can refer to either literal darkness of spiritual darkness as it does here.

The Greek word translated “sieze” is katalambanō. This word is made up of kata, meaning “down,” but used here as an intensifier and the verb lambanō, meaning “to take.” Katalambanō means “to lay hold of or seize with eagerness or suddenness.” It is expressed here in the aorist tense and subjunctive mood, indicating a single act that has the possibility or probability of happening.

The word translated “thief” is the noun kleptēs, which is derived from the verb kleptō, meaning “to steal.” Thus, kleptēs refers to someone who steals things, a thief.

 

Meaning Explained

The Apostle Paul has just talked about how the Tribulation will arrive as a “thief in the night,” taking by surprise those who are living on the earth at that time; however, he starts off the current verse with “but.” This shows that what he is about to talk about is contrasted with what was just said. He says, “but you … are not in darkness,” meaning that we won’t be surprised by the Day of the Lord. The ones who will experience the Day of the Lord are in darkness, they are spiritually blind. He will tell us in the next verse that we are sons (children) of light; we have been enlightened by the gospel message. Because we are children of light, we will be removed from the earth before that day comes.

People who believe in a mid-tribulation or post-tribulation rapture have to do some fancy footwork in order to explain away what this verse is really saying. Since they confuse the rapture with the Day of the Lord (the tribulation), they try to say that we will be aware of the coming of the tribulation and God will preserve or protect us in it. This doesn’t explain, however, what Paul said at the end of the previous verse, “they shall in no way escape sudden destruction.” Somehow, these people completely miss the message that is given to “the overcomers” (Christians) in Revelation chapter three:

Because you kept the word of my perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. (Revelation 3:10)

The word translated “from” in this verse is ek, which literally means “out of.” We, the overcomers, will be kept “out of” the hour, the time of the tribulation. We will not be preserved “in” it; we will be kept “out of” it. This is clear evidence that we Christians will be taken out of the world before the tribulation.

 

Application

The world is in darkness because it rejects the gospel message. Because they are in darkness, the Day of the Lord will come like a thief and they will in no way escape. However, that day will not overtake us Christians because we are not in darkness and we will be taken out to eternally live in the light.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 2:22 – Living Building Blocks

Posted on by Will

in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Truth to Learn

Every Christian has a specific function within the temple of God.

 

Behind the Words

The word “you” is translated from humeis, which is a second person plural pronoun (you-plural). This is one area where the antiquated language of the original King James Version is helpful. The words thee, thou, thy, and thine are second person singular pronouns, whereas you and your are second person plural pronouns.

The words “are being built together” are from the Greek verb sunoikodomeō, which is made up of sun, meaning “together,” oikos, which refers to “a dwelling place” or “a house,” and demō, meaning “to build.” Therefore, sunoikodomeō, literally means “to build a dwelling place together.” It is expressed here in the present tense (current action) and the passive voice (action being done to the subject). It is also expressed as a plural verb.

“Into” is translated from the Greek word eis, meaning “into” or “unto.” The primary idea of this word is of motion into a place or a thing. Sometimes, however, it is used to express motion to or toward a place or thing.

“A dwelling place” is from katoikētērion, which is made up of kata, meaning “down” but possibly used as an intensifier and oikētērion (a dwelling place). It refers to “a permanent dwelling place.”

 

Meaning Explained

At the time this letter was written, most houses were typically built with bricks. Temples, however, were usually built out of blocks of stone. The stones in the temple were all properly placed so as to form a complete structure to be a habitation for the Deity that was being worshipped there. Paul is telling us that we are being built along with others as a dwelling place for God.

There is some ambiguity introduced here, however, as to whom Paul was specifically referring. The fact that he uses the second person plural pronoun (you-plural) and a plural verb means that he is referring to a group of people who are being built together. In this verse He is not saying that each individual believer is being built together with others. So, he can either mean that you (members of the church at Ephesus, and by extension all believers) are being built together, or he means that you (Gentiles) are being built together. Based on the context of verses nineteen through this verse, it is most likely that he is talking about Gentiles.

What is clear is that Paul is talking about a temple that is being built. In the past few verses Paul has been talking about the construction of a building and in verse twenty-one he made it clear that he is talking about a temple. You may recall from our discussion of the word translated “temple” that it refers to the dwelling place of a deity. In the current verse, Paul makes it clear that he is talking about a temple which is the dwelling place of God. This temple consists of all believers since the beginning of time.

 

Application

The living temple of God, which Paul refers to here, is an intricately designed and constructed building. We are each building blocks with specific talents and gifts to perform the function (or functions) that God has intended for us. If we are not allowing God to utilize those specific talents and gifts, then the temple is not as God designed it. Do you know what part of the temple you are? If so, are you performing that function?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Corinthians 3:17 – Destruction Equals Destruction

Posted on by Will

If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Truth to Learn

Destroying a church has dire consequences.

Behind the Words

“Anyone” is translated from the indefinite pronoun tis, which means “someone,” “a certain one,” or “anyone.”

The words “defiles” and “destroy” are both translated from the same Greek verb. It is phtheirō, which means “to corrupt, spoil, or destroy, in a moral or spiritual sense.” In classical Greek it nearly always means “to destroy.”

“Temple” is again translated from naon, which refers to the most sacred part of the temple, where God dwells.

Hagios is the word translated “holy.” It is based on hagos, meaning “that which inspires awe.” The basic meaning of hagios is “that which is set apart from common use to be used in the service of God.” Therefore, hagios is sometimes translated “holy” or “sanctified.” All Christians have been set-apart from the world and set-apart to God.

The word “which” is from the Greek indefinite, relative pronoun hostis. It is made up of hos, meaning “he” or “who” and tis, meaning “anyone” or “someone” Thus, hostis means “someone who.” Grammatically, it refers to “holy,” not “temple.”

“You” is from humeis, meaning “you (plural).” And the verb “are” is from the second person plural form of eimi, meaning “you (plural) are.”

Meaning Explained

In order to get the correct meaning from this verse we have to keep in mind that Paul is talking to the Christians in Corinth about the divisions that had been caused in the church there. Groups of people (cliques) had formed to follow different teachers within the church. Paul has been using the metaphor of constructing a building in reference to the building up of the body of Christ. Back in verse ten of this chapter, he cautioned us that we need to be mindful of the way we build on the foundation (the person and work of Jesus Christ). When people are working at odds with each other, instead of working together for a common goal, the building is weakened and may be destroyed.

Here Paul warns us that anyone who destroys the temple (the body of Christ, the local church in this case), God will destroy him or her. This does not mean that a Christian will lose his or her salvation as a result of destroying the church, because Paul teaches elsewhere that there is nothing that we can do to lose our salvation (see study on Romans 4:24). Therefore, the destruction that he is talking about is either a reference to physical death or it is a reference to unsaved people who destroy the church.

Paul further emphasizes the seriousness of destroying the temple (the local body of Christ), by declaring that we who make up the temple are holy. We have been set apart “from the world” and set apart “to God for His use.”

Application

Be careful how you work on building up the body of Christ. Good work will result in a reward, poor work will go up in smoke, and destructive work will result in your own destruction. Let’s all focus on good construction work.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2013 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

1 Thessalonians 5:5 – Spiritual Enlightenment

Posted on by Will

You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

Truth to Learn

Christians have spiritual understanding given to us by the Holy Spirit.

Behind the Words

“You” is from humeis, the second person plural pronoun.

The word translated “sons” is huios, which means “a male descendant.” However, it is often used in the New Testament to refer to a child, male or female.

Pas is the root word translated here as “all.” It carries the idea of “oneness” or “the totality of something.” Therefore, pas refers to “all of something without anything being left out.”

“Light” is from the Greek word phōs (or phōtos), which is derived from the verb phaō, meaning “to shine” or “to make visible.” This, phōs refers to “that which shines” or “that which makes visible.” In other words, it refers to light. It is used both of physical light or spiritual light (enlightenment).

The word “day” is from the Greek word hēmera, which can refer to a complete twenty-four hour period or to that portion of the day in which the sun is shining (daytime).

Meaning Explained

In order to completely understand Paul’s teaching here we need to understand that Paul was brought up as a Hebrew. The Hebrew language, like most other languages, has idiomatic expressions that don’t always translate easily into other languages. For instance, the Hebrew expression “with four eyes,” as in “the two men met with four eyes,” means that the two men met face to face without anyone else present. Paul often uses such Hebrew idioms (called Hebraisms) in his writing, even though he is writing in Greek.

The expression in the previous verse, “you are not in darkness” is a Hebraism meaning “you are not ignorant, unaware, or unenlightened.” Likewise, the expression “sons of light” is a Hebraism meaning “children of God, the heavenly Father, who is light and in whom is no darkness at all.” Throughout the Bible, the metaphor of light (with respect to God) is a reference to His holiness, righteousness, and sinlessness. As His adopted children, we have been given the righteousness of Christ. In Genesis 15:6 we read that Abraham was credited with righteousness because of his faith. Similarly, a Christian, one who has faith in the saving blood of Christ, is seen by God as completely righteous. In God’s record book we are sinless, righteous, and holy. Hence, we are children of light.

And – because we are righteous children of light, our minds are illuminated by the Spirit of God so that we can understand spiritual things like God’s coming judgment of the world of sinners. “We are not of the night nor of darkness” is another Hebraism meaning that we are not ignorant sinners marching mindlessly towards God’s judgment and destruction.

Finally, note that Paul starts off this verse with “you,” speaking directly to those to whom he is teaching, but then says “we,” indicating that all Christians are in the same category.

Application

Unsaved people cannot understand the Bible because they are not spiritually enlightened like we are (see 1 Corinthians 2:10, 11). We, on the other hand, are taught by the Holy Spirit, and we can know future things as taught to us in Scripture.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Thessalonians 5:4 – Spiritual Darkness?

Posted on by Will

But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.

Truth to Learn

Christians do not live in darkness.

Behind the Words

The word “but” is translated from the Greek particle de, which we looked at in verse one. It indicates transition or conversion, serving to introduce a new topic.

Humeis is the word translated “you.” It is the second person plural pronoun (“you,” plural).

“Darkness” is from skotos, which is from the same root as skia, meaning “shade or a shadow.” It means “obscurity or darkness.” It can refer to either literal darkness of spiritual darkness as it does here.

The Greek word translated “overtake” is katalambanō. This word is made up of kata, meaning “down,” but used here as an intensifier and the verb lambanō, meaning “to take.” Katalambanō means “to lay hold of or seize with eagerness or suddenness.” It is expressed here in the aorist tense and subjunctive mood, indicating a single act that has the possibility or probability of happening.

Meaning Explained

The Apostle Paul has just talked about how the Tribulation will arrive as a “thief in the night,” taking by surprise those who are living on the earth at that time; however, he starts off the current verse with “but.” This shows that what he is about to talk about is contrasted with what was just said. He says, “but you … are not in darkness,” meaning that we won’t be surprised by the Day of the Lord. The ones who will experience the Day of the Lord are in darkness, they are spiritually blind. He will tell us in the next verse that we are sons (children) of light; we have been enlightened by the gospel message. Because we are children of light, we will be removed from the earth before that day comes.

People who believe in a mid-tribulation or post-tribulation rapture have to do some fancy footwork in order to explain away what this verse is really saying. Since they confuse the rapture with the Day of the Lord (the tribulation), they try to say that we will be aware of the coming of the tribulation and God will preserve or protect us in it. This doesn’t explain, however, what Paul said at the end of the previous verse, “they shall in no way escape sudden destruction.” Somehow, these people completely miss the message that is given to “the overcomers” (Christians) in Revelation chapter three:

Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. (Revelation 3:10)

The word translated “from” in this verse is ek, which literally means “out of.” We, the overcomers, will be kept “out of” the hour, the time of the tribulation. We will not be preserved “in” it; we will be kept “out of” it.

Application

The world is in darkness because it rejects the gospel message. Because they are in darkness, the Day of the Lord will come like a thief and they will in no way escape. However, that day will not overtake us Christians because we are not in darkness.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 2:22 – Living Building Blocks

Posted on by Will

Ephesians 2:22  – Living Building Blocks

in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Truth to Learn

Every Christian has a specific function within the temple of God.

Behind the Words

The word “you” is translated from humeis, which is a second person plural pronoun (you-plural). This is one area where the antiquated language of the original King James Version is helpful. The words thee, thou, thy, and thine are second person singular pronouns, whereas you and your are second person plural pronouns.

The words “are being built together” are from the Greek verb sunoikodomeō, which is made up of sun, meaning “together,” oikos, which refers to “a dwelling place” or “a house,” and demō, meaning “to build.” Therefore, sunoikodomeō, literally means “to build a dwelling place together.” It is expressed here in the present tense (current action) and the passive voice (action being done to the subject). It is also expressed as a plural verb.

“A dwelling place” is from katoikētērion, which is made up of kata, meaning “down” but possibly used as an intensifier and oikētērion (a dwelling place). It refers to “a permanent dwelling place.”

Meaning Explained

At the time this letter was written most houses were typically built with bricks. Temples, however, were usually built out of blocks of stone. The stones in the temple were all properly placed so as to form a complete structure to be a habitation for the Deity that is worshipped there. Paul is telling us that we are being built along with others as a dwelling place for God.

There is some ambiguity introduced here, however, as to whom Paul was specifically referring. The fact that he uses the second person plural pronoun (you-plural) and a plural verb means that he is referring to a group of people who are being built together. In this verse He is not saying that each individual believer is being built together with others. So, he can either mean that you (members of the church at Ephesus, and by extension all believers) are being built together, or he means that you (Gentiles) are being built together. Based on the context of verses nineteen through this verse, it is most likely that he is talking about Gentiles.

What is clear is that Paul is talking about a temple that is being built. In the past few verses Paul has been talking about the construction of a building and in verse twenty-one he made it clear that he is talking about a temple. You may recall from our discussion of the word translated “temple” that it refers to the dwelling place of a deity. In the current verse, Paul makes it clear that he is talking about a temple which is the dwelling place of God. This temple consists of all believers since the beginning of time.

Application

The living temple of God, which Paul refers to here, is an intricately designed and constructed building. We are each building blocks with specific talents and gifts to perform the function (or functions) that God has intended for us. If we are not allowing God to utilize those specific talents and gifts, then the temple is not as God designed it. Do you know what part of the temple you are and are you performing that function?

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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