Tag: leitourgos

Romans 15:16 – Ministerial Calling

Posted on by Will

that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be well received, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Truth to Learn

Christians are called to a ministry of proclaiming the gospel message to everyone.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “minister” is not the word most often translated minister (diakonos); rather, it is the Greek word leitourgos, which is a compound word made up of leitos, meaning “of the people” and a form of ergon, meaning “work.” Thus, we see that this word refers to a public servant, one who works for the people.

“Ministering” is translated from yet a different word. It is the Greek word hierourgeō, which is also a compound word. It is made up of hieron, meaning “a temple” and a form of ergon, meaning “work.” Hence, it refers to sacred work. It is the word that is used of the service that a priest did in the temple in Jerusalem offering up sacrifices to God for the people.

The word translated “well received” is euprosdechtos, which is made up of eu, meaning “good or well” and a form of prosdechomai, meaning “to receive” or “to accept.” So, it refers to something that is especially well accepted.

“Sanctified” is from a form of hagiadzō, which means “to be taken from common usage and used for the service of God.” The basic meaning is “to be set apart.” It is usually translated as “sanctified” or as “holy.”

 

Meaning Explained

This verse is the continuation of what Paul was saying in the previous verse. You will recall that he is explaining why he was so bold in his comments to the Christians in Rome. Combining the last part of the previous verse and the first part of this verse, we see he is saying, “because of the grace given to me by God that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.”

Paul is well aware of the ministry to which he has been called by the grace of God, the ministry of apostleship to the Gentiles. But in Paul’s humble manner he does not claim to be the apostle to the Gentiles, instead he calls himself a minister, one who works for the common people, a public servant.

And, according to Paul, his responsibility in this position is “ministering the gospel of God;” that is, he was performing the sacred work of presenting the gospel of God in a clear and understandable manner for the Gentiles.

In other words, Paul is saying he is a public servant of Jesus Christ, doing the sacred work of the gospel of God. He is proclaiming the gospel to the Gentiles so that their offerings will be particularly well acceptable to God through the purifying work of the Holy Spirit. Paul is not serving himself, he is serving God and he is serving the Gentiles to whom he is delivering the message of salvation through faith.

 

Application

And we who are saved by the blood of Christ, are also ministers of the gospel of God. It is our responsibility to carry the gospel to others, proclaiming this salvation that is available to all who will believe. It is a ministry to which God has called us all. Are you serving God and others? Are you fulfilling your ministry of proclaiming the gospel to those around you?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 13:6 – Taxes? Really?

Posted on by Will

For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing.

Truth to Learn

Paying taxes is part of God’s plan for government.

 

Behind the Words

The words “you pay” are from the Greek verb teleō, which literally means “to end.” By implication it also means “to pay in full” with regard to tributes, customs, tolls, or taxes.

“Taxes” is translated from the Greek word phoros, which is a derivative of the verb phero, meaning “to bring.” So, phoros refers to that which is brought. It usually refers to an annual tax or tribute imposed upon persons and their property.

A couple of verses back we looked at the word “minister,” translated from the noun diakonos. The word “ministers” in this verse is different, however. It is the Greek word leitourgos, which is made up of leitos, meaning “of the people” and a form of ergon, meaning “work.” It refers to a public servant, and in this case it refers to those who are God’s public servants. The English word liturgy (a set pattern for public worship) comes from this Greek word.

“Continually” is translated from proskartereō, which is made up of pros, meaning “to or toward” and kertereō, meaning “to be strong or steadfast, that is, to endure.” Proskartereō means “to continue performing a task steadfastly or faithfully.”

 

Meaning Explained

The Apostle Paul has been talking about the obligation that Christians have to submit to authorities who are over us whether those authorities are occupational, religious, or civil. We are to submit to them because they have been put in place by God and they are there for our protection. The only time we are to resist these authorities is when they command us to behave contrary to the way that God has commanded us to behave.

Paul now continues with this reasoning to explain that because they have been put in place by God, Himself, we also pay taxes to them. At the time this letter was written, this tribute was paid by one province or nation to a superior as the price of protection or as an acknowledgment of subjection. The Romans made all conquered provinces and nations pay this tribute, and it became a question of whether it was right to acknowledge this claim and submit to it. This question would be particularly important to the Jews and the Jewish Christians in Rome. But on the principle which the apostle has just enunciated, it was right to do it, and was demanded by the very purposes of government.

Paul goes on to proclaim that, in fact, the governments of this world are God’s servants. They are in place to perform the public service. Thus, whether they acknowledge it or not, they are God’s public servants and as such we are to submit ourselves to them.

So the question of whether or not we should pay taxes to a corrupt, ungodly government is clearly answered by Paul. Yes, because in doing so we are submitting to them and to God.

 

Application

Every year as April 15th approaches, Americans prepare their tax returns. During this time we become acutely aware how much tax we really pay. The temptation is to cheat and not pay as much as we owe, but Paul says, “Pay it all.”

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 15:16 – Ministerial Calling

Posted on by Will

Romans 15:16 – Ministerial Calling

that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Truth to Learn

Christians are called to a ministry of proclaiming the gospel message to everyone.

Behind the Words

The word translated “minister” is not the word most often translated minister (diakonos); rather, it is the Greek word leitourgos, which is a compound word made up of leitos, meaning “of the people” and a form of ergon, meaning “work.” Thus, we see that this word refers to a public servant, one who works for the people.

“Ministering” is translated from yet a different word. It is the Greek word hierourgeō, which is also a compound word. It is made up of hieron, meaning “a temple” and a form of ergon, meaning “work.” Hence, it refers to sacred work. It is the word that is used of the service that a priest did in the temple in Jerusalem offering up sacrifices to God for the people.

The word translated “acceptable” is euprosdechtos, which is made up of eu, meaning “good or well” and a form of prosdechomai, meaning “to receive” or “to accept.” So, it refers to something that is especially well accepted.

“Sanctified” is from a form of hagiadzō, which means “to be taken from common usage and used for the service of God.” The basic meaning is “to be set apart.” It is usually translated as “sanctified” or as “holy.”

Meaning Explained

This verse is the continuation of what Paul was saying in the previous verse. You will recall that he is explaining why he was so bold in his comments to the Christians in Rome. Combining the last part of the previous verse and the first part of this verse, we see he is saying, “because of the grace given to me by God that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.”

Paul is well aware of the ministry to which he has been called by the grace of God, the ministry of apostleship to the Gentiles. But in Paul’s humble manner he does not claim to be the apostle to the Gentiles, instead he calls himself a minister, one who works for the common people, a public servant.

And, according to Paul, his responsibility in this position is “ministering the gospel of God;” that is, he was performing the sacred work of presenting the gospel of God in a clear and understandable manner for the Gentiles.

In other words, Paul is saying he is a public servant of Jesus Christ, doing the sacred work of the gospel of God. He is proclaiming the gospel to the Gentiles so that their offerings will be particularly well acceptable to God through the purifying work of the Holy Spirit. Paul is not serving himself, he is serving God and he is serving the Gentiles to whom he is delivering the message of salvation through faith.

Application

And we, too, who are saved by the blood of Christ, are ministers of the gospel of God. It is our responsibility to carry the gospel to others, proclaiming this salvation that is available to all who will believe. It is a ministry to which God has called us all. Are you serving God and others? Are you fulfilling your ministry of proclaiming the gospel to those around you?

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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

If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, send an e-mail to:

Romans 13:6 – Taxes? Really?

Posted on by Will

Romans 13:6 – Taxes? Really?

For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.

Truth to Learn

Paying taxes is part of God’s plan for government.

Behind the Words

The words “you pay” are from the Greek verb teleō, which literally means “to end.” By implication it also means “to pay in full” with regard to tributes, customs, tolls, or taxes.

“Taxes” is translated from the Greek word phoros, which is a derivative of the verb phero, meaning “to bring.” So, phoros refers to that which is brought. It usually refers to an annual tax or tribute imposed upon persons and their property.

A couple of verses back we looked at the word “minister,” translated from the noun diakonos. The word “ministers” in this verse is different, however. It is the Greek word leitourgos, which is made up of leitos, meaning “of the people” and a form of ergon, meaning “work.” It refers to a public servant, and in this case it refers to those who are God’s public servants. The English word liturgy (a set pattern for public worship) comes from this Greek word.

“Continually” is translated from proskartereō, which is made up of pros, meaning “to or toward” and kertereō, meaning “to be strong or steadfast, that is, to endure.” Proskartereō means “to continue performing a task steadfastly or faithfully.”

Meaning Explained

The Apostle Paul has been talking about the obligation that Christians have to submit to authorities who are over us whether those authorities are occupational, religious, or civil. We are to submit to them because they have been put in place by God and they are there for our protection. The only time we are to resist these authorities is when they command us to behave contrary to the way that God has commanded us to behave.

Paul now continues with this reasoning to explain that because they have been put in place by God, Himself, we also pay taxes to them. At the time this letter was written, this tribute was paid by one province or nation to a superior as the price of protection or as an acknowledgment of subjection. The Romans made all conquered provinces and nations pay this tribute, and it became a question of whether it was right to acknowledge this claim and submit to it. This question would be particularly important to the Jews and the Jewish Christians in Rome. But on the principle which the apostle has just enunciated, it was right to do it, and was demanded by the very purposes of government.

Paul goes on to proclaim that, in fact, the governments of this world are God’s servants. They are in place to perform the public service. Thus, whether they acknowledge it or not, they are God’s public servants and as such we are to submit ourselves to them.

So the question of whether or not we should pay taxes to a corrupt, ungodly government is clearly answered by Paul. Yes, because in doing so we are submitting to them and to God.

Application

Every year as April 15th approaches, Americans prepare their tax returns. During this time we become acutely aware how much tax we really pay. The temptation is to cheat and not pay as much as we owe, but Paul says, “Pay it all.”

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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

If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, send an e-mail to: