idols – Ministry of Grace Church

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,

Romans 2:22

You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?

Truth to Learn

Practice what you preach (or teach).

Behind the Words

The word translated “adultery” is moicheuō, which is based on moichos, referring to a man who seeks out a female for sex. This is distinctly different from pornē which refers to a woman who sells herself to a man for sexual pleasure.

“Abhor” is translated from bdelussō, which comes from the root bdeō, meaning “to stink.” The word bdelussō means “to turn away from something that stinks” or “to detest something.”

The words, “do you rob temples” come from a single Greek word hierosuleō. This is a compound word made up of hieron, which means “temple” and a form of sulaō, meaning “to rob, to spoil, or to steal.” So, although a literal translation of this word means “you rob temples” it is used to denote someone who uses something that is consecrated to God for his or her own private use.

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Paul chastened the Jewish Christians in Rome for needing the teaching of the Scriptures just as much as those to whom they were teaching it. In this verse he gets even more personal saying, “You who tell others not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery?”

Though many of the readers of this letter would have said, “No, I don’t commit adultery,” as Christ pointed out in His sermon on the mount,

You have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:27, 28)

So, even though they may not have committed an act of adultery, in God’s book they were guilty of it even if they had thought lustfully about someone of the opposite sex.

The second part of today’s verse is a little more difficult. It says, “You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?” According to the Jewish historian Josephus, it was not uncommon for Jews (and Christians) to destroy or desecrate temples of idolatry and then to plunder some of the riches which had been brought by idol worshippers. Even in Acts, when a couple of Paul’s traveling companions were brought before a crowd in Ephesus, it was said in their defense,

For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess. (Acts 19:37)

Paul’s message, continued from the previous verse, is that the Roman Christians were quick to tell others what was wrong, but they were just as quick to do that which they told others not to do. Recall what he said about judging back in verse one? He is saying essentially the same thing here about teaching.

Application

These Roman Christians were apparently fond of saying, “Do as I say, not as I do.” However, the proper Christian attitude is, “Learn what is right and wrong by watching me!” I wonder how many of us could say that.

In God’s service, for His glory,

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Ministry of Grace Church

Tag: idols

1 Thessalonians 1:9 – Turn From Idols

Truth to Learn

Behind the Words

Meaning Explained

Application

Romans 2:22 – A Living Example