Tag: indeed

Romans 2:17 – No Place for Pride

Posted on by Will

Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest upon the law, and make your boast in God,

Truth to Learn

Relying on heritage and obedience to the Law is futile.

 

Behind the Words

“Indeed” is translated from the two Greek words ei de. Some translations use the English word “behold” as if this was the Greek word ide, but there is no evidence for this in the most reliable manuscripts. The Greek words ei de literally mean “and if,” indicating a conjunction with the previous thoughts and implying a first class conditional clause which means the statements are assumed to be true.

The words “you are called” are translated from a single Greek word, eponomadzō. This is made up of epi, meaning “upon” and onomadzō, meaning “to name.” So, it literally means “to name upon.” It refers to the name upon which other names are added, like a surname that an entire family shares. The word is expressed here in the passive voice indicating that it is a name that others call them.

“Rest upon” is a translation of the word epanapauō, which is made up of epi, meaning “upon” and a form of anapauomai, meaning “to give rest.” Paul indicates that Jews have a blind, mechanical reliance on the Law to produce righteousness.

 

Meaning Explained

The early Christian believers in Rome, to whom this letter was written, took pride in being descended from Abraham. Many of them believed, similar to the Galatian Christians, that one had to be a Jew and obey the Law before one could become a Christian. Paul has spent the last 5 verses explaining why obeying the Law of Moses does not lead one to righteousness. He now will show these Roman Christians why being a Jew may, in fact, be a hindrance to becoming a Christian.

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul made a very bold statement regarding righteousness:

We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ (we also believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified). (Galatians 2:15, 16)

This justification (righteousness) does not come from resting on the Law, it comes by faith. Notice what he says in today’s verse, “you are called a Jew, and rest on the Law, and make your boast in God.” Do you see the condemnation of pride implied in this verse? In the coming verses Paul will deal directly with that pride and will show how it is not external appearances which are important to God, but internal attitudes.

 

Application

As we have said before, there is no place for pride in a Christian. Pride focuses on self instead of on God. Pride is, in a sense, the very definition of sin. God wants us humbled before Him, relying on Him. Pride does not humble, it lifts self up. Pride does not rely on God, it relies on self. We have a big God, one who will judge the whole world. Let us humble ourselves before the Judge and plead for His mercy through the blood of Jesus Christ. Pride can’t do that. Can you?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 3:2 – Administrator of Grace

Posted on by Will

if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,

Truth to Learn

All Christians are commissioned to preach the Gospel.

 

Behind the Words

The word “if” is translated from ei. This is a conditional particle which introduces a conditional clause. In New Testament Greek (Koinē Greek) there are four types of conditional clauses, although only three of them appear in the Bible. The first class condition assumes the “if” clause to be true. The second class condition assumes the “if” clause to be false and the third class condition makes no assumption. In today’s verse we see a first class condition, so Paul assumes that his readers have heard of the dispensation.

“Indeed” is from ge, which is a particle of emphasis or qualification. It serves to strengthen or render more emphatic the word to which it is appended (if). It can be variously translated as “besides, doubtless, indeed, at least, or yet.”

The word translated “dispensation” is oikonomia, which is made up of oikos, meaning “house” and a form of nemō, meaning “to distribute or apportion.” In the first century, it was not uncommon for a land owner to have one slave who was steward (in charge) of his household. The word oikonomia refers to this position of household administrator, the work done by an administrator, or the process of administration. In today’s verse it refers to the “administration” or “stewardship” of the grace of God.

The word “for” is from the Greek word eis, which literally means “into” or “toward.” In this verse it refers to a direction of the mind. In other words, this information was given to Paul to relay it to us. In this sense, it was given to him “for” us.

 

Meaning Explained

Paul, like every believer in Jesus Christ, has been the recipient of God’s grace as he described it in the previous chapter:

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (Ephesians 2:8)

However, that’s not what he is specifically referring to in today’s verse. Here he is talking about “the dispensation of the grace of God” or the administration of the grace of God. God chose the Apostle Paul to be the administrator of His grace for the Gentiles. What he means by this is that God has entrusted him with the message of salvation by grace, through faith, and it is his responsibility to deliver it to the Gentiles. In Acts chapter twenty-six Paul described to King Agrippa how he received this responsibility directly from the Lord, who said:

But rise up and stand on your feet; for it is for this reason I appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness both of the things which you saw and of the things which I will yet reveal to you, delivering you from the Jewish people, and the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, (Acts 26:16, 17)

In fact, he told the believers in Corinth that he now has no choice but to preach the Gospel message:

For if I proclaim the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! (1 Corinthians 9:16)

Paul recognized his responsibility to administer the grace of God by proclaiming the Good News to people throughout the known world, and he performed that task until the day he died.

 

Application

We, too, have been given a commission to preach the Gospel message. Are you carrying out that commission? Are you sharing the Good News with those around you?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 3:2 – Administrator of Grace

Posted on by Will

Ephesians 3:2  – Administrator of Grace

if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,

Truth to Learn

All Christians are commissioned to preach the Gospel.

Behind the Words

The word “if” is translated from ei. This is a conditional particle which introduces a conditional clause. In New Testament Greek (Koinē Greek) there are four types of conditional clauses, although only three of them appear in the Bible. The first class condition assumes the “if” clause to be true. The second class condition assumes the “if” clause to be false and the third class condition makes no assumption. In today’s verse we see a first class condition, so Paul assumes that his readers have heard of the dispensation.

“Indeed” is from ge, which is a particle of emphasis or qualification. It can be variously translated as “besides, doubtless, indeed, at least, or yet.”

The word translated “dispensation” is oikonomia, which is made up of oikos, meaning “house” and a form of nemō, meaning “to distribute or apportion.” Oikonomia can refer to the position of administrator, the work done by an administrator, or of the process of administration. In today’s verse it refers to the “administration” or “stewardship” of the grace of God.

Meaning Explained

Paul, like every believer in Jesus Christ, has been the recipient of God’s grace as he described it in the previous chapter:

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (Ephesians 2:8)

However, that’s not what he is specifically referring to in today’s verse. Here he is talking about “the dispensation of the grace of God” or the administration of the grace of God. God chose the Apostle Paul to be the administrator of His grace for the Gentiles. What he means by that is that God has entrusted him with the message of salvation by grace, through faith, and it is his responsibility to deliver it to the Gentiles. In Acts chapter twenty-six Paul described to King Agrippa how he received this responsibility directly from the Lord, who said:

But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, (Acts 26:16, 17)

In fact, he told the believers in Corinth that he now has no choice but to preach the Gospel message:

For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! (1 Corinthians 9:16)

Paul recognized his responsibility to administer the grace of God by preaching the Good News to people throughout the known world, and he performed that task until the day he died.

Application

We, too, have been given a commission to preach the Gospel message. Are you carrying out that commission? Are you sharing the Good News with those around you?

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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