Tag: nun

1 Thessalonians 3:8 – Stand Firm!

Posted on by Will

For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.

Truth to Learn

Christians must learn to stand firm in the midst of battle.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “now” is nun, meaning “the present time.”

“Live” is from the Greek verb dzaō, meaning “to live” or “to have life.” By implication, it means “to live and prosper,” “to be blessed,” or “feel satisfied.”

There are three classes of conditional clauses (if clauses) expressed in New Testament Greek. The first class condition assumes the “if statement” to be true. The “if” is sometimes expressed as “since” in a first class conditional statement. The second class condition assumes the “if statement” to be false. The third class condition is a true conditional statement, making no assumption about the “if statement.” “If you stand fast” is expressed here as a third class conditional clause.

“Stand fast” is translated from the Greek verb stēkō, meaning “to stand.” Figuratively, it means “to stand firm in the faith.” It is a picture of an army that refuses to retreat even though it is being attacked by the enemy.

 

Meaning Explained

After some length of time, the Apostle Paul had not heard word about how the Christians in Thessalonica were doing in their walk with the Lord. Finally, he sent Timothy there to help them get further grounding in the basics of Christianity and to coach them in their walk. In the previous two verses we learned that Timothy had returned, bringing good news about the welfare and spiritual growth of the Thessalonians. This news was a great comfort to Paul, who had been concerned that the persecution that he and his fellow workers had been experiencing might have weakened the faith of his spiritual children.

Now, having learned that their faith remained solid, Paul expresses a further word of encouragement and challenge to them. The encouragement is that Paul and his helpers feel good about the news they heard. The expression, “now we live” does not mean that life and death depend on the condition of the Thessalonian Christians; rather, it means that the quality of their sense of living is improved. This is similar to an expression that we use when we feel particularly good. We say, “I feel really alive today.” It means that we have a really good sense of well-being as a result of good circumstances.

Paul’s challenge to them is that he and his co-workers will continue to feel good as long as these new Christians continue to stand firm in their faith. Paul knows that all Christians are engaged in a battle against our own sin nature and against the forces of evil. The Christian life is not an easy one, especially when the enemy is on the attack. When that happens, however, we need to stand firm against our attackers so as not to let them get the upper hand. As God’s soldiers and ambassadors, we are not to run from the battles, but to “stand fast,” using the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-17) to battle effectively.

 

Application

One of the problems we face when we are under attack for our Christian witness is that we feel alone and deserted. Be encouraged, my friend, for God will never leave you nor forsake you. Also remember that your brothers and sisters in Christ are experiencing the same challenges. We must stand firm and support one another at times like this.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Thessalonians 3:8 – Stand Firm!

Posted on by Will

For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.

Truth to Learn

Christians must learn to stand firm in the midst of battle.

Behind the Words

The word translated “now” is nun, meaning “the present time.”

“Live” is from the Greek verb dzaō, meaning “to live” or “to have life.” By implication, it means “to live and prosper,” “to be blessed,” or “feel satisfied.”

There are three classes of conditional clauses (if clauses) expressed in New Testament Greek. The first class condition assumes the if statement to be true. The if is sometimes expressed as since in a first class conditional statement. The second class condition assumes the if statement to be false. The third class condition is a true conditional statement, making no assumption about the if statement. “If you stand fast” is expressed here as a third class conditional clause.

“Stand fast” is translated from the Greek verb stēkō, meaning “to stand.” Figuratively, it means “to stand firm in the faith.” It is a picture of an army that refuses to retreat even though it is being attacked by the enemy.

Meaning Explained

After some length of time, the Apostle Paul had not heard word about how the Christians in Thessalonica were doing in their walk with the Lord. Finally, he sent Timothy there to help them get further grounding in the basics of Christianity and coach them in their walk. In the previous two verses we learned that Timothy had returned, bringing good news about the welfare and spiritual growth of the Thessalonians. This news was a great comfort to Paul, who had been concerned that the persecution that he and his fellow workers had been experiencing might have weakened the faith of his spiritual children.

Now, having learned that their faith remained solid, Paul expresses a further word of encouragement and challenge to them. The encouragement is that Paul and his helpers feel good about the news they heard. The expression, “now we live” does not mean that life and death depend on the condition of the Thessalonian Christians; rather, it means that the quality of their sense of living is improved. This is similar to an expression that we use when we feel particularly good. We say, “I feel really alive today.” It means that we have a really good sense of well-being as a result of good circumstances.

Paul’s challenge to them is that he and his co-workers will continue to feel good as long as these new Christians continue to stand firm in their faith. Paul knows that all Christians are engaged in a battle against our own sin nature and against the forces of evil. The Christian life is not an easy one, especially when the enemy is on the attack. When that happens, however, we need to stand firm against our attackers so as not to let them get the upper hand. As God’s soldiers and ambassadors, we are not to run from the battles, but to “stand fast,” using the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-17) to battle effectively.

Application

One of the problems we face when we are under attack for our Christian witness is that we feel alone and deserted. Be encouraged, my friend, for God will never leave you nor forsake you. Also remember that your brothers and sisters in Christ are experiencing the same challenges. We must stand firm and support one another at times like this.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 15:23 – Desire to Serve

Posted on by Will

Romans 15:23 – Desire to Serve

But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you,

Truth to Learn

Paul followed his desires, except when God changed his plan.

Behind the Words

The word “now” is translated from the Greek word nuni. This word is made up of nun, meaning “now” and the letter iota which adds emphasis. Thus, it could be translated “just now.”

“Great desire” is from epipothia, made up of epi, used as an intensifier, and a form of the verb potheō, meaning “to yearn” or “to desire.” Hence, epipothia indicates a strong desire.

Meaning Explained

Having just expressed why he had not yet gone to Rome, Paul tells the Christians there that he is now ready to go. He has finally finished his job of preaching the gospel from Jerusalem all around to Illyricum and now, finally, is at liberty to travel to Rome. In the next verse we will see that Paul’s intention was to visit the church in Rome as part of a trip to Spain, which he was apparently planning to take.

This letter was most likely written while Paul was in Corinth (around A.D. 56) just shortly before he traveled to Jerusalem with an offering for the poor members of the church there (see Romans 15:25). It is likely that Paul expected to travel to Spain after this brief return to Jerusalem. Unfortunately, what was planned as a brief trip ended up being an extended stay; he was put in a Roman prison in Caesarea due to the hatred that the Jews had for him. Though he was never found guilty of any crime, Paul was imprisoned for two years while the trials took place. At the end of this time, in an effort to prevent Governor Festus from sending him back to Jerusalem where the Jews were lying in wait to kill him, Paul appealed to Caesar and was eventually shipped off to Rome to stand trial.

Certainly these were not the circumstances under which Paul intended to travel to Rome. He nonetheless was able to go there and was, in fact, met on the way and accompanied the last day or two of his journey by members of the church at Rome. Paul’s style of loving exhortation and personal transparency, comes out in this letter. This is part of the reason why the Roman Christians were so willing to extend their own efforts to comfort him in his time of distress.

We should take comfort in Paul’s distress, especially when we are faithfully serving Christ and suffering personal attacks by those who claim to be religious. Our adversary will do anything to silence our witness for Christ. So, when those attacks come (and they WILL come), remember how faithfully Paul continued steadfast in the work of the gospel, never doubting that his Lord and Savior was by his side every step of the way.

Application

We might wonder how Paul could maintain his drive to spread the Gospel in the face of all the opposition against him. He probably remembered the promise God gave to Joshua in Joshua 1:5 that was quoted by the writer of Hebrews:

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Now, that’s a promise we can all live and serve with!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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