Tag: named

Ephesians 5:3 – Do What Fits

Posted on by Will

But let not fornication and all uncleanness or greediness not be named among you, as is fitting for saints;

Truth to Learn

We are saints, so we need to learn to live like saints.

 

Behind the Words

The word “fornication” is translated from the Greek word porneia. This word is indirectly derived from pornos, referring to a man who sells himself to others for sex. Porneia refers to any sexual act other than that between a man and a woman who are married to each other.

“Uncleanness” is from akatharsia, which is composed of the privative a, meaning “not” and a form of kathairo, meaning “to cleanse.” Thus, akatharsia refers to anything that is “unclean.” This word typically refers to something that is legally or ceremonially unclean. It was often used in reference to idolatrous worship practices of the heathen.

“Greediness” is translated from pleonexia, which is derived from the noun pleion, meaning “more” and echo, meaning “to have.” This word refers to the condition in which a person is not satisfied with what he or she has, greedily wanting more.

Onomadzō is the Greek word translated “named.” It is derived from the noun onoma, meaning “a name.” The verb onomadzō means “to call by name” or “to mention.” This verb is expressed as a present, passive, imperative verb. The word “let” is the clue in English that it is an imperative (command). This is a difficult verb to express properly in English. It is NOT saying, “Don’t permit these things to be named among you.” Rather it is saying, “These things are not to be named among you!”

“Fitting” is from prepō, which means “to tower up,” that is “to be eminent or distinguished.” In the form used in today’s verse it means “that which is proper, acceptable, or fitting.”

“Saints” is from hagios, meaning “that which is set apart from common use to be used in the service of God.”

 

Meaning Explained

Previously Paul told us that as children of God we should mimic the thoughts and actions of our Father. The primary way of doing that is to demonstrate a real love for others the way our God has demonstrated His love for us. And, not only are we God’s children, we are now saints. That doesn’t mean that the church leadership has declared us to be saints because of all the good we’ve done and all the miracles we’ve performed. The church doesn’t make someone a saint, God does.

When we were saved, God adopted us as His children. He also sanctified us; that is to say, He set us apart. We are no longer part of the world system any more than we are part of Satan’s family. This is a theological concept known as “positional sanctification.” But, we’re not perfect and we won’t be until that day when God calls us home. Until that day we need to become more like our Father. This is called “progressive sanctification,” as the Apostle Peter described:

but as He who called you is holy, you also become holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Become holy, for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:15-16)

The word translated “holy” is the same word as “sanctified.” One way to mimic our Father is to avoid those things that don’t “fit” our new position, and three of those things are mentioned in today’s verse: fornication, uncleanness, and covetousness.

 

Application

Want to be more like your Heavenly Father? Continue to study God’s Word and put what you learn into practice. Change your behavior and become more sanctified to, and for, God.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 3:15 – Father, God

Posted on by Will

from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

Truth to Learn

God, the Father, is the head of our holy family.

 

Behind the Words

“From” is translated from the Greek preposition ek, which most often translates as “out of.” When used with the genitive case, as it is here, it indicates “coming from the origin or source of something.”

The word “whole” is from pas, which can be translated as “all, any, every, or the whole.” Expressed here in the singular defining a singular noun (family), it expresses the idea of “all” or “the whole.”

The word “family” is translated from patria, which is derived from pater, meaning “father.” Patria expresses a group of people descendent from the same father. Thus, the most accurate translation of the opening of this verse is “from whom the whole family …” as we have in our translation here.

The words “is named” are translated from the Greek verb onomadzō, which means “to call by a name” or “to be named.”

 

Meaning Explained

Continuing from yesterday’s verse, we saw that Paul was expressing the notion of bowing his knee, that is worshipping, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In that verse we made a special point that of the three persons of the Trinity we are to worship and pray to the Father, not the Son or the Holy Spirit.

You may recall back in verse eleven we talked about the plan that the three persons of the Godhead put together before anything was created. As part of that plan, those who would be saved were chosen (Ephesians 1:4) and the method of revealing the mystery of the church was determined. Another significant part of that plan was how the three persons of the Trinity were to relate to each other. The father was to be the highest in authority, which Jesus (the Son) affirmed:

Then Jesus said to them, When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, these things I speak. (John 8:28)

He made similar statements in John 5:19; John 5:30; John 7:28; and John 14:10. Likewise, Jesus told us that both He and the Father had authority over the Holy Spirit:

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you … (John 14:26)

"But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father … (John 15:26)

And, it is with this same authority, given by the Father, that Jesus sent His disciples:

So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." (John 20:21)

Now Paul tells us that he worships the Father and identifies Him as the supreme authority, saying from Him the whole family gets its name. Not the name “Christian,” for that only describes those of us in the church age who are saved, but the family of God the Father of the righteous in heaven and earth. This family includes Old Testament saints, New Testament saints (Christians), and those who will be saved during the tribulation and the millennium.

 

Application

Christians have a very special place in the family of God. Not only are we His children, but we have been set-apart as the bride of His Son. We will inherit His eternal estate and we will live in His home with Him forever! Hallelujah!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 5:3 – Do What Fits

Posted on by Will

But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;

Truth to Learn

We are saints, so we need to learn to live like saints.

Behind the Words

The word “fornication” is translated from the Greek word porneia. This word is indirectly derived from pornos, referring to a man who sells himself to others for sex. Porneia refers to any sexual act other than that between a man and a woman who are married to each other.

“Uncleanness” is from akatharsia, which is composed of the privative a, meaning “not” and a form of kathairo, meaning “to cleanse.” Thus, akatharsia refers to anything that is “unclean.” This word typically refers to something that is legally or ceremonially unclean. It was often used in reference to idolatrous worship practices of the heathen.

“Covetousness” is translated from pleonexia, which is derived from the noun pleion, meaning “more” and echo, meaning “to have.” This word refers to the condition in which a person is not satisfied with what he or she has, greedily wanting more.

Onomadzō is the Greek word translated “named.” It is derived from the noun onoma, meaning “a name.” The verb onomadzō means “to call by name” or “to mention.”

“Fitting” is from prepō, which means “to tower up,” that is “to be eminent or distinguished.” In the form used in today’s verse it means “that which is proper, acceptable, or fitting.”

“Saints” is from hagios, meaning “that which is set apart from common use to be used in the service of God.”

Meaning Explained

Previously Paul told us that as children of God we should mimic the thoughts and actions of our Father. The primary way of doing that is to demonstrate a real love for others the way our God has demonstrated His love for us. And, not only are we now God’s children, we are saints. That doesn’t mean that the church leadership has declared us to be saints because of all the good we’ve done and all the miracles we’ve performed. The church doesn’t make someone a saint, God does.

When we were saved, God adopted us as His children. He also sanctified us; that is to say, He set us apart. We are no longer part of the world system any more than we are part of Satan’s family. This is a theological concept known as “positional sanctification.” But, we’re not perfect and we won’t be until that day when God calls us home. Until that day we need to become more like our Father. This is called “progressive sanctification,” as the Apostle Peter described:

but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:15-16)

The word translated “holy” is the same word as “sanctified.” One way to mimic our Father is to avoid those things that don’t “fit” our new position, and three of those things are mentioned in today’s verse: fornication, uncleanness, and covetousness.

Application

Want to be more like your Heavenly Father? Continue to study God’s Word and put what you learn into practice. Change your behavior and become more sanctified to, and for, God.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved.