Tag: kosmos

Romans 12:2 – Transformed, Not Conformed

Posted on by Will

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, to prove in you what the good and pleasing and perfect will of God is.

Truth to Learn

Don’t be like everyone around you and don’t let others tell you what you should be. Instead, let God transform you to into the image of His Son.

 

Behind the Words

“Do not be conformed” is from me suschematidzesthe. Me is the conditional negation particle and suschematidzesthe is a compound made up of sun, meaning “together” and a form of schēmatidzo, from which we get our English word schematic. It refers to the pattern or outward appearance of something. So Paul is telling us not to allow ourselves to look, and act, like the world around us.

The word translated “world” is not kosmos (world system) as one might expect. Rather, it is from the Greek word aion, which refers to” the age or time” in which we live. So, Paul is saying, “… do not be conformed to this present age.”

“Transformed” is from metamorphoō, from which we get our English word metamorphosis, meaning not simply a change in outward appearance, but “to completely change form.” This is the same word that is used in both Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:2 when referring to Jesus’ transfiguration before Peter, James, and John.

“Prove” is translated from the Greek word dokimadzō, which means “to test something with the intent of finding its value.” It is the notion of proving gold by subjecting it to extreme heat, thus removing the dross and leaving the pure, valuable gold only. Some translations say “that you may prove.” The problem with this is that dokimadzō is expressed as an infinitive (to prove), and the word translated “you” is not in the form of a subject, rather it is in the form of an indirect object. Therefore, we should translate this as “to prove in you.”

 

Meaning Explained

At the end of the previous verse Paul told us that we should offer ourselves as living sacrifices because it is only logical and reasonable that we should serve God in this way. Now he continues on. Not only should we offer ourselves as God’s slaves, once and for all, but we should allow God to reshape our thinking instead of letting the world in which we live do so.

We should not take on the same appearance, habits, and attitudes as all the people around us. Instead of being this kind of a conformist, we need to “be transformed.” This transformation is one of the mind, from being worldly minded, focusing on the thing of this world, to being heavenly minded, focusing on what God is doing to and through us. And our ultimate objective is that of giving glory to God Himself. The reason that we are to be transformed instead of conformed is so that God can “prove in us what His will is.”

As we are transformed by God in our minds, we become more like His son. That is, we become more Christ-like in our attitudes and actions, which is, in fact, what God’s will is for our lives.

 

Application

What Paul has told us in these two verses is that we need to surrender our physical lives to God for His use. We are to do so by not letting the things of this age influence our thoughts and actions. Instead, we are to let His Spirit transform us to be more like He wants us to be, like Jesus Christ our Lord.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 5:13 – Sinless Without Law?

Posted on by Will

For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Truth to Learn

We don’t have to break the Law of Moses to be sinners.

 

Behind the Words

 “World” is from the Greek word kosmos, which is probably derived from komeō, meaning “to take care of.” Kosmos specifically refers to “an orderly arrangement.” This word is used in the New Testament to refer to the world system, not the physical world.

The word “imputed” is similar to a word we saw in the previous chapter. It was the word logidzomai, meaning “to credit to someone’s account.” This word is ellogeō, which is sometimes used synonymously but it has a subtly different meaning. It means “to take into account” or “to take into consideration.”

 

Meaning Explained

Remember that this letter was originally written to Christians in Rome who were predominantly Jewish and who were still tied to keeping the Law, even after their conversion to Christianity. Throughout this letter Paul has been showing them (and us) that righteousness before God is not attained by keeping the Law but by the free, gracious gift of God, which comes only after we believe His promises.

In the previous verse Paul told us that sin (and death as a result) entered the world through Adam, and death passed on to all of us because all of us have sinned. Since the recipients of this letter were convinced that sin was a result of not keeping the Law, Paul now points out to them that sin existed in this world even before the Law was delivered to Moses. In other words, sin did not commence with the Law, sin commenced with Adam.

Now look at this carefully! Paul then says that sin is not imputed (taken into consideration) when there is no law. If we read this too quickly we might want to respond, “If sin is not imputed where there is no law then it wasn’t imputed to those who lived before the Law was delivered!” This is precisely the argument that Paul is refuting. You see, since death is the penalty of sin and death passed on all men after Adam, then all have sinned. Therefore there must have been a “law” (not “the Law”) that was transgressed even before the Law of Moses was delivered.

For those of you who think we Christians have to keep the Law (the Ten Commandments) in order to be “right” with God, you will find that Paul is arguing against you. Keeping the Law (or even keeping God’s higher moral law) is not what makes us acceptable (righteous) in God’s sight (for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God [Romans 3:23]). Only the righteousness that God gives to us when we believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as payment for our sins can make us acceptable in His sight.

 

Application

We don’t have to keep the Law of Moses to be righteous, but we don’t have to break the Law of Moses to be sinners either. However, if you know that you are a sinner and believe that Jesus died to pay the penalty of your sin, then you are reckoned as righteous in God’s record book.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Peter 4:3 – Wasted Pleasure

Posted on by Will

For the time of life having passed is sufficient for us to have worked out the will of the Gentiles, having lived in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and lawless idolatries.

Truth to Learn

We’ve wasted enough time; now let’s focus on serving God.

 

Behind the Words

“Lewdness” is translated from the Greek word aselgeia, which literally means “not having control.” It is used primarily with regard to sexual appetite and is sometimes translated as “wantonness.”

We saw the word “lusts” in the previous verse. It is the Greek word epithumia, meaning “excessive or uncontrolled desires.”

“Drunkenness” comes from the Greek word oinophlugia, which literally means “overflowing wine,” but by application it means “excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages.”

“Revelries” is translated from the Greek word kōmos, which means “carousing” or “reveling,” implying a “letting loose of control.”

The word translated “drinking parties” is from the Greek word potos, which means “getting together for the purpose of getting drunk.”

And finally, “lawless idolatries” comes from the Greek, athemitois eidōlolatreiais, which literally means “illegal image worship.” It refers to “the worship of anything other than God.”

 

Meaning Explained

Peter has just told us that we should no longer live for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. He now tells us that it’s time for change. We’ve spent enough time living like the ungodly to know that’s not the will of God. We did these things in the past enough to know that they don’t give us true happiness and certainly don’t give us peace. All they really do is produce amnesia, headache, and heartache.

We could probably sum up Peter’s description of these activities as illicit sexual activity, drunkenness, partying, and the worship of things instead of God. That’s how many of us lived before we were saved. Peter is saying that our past indulgences are to be put behind us so we can live unto God. None of these things is what God wants of us.

However, it’s easy for many of us to say, “I never committed any illicit sexual activity. I never got drunk, and I never went to wild parties, so this doesn’t apply to me.” What we often fail to see in this verse is that Peter groups “the worship of things other than God” in the same category as those other things.

Have you ever possessed anything that was so important to you that you would do anything to hang on to it, or that you spent so much time on that it made you forget about your commitments to God? These are all idols. I once had a car that was like that to me, and God had to tarnish my idol for me.

 

Application

As a Christian your life should not be characterized by the “party scene.” But remember, anything that distracts us from our focus on God is an idol, and our Heavenly Father considers that just as horrific as wild, sexual, drunken partying. Ouch!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Peter 3:5 – Exemplary Holy Women

Posted on by Will

For in this manner, in the past, the holy women who were hoping in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands,

Truth to Learn

The example of proper adornment is in the Old Testament women.

 

Behind the Words

The Greek word hagiai, is translated here as “holy.” It is the feminine plural form of hagios, which we have studied in the past, meaning “holy” or “pure.” It carries with it the idea of being separated from the things of the world and from sin. It is also the word that is translated “saint” throughout the New Testament. These are those wives in the Old Testament who had set themselves apart from the things of the world to the things of God.

“Adorned” is translated from a form of kosmos, which as we have recently learned means “an orderly arrangement.” It is used here in the imperfect tense indicating past, repeated action.

The word translated “were hoping” is elpidzō which comes from the primary word elpo, meaning “to anticipate, usually with pleasure.” Elpidzō means “to hope with full expectation of fulfillment.” These women were not simply hoping that God was going to take care of them, they trusted God’s promises.

 

Meaning Explained

Peter now makes a reference which sounds like a grandfather talking to his grandson, “Why, I remember in the old days wives used to …” Actually, Peter’s reference is to the times of the patriarchs, which we know because he uses Sarah as an example in the next verse. What was it about these women, and Sarah particularly, that interests Peter? First of all, they were holy. They did not succumb to the temptations of their day to assert themselves as something special independent of their husbands. They were not swayed by the fads and trends of those around them. Instead, they were committed, first to God, then to their husbands.

Secondly, these women “hoped in God.” They fully expected that God would be pleased with them because of their obedience to Him and because of their submission to their husbands. Today we would say that they were women of faith. Not only did they believe in God, but they also had such a confident expectation that God would take care of them that peace ruled in their lives no matter what happened.

These holy women of faith used to adorn themselves with a humble and quiet spirit, being subordinate to their husbands, according to Peter. These were not women who were interested in glorifying themselves, but God. They were not subordinate to their husbands because they were forced to, but because they knew that it was God’s will for them.

 

Application

Ladies, let me say once again that it is not wrong to arrange your appearance in an orderly manner (adorn yourselves). A Christian woman should present herself as set-apart for God’s use. Not by means of elaborate clothing and jewelry, and not by means of plain, drab clothing, long straight hair, and no make-up. Her outward appearance is to be modest, and the attitude of her heart, her submission to God and to her husband, is what makes her attractive to others.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Peter 3:3 – Simple Adornment

Posted on by Will

Do not let your adornment be merely external—such as arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fancy clothing

Truth to Learn

Our outward appearance reflects the attitude of our heart.

 

Behind the Words

The word “let” is an interesting word. In English we often give this word the meaning of “allow.” However, whenever this word appears in a Greek translation it is an indication of a command.

The word translated “adornment” is the Greek word kosmos. This is the same word that in some places is translated “world” or “world system.” In its root meaning it refers to an orderly arrangement of things. From this word we get our English word “cosmetic.”

“Arranging” is from the Greek word emplokē, which is the noun form of the verb emplekō, meaning “to interweave, to braid-in, or to entangle.” It is a reference here to special attention given to a woman’s hairdo.

 

Meaning Explained

Note that Peter is not condemning adornment, or ornamentation. In fact, in the following verses he talks about the preferable type of adornment for women. The apostle Paul says a similar thing:

In the same way also, that women adorn themselves in appropriate clothing, with modesty and sensibleness, not adorned with braiding, or gold, or pearls, or costly clothing, (1 Timothy 2:9)

Neither Peter nor Paul says that it is wrong to adorn. In fact, in the 1 Timothy passage just quoted, Paul says that women should adorn themselves in “sensible,” “appropriate,” or “modest” clothing (depending on which translation you are reading). This word is from the Greek word kosmios, which has the same root as kosmos. Paul says that women should be adorned in “orderly” apparel.

What both of these writers are saying is that it is wrong to focus solely on the outward adornment. The things which Peter refers to in today’s verse as well as the things that Paul refers to in the passage in 1 Timothy all have to do with expensive adornment. In the first century, only the wealthy women could afford to have their hair put up in fancy braids. The Roman women of that day were known for ridiculous extravagance in the adornment of their hair. This included dying the hair, elaborate braiding or arranging with costly pins and nets of gold thread. It even included the use of false hair additions and blond wigs. It was common for these women to also braid flowers, jewelry, and other attention grabbing items into the hair.

Why do you suppose they did this? Here’s what it says in 1 Samuel 16:7:

For man looks on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looks on the heart.

These women wanted others to be attracted to them, to their outward appearance and to their wealth. God would rather have people notice our lifestyle, a reflection of what is in our heart.

 

Application

We Christians should all be careful to present a neat and orderly appearance since we are representatives of (and children of) the Great King and Lord of the universe. But we should represent Him, not ourselves. People who see us should not be wowed by our clothing or jewelry. Instead, they should notice our attitude and behavior, the outward manifestations of our faith in God.

Let us all remember this when we get dressed tomorrow.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Peter 1:20 – Determined Ahead of Time

Posted on by Will

He indeed was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in these last times because of you

Truth to Learn

Before the creation of the heavens and the earth, God determined that Christ would die for your sins and mine.

 

Behind the Words

The Greek word translated “foreknown” is proegnosmenou, which is a compound of pro, meaning “before” and a form of ginoskō, meaning “to know.” This word means “to know beforehand” or “to determine beforehand.”

The expression “before the foundation of the world” comes from the Greek, pro katabolēs kosmou. The word pro, as we just learned means “before,” katabolēs literally means “to throw down” which refers to “laying a foundation,” and kosmou is our familiar friend “cosmos” or “world system. “

 

Meaning Explained

It’s interesting to look at all three verses in the Bible that contain the expression pro katabolēs kosmou.

Father, I will that they also, whom you have given me, be with me where I am; … for you loved me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24)

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Ephesians 1:4)

who in fact was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in these last times because of you (1 Peter 1:20)

These verses tell us three things that happened at what is referred to as “the council of God,” which occurred before time began: 1) the three persons of the Godhead had love for one another, 2) we were chosen for salvation and given by the Father to the Son, and 3) the sacrificial death of the Lamb of God (Jesus, the Son) was determined (ordained). God didn’t just create things and then “let it happen.” He has a plan for the ages and everything is being worked out exactly as He planned.

The last part of today’s verse tells us that, although the prophets didn’t understand the messages they were delivering because it was not yet revealed, the reality and significance of the death of Jesus Christ has been made known in these last days (the time in God’s plan in which you and I are living.)

 

Application

God has revealed the plan of salvation to us today in a way and to a degree never before experienced by mankind. How can we ignore that which He has put so much effort into revealing to us. There are more copies of the Holy Scriptures available in more languages and more translations than at any other time since the creation of the world! There is more preaching, there are more radio messages, and there are more television broadcasts about the Bible than ever before!

And yet, 2 Timothy 4:3 says:

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires …

What are you doing with God’s Word today?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 2:2 – Who’s Your Master?

Posted on by Will

in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, of the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience,

Truth to Learn

Christians are no longer under Satan’s authority. We are now in God’s family and under God’s authority.

 

Behind the Words

“Walked” is translated from the Greek verb peripateō. This is composed of peri, meaning “around” and pateō (based on patos, meaning “a path”), which means “to walk.” Thus, peripateō literally means “to walk around.” Metaphorically it refers to “how one lives one’s life.”

Aion is the Greek word translated “course.” Generally, this word refers to a timeframe, a period of time, or an “age.” Here, however, it is used as a metonym referring to the people and customs of the “world system.” [A metonym is a word or expression used as a substitute for something else with which it is closely associated. For example, Washington is a metonym for the federal government of the United States of America.]

The word “world” is from the Greek noun kosmos, which is indirectly based on the word kolumbos, meaning “to tend or to take care of.” Kosmos refers to “an orderly arrangement” or “a system of order.” It is the word from which we get our English word “cosmetics.” As it is used here, kosmos refers to “the orderly arrangement or ‘system’ of this world.”

“Ruler” is translated from archon, which refers to someone who is “first in authority or power.”

The word “air” is aēr, which refers to “the lower atmosphere” or “the air surrounding the earth.”

The word “disobedience” is translated from the Greek word apeitheia, which is made up of a, meaning “not” and peithō, meaning “to convince or persuade.” Thus, apeitheia refers to “those who are not convinced” or “those who are not willing to be persuaded,” which by extension means “those who do not obey God.”

 

Meaning Explained

The first two words of this verse, “in which,” are a reference to “trespasses and sins,” mentioned in the previous verse. So, Paul is saying that we Christians used to live our lives in a manner characterized by trespasses and sins. He goes on further to say that we used to live our lives in accordance with the ruler of the power (authority) of the atmosphere. This is a reference to Satan, who Jesus referred to as “the ruler of this world” (see John 16:11).

But, Paul doesn’t stop there with his description of Satan. He tells us that he is a spirit being who is currently at work in the unsaved people of this world (the sons of disbelief or the sons of disobedience). As a spirit being, Satan is not only the ruler of the world system in which we live, he also has access to the throne room of God in heaven. We know this from the book of Job, where Satan is characterized as appearing before God:

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. And the LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?" So Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it." (Job 1:6-7)

Satan will continue to have access to Heaven until he is cast out during the seven year tribulation, as described in Revelation chapter twelve.

 

Application

You were once controlled by your sins and by Satan, but that is no longer true. When you were saved, you were placed into (baptized into) the body of Christ, where Jesus is now your Lord and Master; therefore, you are no longer under Satan’s power and authority. Praise be to God!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 4:4 – The World, or God?

Posted on by Will

Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Truth to Learn

Buying into the world system, its values, ideals, and desires is a sure way to alienate yourself from God.

Behind the Words

The oldest manuscripts do not have “Adulterers and,” starting out the verse simply with “Adulteresses!”

The expression “Do you not know,” translated from ouk oidate, is difficult to translate into English with its full meaning. Ouk represents the absolute negative in Greek and the word oidate means “to see or perceive.” This verb is expressed in the perfect tense indicating a past, completed action with an ongoing result with the emphasis being on the result. So James is saying “Have you not recognized and now understand?”

Exhthra is the Greek word translated “enmity.” It refers specifically to hostility or hatred.

The word translated “wants” is boulomai, which expresses the desirous will. It is written here in the subjunctive mood indicating that it is likely not happening currently but possibly could. It might be translated as “Whoever might want …”

The words “makes himself” are translated from the verb kathistēmi. This is made up of kata, meaning “down” and histēmi, meaning “to stand” or “to be placed.” Hence, it refers to something that is firmly standing or firmly placed. It appears here in the middle voice indicating action that is done to or for the subject, by the subject.

Meaning Explained

Why does James call us adulteresses? Is he only talking to women? No. Does he think that none of us can remain faithful to our spouse? Certainly not! James is using the term in a spiritual sense. As Christians, our relationship to Christ is likened to a marriage relationship. The church is rightfully called “The Bride of Christ.” We are engaged to him now, the marriage will take place after the rapture, and will be followed by the wedding feast and a heavenly honeymoon! If we are spiritually unfaithful, meaning we place greater importance in something else than in our relationship to God, then we have committed idolatry, which is spiritual adultery.

James says that friendship with the world is idolatrous. The word translated “world” is kosmos. It does not refer to the physical earth, but to the world system. Christians need to be different than the unsaved inhabitants of this world. We need to guard against being caught up in all the trappings of the world system. And, in spite of what many are preaching today, we do not want to be world friendly! Otherwise, James says, we place ourselves in the position of being God’s enemies! We should be friends with those who are caught up in the world so we can be witnesses to them, but we must not buy in to their values, ideals, or goals.

Application

Christians should be distinctly different from those who are caught up in the world. We don’t need to be weirdly different. Instead, we should be delightfully different. Now, that’s something to think about!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 1:27 – Unselfish Light

Posted on by Will

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to watch over orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Truth to Learn

The true outward expression of a Christian life is to care for the needs of others and not be caught-up in the world around us.

Behind the Words

The word translated “Pure” is katharos, meaning “clean, unsoiled, or pure.” It is the word from which we get our English word catharsis, which refers to “a cleansing.”

“Undefiled” is translated from amiantos, which is made up of the privative a and a form of miainō, meaning “to stain, pollute, or defile.” So, it means something that is unpolluted or undefiled. Since purity is the opposite of polluted or defiled, James is expressing a type of religious observance which is completely without sinfulness or selfishness.

The word translated “watch over” is a form of episkeptomai, which is made up of epi, meaning “upon” or “over” and skeptomai, meaning “to look around.” Hence, this word means “to watch over” or “to look out for.” The word episkopos, meaning “elder” or “overseer” is derived from this word.

“Trouble” is translated from thlipsis, which means “to crush, compress, or squeeze.” Hence, its root meaning is “stress” or “pressure.” Figuratively, it refers to distress or afflictions.

Finally, the word “world” is translated from kosmos, which refers to “an orderly arrangement.” It is the word used throughout the New Testament to refer to the world system.

Meaning Explained

There are many people all over the world who think they are religious – and many of them are! But there’s a big difference between being religious and being a Christian. Being religious, by itself does not gain you a thing. Since James is talking to Christians in this letter, we have to assume that he means Christians who are religious.

As was mentioned in the previous verse, religion refers to the ceremonial observance of a religious system (praying, making sacrifices, giving money, taking care of others, reading scripture, fasting, partaking of communion, etc). James is not condemning any of these things. Rather, he is focusing where God focuses – on the heart; that is to say, on our motives. We can do these things for selfish reasons and they have no effect, or we can watch over those who are undergoing difficult times and take care of them, unselfishly watching out for them.

But just doing things for others is not enough. James also tells us that we are to keep ourselves from becoming spotted by the world system around us. We are to be separate from the world and not be polluted by it. We are to be a light to the world, but our light cannot shine brightly if it has to shine through a life that is stained and polluted by the things of this world.

Application

Many people just want the right formula for religion (say the right prayers, perform the right observances, give the right amount of money, etc.) but, like the Pharisees of old, they become whitewashed tombs. James says, instead of this type of religiosity, we need to be more concerned about the needs of others and we need to keep ourselves holy before a Holy God.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Corinthians 3:22 – All Has Been Given

Posted on by Will

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

   I know it has been awhile since I sent out my last verse. I have had to take a little time off to re-evaluate this ministry. As you may know, since last December, I have been seeking permission from Thomas Nelson (Harper Collins Christian Publishing)  to publish these verses in an e-book. Since I use the New King James Version as the translation for these verses and they own the copyright, without their permission, I can't publish the e-book using their translation. Two weeks ago I got the final word from them telling me that I do not have their permission, even though I already had their permission to use the NKJV in these daily verse studies. Needless to say, this was a great disappointment to me. After a lot of soul searching and prayer and last Sunday's sermon (which I felt like was delivered directly to me), I have decided to take up the mantle again and continue with these daily studies. I offer my thanks to all of you who have supported and encouraged me in the past. Please pray for me that God would guide me regarding how I may yet be able to get them published or, if it His will, that I forget about trying to get them published and simply continue this e-mail and blogging ministry.

In God's service, for His glory,

Will

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours.

Truth to Learn

God has given all things to His children.

Behind the Words

The word “whether” is from the Greek conjunction eite. This is made up of ei, meaning “if” and te, meaning “and.” It can be translated as “and if” or “whether.” It is used in the latter sense in today’s verse. This verse is primarily made up of a list of items which are all preceded by eite. This is a list which includes all things in the list, with none of them excluded.

The words “the world” are translated from the Greek word kosmos, which we saw back in verse nineteen. It refers to “order” or “arrangement” and is the word from which we get our English word cosmetics. Though it usually refers to the world system, which is controlled by Satan, it is sometimes used as it is here in reference to all of creation.

“Life” is translated from dzoē, which is derived from the verb dzaō, meaning “to live.” Dzoē refers to “life” or “existence.”

Meaning Explained

This verse has been called “an inventory of the possessions of the child of God.” Although it was directly proclaimed to the Christians in Corinth, it is applicable to all Christians. So what does it mean? God created all that exists for His children. Once sin entered into the world, there was a division between his spiritual children (those who believe Him by faith) and the rest of mankind. Throughout the remainder of the Bible, He makes a distinction between believers and the rest of mankind. God has provided spiritual gifts and gifted Christians for the purpose of building up His spiritual children (the church):

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, (Ephesians 4:11-12)

These leaders in the church were put there for us, we were not put here for them. In that sense, all who build up the body of Christ are ours.

As we said above, God created everything for His children. The world (all of creation) is ours by faith, not just this current world, which is now under Satan’s control, but the recreated heavens and earth which will come at the end of time. Even the very life which we have has been given to us. Again, it does not just mean this present life, but the life eternal which we expectantly wait for. And, even death is ours. Because of the fall of mankind, death is a reality that we all must face. But this death is only the physical death of this life, which is actually a blessing to us. Without it, we would continue to live with a cursed sin nature. Eternal life (without our sin nature), in God’s eyes, is a present possession of every Christian. So, even though we will all die physically, we now have eternal life.

Paul now restates a foundational truth that permeates all of his teaching. Not only do we possess all things now, we already possess the eternal things God has promised to us.

Application

Don’t think of yourselves as being a member of (belonging to) a particular church or group of people who follow a particular leader. Think of yourself as God’s precious child for whom all things were made. Be humbly thankful for all He has given us.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2013 Will Krause. All rights reserved