Tag: meros

Romans 11:25 – The Wondrous Mystery

Posted on by Will

For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, lest you should think yourselves to be wise, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

Truth to Learn

God has secrets (mysteries) and He reveals them to whomever He wishes at a time of His own choosing. We who know the secret of the gospel message need to share it freely with others.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “ignorant” is the Greek word agnoein. It is a compound word made up of a, meaning “not” or “without” and the infinitive form of noeō, meaning “to perceive, to understand, or to know.” So agnoein refers to a lack of knowledge or understanding.

“Mystery” is a transliteration of musterion. This word is derived either from muō, meaning “shut,” like a mouth that is shut, or it is from mueō, which means “to initiate or to learn a secret.” So, musterion refers to information that has been kept a secret, but which is now being revealed.

The word translated “blindness” is the Greek word pōrōsis, which refers to something that has become hardened or petrified. It is often used to refer to physical blindness, but here it refers to the insensitivity of perception or spiritual blindness.

“In part” is from the Greek word meros, which means “a division, a share, or a portion.”

The word “fullness” is from plērōma, which refers to “completeness or fullness.”

 

Meaning Explained

This verse starts off with a classic Paul-ism; “For I do not want you to be ignorant.” What he means is, “You currently are ignorant of something and I am going to inform you so that you will no longer be ignorant.” Ignorance has nothing to do with a person’s intelligence or ability to think, it simply refers to a lack of knowledge. Invariably, when Paul uses this expression, he includes the familiar adelphoi or “brothers,” probably to soften the blow of telling them that they are ignorant.

What is it that these Roman Christians are ignorant of? It is “this mystery.” This thing previously unknown is that blindness has happened to part of Israel. So the mystery that Paul is revealing is that part of Israel (a large part) has become mentally hardened so as not to perceive the truth of the gospel until the fullness (or completion) of the Gentiles has come in.

What Paul is telling us is that the sovereign hand of God has prevented many of the Jews from believing in the Messiah during His first advent, so that the gospel message could be spread abroad to the Gentile nations. At some point in the future (very near, perhaps) all of the elect Gentiles will have been gathered in by God and He will once again turn to the Jews. This will happen during Daniel’s 70th week, the time of the Tribulation.

 

Application

Do you recall what the Great Commission says? Go into the whole world and preach the gospel. Why? We need to share the gospel message so that all of the Gentile nations will have an opportunity to hear it, to believe it, and be saved. It is our responsibility to spread the gospel. If we are not witnessing to the unsaved, we are not spreading the gospel.

Are you fulfilling your commission from God?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 4:9 – Jesus In Hades

Posted on by Will

(And that, He ascended, what is it except that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?

Truth to Learn

Our Lord experienced physical death for us.

 

Behind the Words

The word “first” is translated from prōton, which is based on the superlative of pro (toward or forward). Thus, prōton refers to “that which is the forward-most, or first.” It can refer to “first in time” or “first in position.”

 “Descended” is from the Greek verb katabainō, which is made up of kata, meaning “down” and bainō, meaning “to come” or “to go.” It is expressed here in the aorist tense, indicative mood which indicates an act that occurred at a point in time in the past.

“Lower” is translated from katōteros, which is the comparative of katō, which means “below.” Therefore, we see that lower is an accurate translation of this word.

The word “parts” is from meros, which refers to “a part” or “a share.”

The word “earth” is the translation of the Greek word gē, which refers to “soil,” “dirt,” or “ground.” It is also used to refer to a country, a region, a territory, a land, or the earth.

 

Meaning Explained

Today’s verse is a continuation of a subject that Paul introduced in the previous verse. In that verse he was quoting from Psalms 68:18:

You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive; You have received gifts among men, even the rebellious, that the LORD God might dwell there. (Psalms 68:18)

In order to fully grasp what is being said in these verses we need to understand a little about one of the customs of the times in which these verses (both Old and New Testament) were written. It was common for a conquering king to distribute gifts to his subjects upon his return from conquering his enemy. Here we have a picture of our King of Kings returning from His victory over Satan and death. Upon His return to His land (Heaven) He distributed gifts to His subjects.

In today’s verse Paul is making a point that He who ascended had to first descend. In his gospel account, John quoted our Lord saying essentially the same thing:

And no one has ascended into heaven but the One having came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. (John 3:13)

Some have argued that the expression “descended into the lower parts of the earth” is a reference to Christ having left Heaven and having come to earth as a lowly servant. However, a literal reading of the verse says that “He descended into the lower parts of the ground.” That can only be a description of His descent into Paradise (within hades/sheol) immediately after having given up his life on the cross.

 

Application

Jesus Christ did not simply pass-out on the cross. He experienced physical death and was taken to the place where all souls go upon death. The glorious news is that He didn’t stay physically dead. He rose from the dead! He is now enthroned in heaven. Hellelujah!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 4:9 – Jesus In Hades

Posted on by Will

(Now this, "He ascended"—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?

Truth to Learn

Our Lord experienced physical death for us.

Behind the Words

The word “first” is translated from prōton, which is based on the superlative of pro (toward or forward). Thus, prōton refers to “that which is the forward-most, or first.” It can refer to “first in time” or “first in position.”

“Descended” is from the Greek verb katabainō, which is made up of kata, meaning “down” and bainō, meaning “to come” or “to go.” It is expressed here in the aorist tense, indicative mood which indicates an act that occurred at a point in time in the past.

“Lower” is translated from katōteros, which is the comparative of katō, which means “below.” Therefore, we see that lower is an accurate translation of this word.

The word “parts” is from meros, which refers to “a part” or “a share.”

The word “earth” is the translation of the Greek word gē, which refers to “soil,” “dirt,” or “ground.” It is also used to refer to a country, a region, a territory, a land, or the earth.

Meaning Explained

Today’s verse is a continuation of a subject that Paul introduced in the previous verse. In that verse he was quoting from Psalms 68:18:

You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive; You have received gifts among men, even the rebellious, that the LORD God might dwell there. (Psalms 68:18)

In order to fully grasp what is being said in these verses we need to understand a little about one of the customs of the times in which these verses (both Old and New Testament) were written. It was common for a conquering king to distribute gifts to his subjects upon his return from conquering his enemy. Here we have a picture of our King of Kings returning from His victory over Satan and death. Upon His return to His land (Heaven) He distributed gifts to His subjects.

In today’s verse Paul is making a point that He who ascended had to first descend. In his gospel account, John quoted our Lord saying essentially the same thing:

No one has ascended to [into] heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. (John 3:13)

Some have argued that the expression “descended into the lower parts of the earth” is a reference to Christ having left Heaven and having come to earth as a lowly servant. However, a literal reading of the verse says that “He descended into the lower parts of the ground.” That can only be a description of His descent into Paradise (within hades/sheol) immediately after having given up his life on the cross.

Application

Jesus Christ did not simply pass-out on the cross. He experienced physical death and was taken to the place where all souls go upon death. The glorious news is that He didn’t stay physically dead. He rose from the dead! Hellelujah!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

Romans 11:25 – The Wondrous Mystery

Posted on by Will

Romans 11:25 – The Wondrous Mystery

For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

Truth to Learn

God has secrets (mysteries) and He reveals them to whomever He wishes at a time of His own choosing. We who know the secret of the gospel message need to share it freely with others.

Behind the Words

The word translated “ignorant” is the Greek word agnoein. It is a compound word made up of a, meaning “not” or “without” and the infinitive form of noeō, meaning “to perceive, to understand, or to know.” So agnoein refers to a lack of knowledge or understanding.

“Mystery” is a transliteration of musterion. This word is derived either from muō, meaning “shut,” like a mouth that is shut, or it is from mueō, which means “to initiate or to learn a secret.” So, musterion refers to information that has been kept a secret, but which is now being revealed.

The word translated “blindness” is the Greek word pōrōsis, which refers to something that has become hardened or petrified. It is often used to refer to physical blindness, but here it refers to the insensitivity of perception.

“In part” is from the Greek word meros, which means “a division, a share, or a portion.”

The word “fullness” is from plērōma, which refers to “completeness or fullness.”

Meaning Explained

This verse starts off with a classic Paul-ism; “For I do not desire … that you should be ignorant.” What he means is, “You currently are ignorant of something and I am going to inform you so that you will no longer be ignorant.” Ignorance has nothing to do with a person’s intelligence or ability to think, it simply refers to a lack of knowledge. Invariably, when Paul uses this expression, he includes the familiar adelphoi or “brothers,” probably to soften the blow of telling them that they are ignorant.

What is it that these Roman Christians are ignorant of? It is “this mystery.” This thing previously unknown is that blindness has happened to part of Israel. So the mystery that Paul is revealing is that part of Israel (a large part) has become mentally hardened so as not to perceive the truth of the gospel until the fullness (or completion) of the Gentiles has come in.

What Paul is telling us is that the sovereign hand of God has prevented many of the Jews from believing in the Messiah during His first advent, so that the gospel message could be spread abroad to the Gentile nations. At some point in the future (very near, perhaps) all of the elect Gentiles will have been gathered in by God and He will once again turn to the Jews. This will happen during Daniel’s 70th week.

Application

Do you recall what the Great Commission says? Go into the whole world and preach the gospel. Why? We need to share the gospel message so that all of the Gentile nations will have an opportunity to hear it, to believe it, and be saved. It is our responsibility to spread the gospel. If we are not witnessing to the unsaved, we are not spreading the gospel.

Are you fulfilling your commission from God?

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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