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Romans 13:12 – Prepare for Battle!

Posted on November 6, 2018 by Will

The night is nearly over, the day is at hand. Therefore, let us lay aside the works of darkness and put on the weapons of light.

Truth to Learn

Wake up! Prepare for battle! Our Lord is coming soon!

Behind the Words

The words “is nearly over” are from the verb prokoptō, which is made up of pro, meaning “before” or “forward” and koptō, which means “to cut, strike, or impel.” Thus, the root meaning of prokoptō is “to drive forward.” Figuratively, with regard to time, it means that it is “advanced, nearly used up, or well along.”

“Is at hand” is translated from the verb engidzō, based on the noun engus (which we saw in the previous verse), meaning “near.” Hence, engidzō means “to come near” or “to approach.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense, which in Greek implies a completed past action with an ongoing effect where the emphasis is on the effect. So, Paul is saying that the day has already drawn near and now is very near.

“Lay aside” is from the Greek verb apotithēmi, made up of apo, meaning “away” and tithēmi, meaning “to lay something down.” Thus, apotithēmi means “to lay something aside.”

The word translated “darkness” is skotos, which is based on the word skia, meaning “a shadow” or “shade.” Skotos literally means something shady or something dark.

The Greek word translated “put on” is enduō, which means “to sink into” or “to put ourselves into.” It is expressed in the middle voice which means that it is something that we must do to ourselves; it is not something that someone else can do for us.

The word “weapons” is hoplon, which refers to “instruments, or tools, or weapons of warfare.”

Meaning Explained

At nighttime we all sleep. While we are asleep, we are unaware of what is going on around us. We are in a dream world where nothing is real. But when we wake up, we see reality and we have to face up to it. Many of us get up before it is daylight. We do so because we know that the daylight is coming. If we were to wait for the daylight before rousing ourselves, we would be late. If we lay in bed when it is time to get up, we often fall back asleep.

This is precisely the picture that Paul is painting for us in the previous verse and the current one. The time of the return of Christ is close at hand. It is almost morning. We need to wake up and get to work. Paul tells us that we are to lay aside all of our works that are shady or those which spring from darkness, (a metonym for sinful).

Instead of doing those things that are wrong, instead of doing things that are even a little bit shady, Paul tells us to “lay them aside and put on the weapons of light.” Some translations have this as “the armour of light.” On the surface, this may sound like a defensive posture, but as we saw in “Behind the Words,” this refers to our tools of warfare against the powers of darkness. We are in a constant spiritual battle with our adversary and we need to be on the offensive, spreading the word of truth, the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to be witnessing and we need to be building up and encouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Application

In case you don’t realize it, these verses represent God’s alarm clock and it just went off! It’s time to leave our dream world and prepare for the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So, let’s get up, let’s arm ourselves for the spiritual battle ahead, and let’s get to work! Our Lord is coming soon!

In God's service, for His glory,

2 Peter 1:14 – The Final Doorway

Posted on April 3, 2017 by Will

because I know that I will soon lay aside my tabernacle, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.

Truth to Learn

Life here on earth is short and only temporary. What we do during this time, however, will have eternal consequences.

Behind the Words

Eidō is the word translated “I know.” It means “to see” or “to know.” It is expressed in the perfect tense indicating past completed action with an ongoing effect, but the emphasis is on the effect.

The expression “lay it aside” comes from the Greek word apothesis, which is a compound word made up of apo, meaning “from” or “away from” and a form of tithemi, which means “to lay something down” or “to put something in the proper place.” It is the word that is used to express the removing of one’s clothes and laying them down or putting them away. It expresses a calm, casual experience.

The word “tabernacle” appeared in the previous verse and, in the Greek text, also appears in this verse, though it has been translated as the word “it” in some translations. A literal translation of the first half of this verse would be:

having known that soon is the laying aside of my tabernacle

Tabernacle is a word that is often misunderstood today. Because of its reputation for great acoustics, the Mormon Tabernacle, a huge, massive structure built expressly for public performances, is what is often thought of when we hear this word. However, that’s not at all what this word means. It comes from the Greek word skēnōmatos, which refers to “a tent.” It is the word from which we get our English word “skin.” A skēnōmatos is a small flimsy structure that is used in a transient nature as a temporary dwelling place. Similarly, our earthly body is not permanent nor something for us to use in a public display to draw attention to ourselves. It is, rather, a flimsy, temporary dwelling place for our soul.

Meaning Explained

Peter knew that the time of his death was drawing near. The type of death he should die was prophesied by Christ some 30 years earlier (John 21:18,19). On the surface it seems that this is all Peter has to say in today’s verse. But, as is often the case with Scripture, if we are in a hurry when we read, we dash right past some nuggets on the way. This nugget is what Peter refers to as his tent or his tabernacle. He knows that this body is temporary and the time spent in it is fleeting. But he is ready to calmly and confidently lay it aside and walk into eternity. He’s not looking at death, he’s looking at eternity with Christ.

One day in the future we too will put off this temporary dwelling place as we pass through the gates that lead from this life to eternity. It is both an end and a beginning, the end of our time on this earth and the beginning of glory in the presence of the Lord. When we walk through that door, we will be able to look back and see whether it has been a life of service (the production of eternal rewards) or a life of emptiness (time wasted that could have been used for God’s glory), which Solomon called “vanity.”

Application

When you reach death’s door will you be ready to calmly lay aside this tabernacle and head into eternity? Or will you finally realize that you could have done much more if your focus had been on God instead of yourself?

It’s not too late! We still have time left, so let’s get to work for God and for His glory!

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Peter 2:1 – Vacating the Throne

Posted on November 1, 2016 by Will

Therefore, laying aside all malice, and all deceit, and hypocrisy, and envies, and all evil speaking,

Truth to Learn

Since we have been born again through the word of God, our behavior should demonstrate that we are a new creation.

Behind the Words

The word translated “laying aside” is apothithēmi, which is a compound word made up of apo, meaning “from” or “away from” and tithēmi, meaning “to lay something down.” The verb is expressed here as an aorist participle. The aorist tense implies past action that was completed at a point in time. Hence, this could be translated as, “Therefore having already laid aside …”

“Malice” comes from the Greek word, kakia, which literally means “badness.” Notice that Peter says “all badness.”

“Deceit” is translated from the Greek word, dolos, which is derived from the noun delō, meaning “bait.” Hence, it means “to bait a trap” or “to trick someone.” Note again that Peter says “all deceit.”

The word translated “hypocrisy” is the Greek word hupokrisis, which is derived from hupokrinomai. This is a word used to describe a stage actor who is pretending to be someone else. Hence, it has come to mean “acting under a pretense” or “being deceitful.”

“Envies” is translated from the Greek word phthonos, which means “ill will” or “spite” or “envy.”

The words “evil speaking” are translated from the Greek katalalia, which literally means “to talk down” or “to talk against.” In other words, it refers to “speaking evil of someone, defamation, or back biting.” And, again note that Peter says “all evil speaking.”

Meaning Explained

You will recall that in the last chapter we were commanded: 1) to be holy because our heavenly Father is holy, 2) to recognize that our redemption is precious due to the precious price that was paid for it, and 3) to see that our spiritual birth came not from corruptible things but from the incorruptible, eternal word of God and the spiritual life we now have is also eternal.

Therefore, because of all of this, we should lay aside certain unholy actions, namely all badness or evil, all deception, hypocrisy, ill will and all evil speaking. This is a lot to lay down! In fact, Peter says that if we are truly saved, we have already laid these things aside.

You will notice that all of these sinful practices have self at the heart of them. If you observe carefully, you will also see that there is a progression here: deceit springs out of evil actions, hypocrisy springs out of deceit, ill will springs out of hypocrisy, and speaking evil of others springs out of ill will.

As we get into the next verse we will see that since we have laid aside these things we are to put on something else, but that’s tomorrow’s verse …

Application

Behaving like a child of God is one of the most difficult things to do with consistency. In fact, because we still have our sin nature, it is impossible to do apart from God’s Holy Spirit living in us and working through us. The secret is to get self off the throne of our life and let God have His rightful place there! Now, that’s something to think about!

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:21 – Discard Filth

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Will

Therefore having laid aside all filthiness and abundance of wickedness, receive in meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Truth to Learn

We need to rid ourselves of our sinful thoughts and actions and let the Word of God grow in our hearts.

Behind the Words

The word translated “having laid aside” is a form of apotithēmi, a compound word made up of apo, meaning “from” or “away from” and tithēmi, meaning “to set in place” or “to lay down.” Hence, this word means “to set aside, away from oneself.” This particular verb is in the middle voice which in Greek means that the subject is acting upon itself. James is telling us is that we are to take action on ourselves by putting away all that is filthiness. It is expressed here as an aorist participle indicating something that was done previous to the main verb (receive).

“Filthiness” is translated from hruparia, which means “dirtiness” or “filthiness,” as it is translated here. In a moral sense it refers to those thoughts and actions of ours which are not clean or morally right. The picture James is portraying here is one of taking off a soiled garment and laying it aside.

The word translated “wickedness” is the Greek word kakia, which refers to “that which is intrinsically bad or worthless.”

The word translated “implanted” is emphutos, which is made up of en, meaning “in” and a form of phuō, meaning “to germinate” or “to spring up from a seed.” It refers to something that is implanted by an external force and springs up as an act of growth. This word is sometimes mistranslated as “in grafted” which is an entirely different word, egkentridzō, meaning “to cut in” or “to graft in.”

Meaning Explained

Remember that whenever you see a “therefore” or a “wherefore” you need to find out what it is there for. James already told us that God is the source of all good giving and completely good gifts. He also said that our own lustful sin nature is the source of our selfish sinfulness. Therefore, because of these facts, we need to get rid of all of our dirtiness and abundance of badness. This includes all of our evil thoughts and all self-serving actions. Remove these things from yourself, lay them aside, and don’t pick them up again.

Once we have laid these things aside, we are told to receive with humility the mighty Word of God which the Holy Spirit has implanted in our hearts. It has such power that it can even lead to the salvation of souls. When we have sin prevailing in our lives, we cannot receive the word of truth. When we lay aside our sinful thoughts and actions, we then allow the Word of God to grow and mature within us, making us more like Jesus Christ.

Albert Barnes in his Notes on the New Testament interprets the verse in this way:

In view of the fact that God has begotten us for his own service; in view of the fact that excited feeling tends only to wrong, let us lay aside all that is evil, and submit ourselves wholly to the influence of truth.

Application

Let us confess and forsake our sins, discarding all filth, and let us receive His truth, allowing it to grow in our hearts. All this, for His praise and glory! Can you do this?

In God's service, for His glory,