Tag: opheiletes

Romans 8:12 – Indebted to Whom?

Posted on by Will

Therefore, brothers, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

Truth to Learn

We owe a debt, but not to our sin nature.

 

Behind the Words

“Therefore” is translated from the two Greek words, ara oun. The word ara in an inferential conjunction which indicates that the following phrase is an inference, a conclusion, drawn from the preceding thoughts. It is most often translated “therefore.” The other Greek word, oun, is also an inferential conjunction, but it is also used as a transitional conjunction, indicating that a new train of thought is on the way. It is sometimes translated as “then” or “now.” We could translate these two words as “So now” or “Therefore then.” The effect is to introduce a strong conclusion that the writer is emphasizing.

The word translated “brothers” is the plural form of adelphos. This is made up of a, indicating unity and delphus, meaning “the womb.” So, this word indicates someone who has come from the same mother. The word is used metaphorically throughout the New Testament to indicate those who have the same Heavenly Father. Paul uses this term in reference to Christians and Jews alike.

“Debtors” is from opheiletēs, which comes from the verb opheilō, meaning “to owe something to someone else.” Hence, opheiletēs refers to someone who owes something to someone else, that is, a debtor.

 

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse we talked how God promises those of us who are truly saved that He will give us the same kind of immortal body that Jesus Christ has right now. That’s part of eternal life, having an eternal body. It will be a body that will not know pain and will not grow old; a body far superior to the one that we now possess.

Now, he makes a very strong conclusion: since we will receive an immortal body, we have no reason to live as debtors to this mortal body. In other words, we should not treat this body as if we owe it anything. We should not satisfy the desires and cravings of this body because not only does it not own us, but it will be replaced by a much better body some day.

We should not live kata sarka or “according to the flesh.” You will remember that we talked a number of verses back about the fact that kata, means “according to” or “with respect to.” We should not conduct our lives in such a manner as to cater to our fleshly desires. We should, in fact, act as if we were dead when it comes to satisfying the desires of our flesh. That’s what Paul will tell us in the next verse.

 

Application

The next time one of those sinful fleshly desires begins to get you into trouble, remember that you are not required to obey it; you don’t owe it anything! In fact, we are debtors to someone else. We owe God a great debt, our lives. We owed Him the penalty for our sins (death), but Jesus Christ paid that debt for us so we now have eternal life. Therefore, we owe Him a debt of gratitude for rescuing us. We owe Him our life!

How are you paying off that debt?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 1:14 – Indebted to God

Posted on by Will

I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.

Truth to Learn

Paul was compelled to preach to the Gentiles because of what he owed to God.

 

Behind the Words

“Debtor” is from opheiletēs, meaning “one who owes a debt or a favor.”

The Greek word that is translated “barbarians” in today’s verse is barbarois which literally is “barbar ones” or “those who say barbar.”

The word translated “wise” is Sophos. The meaning of this word in the New Testament is someone who is godly wise as opposed to worldly wise. It denotes  a fear of God and an understanding of His ways. Secondarily, it refers to the possession of a certain practical ability in applying learning and truth.

“Unwise” is from anoētos, which is made up of the privative a, meaning “not” and noeō, referring to “things of the mind,” that is, comprehension. This, anoētos refers to someone who is lacking intelligence.

 

Meaning Explained

This is an interesting verse from the apostle Paul.  On the surface it appears that Paul is saying that he owes a debt to a number of people, but I don’t think that’s what he means. Paul was called by God specifically to be the apostle to the Gentiles (nations), that is, to non-Jews. We see this later in Romans:

For I speak to you, the Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, (Romans 11:13)

In fact, Paul did not have an option as to whether or not he was to preach the gospel. He was compelled to do so by God. He owed it to God because of what God had done for him (salvation) and because he was called by God to do it.

For if I proclaim the gospel, it is no glory to me, for necessity is laid upon me; and woe is to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! (1 Corinthians 9:16)

That’s why Paul calls himself a debtor. He felt like he owed a great debt to God, and it was only by being obedient to God’s call that he could pay off that debt. He expresses that debt in terms of people because it was to people that he was compelled to preach.

In today’s verse Paul says that he is “debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians,” but what does he mean? We have to remember that when Rome conquered any land, those who were conquered were permitted to retain their local language, but they were also required to use the common language of the Empire. This common language was Greek. Hence, anyone who spoke Greek was considered civilized. Anyone who did not speak Greek sounded like someone uttering, “bar, bar, bar …” Thus, they were called barbarians.

Paul then expresses these two classes of people in another manner as further explanation, “to wise and unwise.” A literal translation of this phrase would be “to the wise and the unintelligent.” I think he makes this distinction so that it is clear that he is not talking about a political difference, but a social difference. He wants to show that he is not bound or prohibited to preach to people based on social class, because the gospel is to all people regardless of social class.

Paul felt a strong constraint on himself to do what God had called him to do. He felt a deep seated conviction that he was called to preach. He also clearly believed that all who are saved are called to serve. Paul goes into much more detail about this notion in Romans chapter eight.

 

Application

What has God called you to do for Him? Do you know? Do you feel compelled to obey Him the way Paul does?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 8:12 – Indebted to Whom?

Posted on by Will

Romans 8:12

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

Truth to Learn

We owe a debt, but not to our sin nature.

Behind the Words

“Therefore” is translated from the two Greek words, ara oun. The word ara in an inferential conjunction which indicates that the following phrase is an inference, a conclusion, drawn from the preceding thoughts. It is most often translated “therefore.” The other Greek word, oun, is also an inferential conjunction, but it is also used as a transitional conjunction, indicating that a new train of thought is on the way. It is sometimes translated as “then” or “now.” We could translate these two words as “So now” or “Therefore then.” The effect is to introduce a strong conclusion that the writer is emphasizing.

The word translated “brethren” is the plural form of adelphos. This is made up of a, indicating unity and delphus, meaning “the womb.” So, this word indicates someone who has come from the same mother. The word is used metaphorically throughout the New Testament to indicate those who have the same Heavenly Father. Paul uses this term in reference to Christians and Jews alike.

“Debtors” is from opheiletēs, which comes from the verb opheilō, meaning “to owe something to someone else.” Hence, opheiletēs refers to someone who owes something to someone else, that is a debtor.

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse we talked how God promises those of us who are truly saved that He will give us the same kind of immortal body that Jesus Christ has right now. That’s part of eternal life, having an eternal body. It will be a body that will not know pain and will not grow old; a body far superior to the one that we now possess.

Now, he makes a very strong conclusion: since we will receive an immortal body, we have no reason to live as debtors to this mortal body. In other words, we should not treat this body as if we owe it anything. We should not satisfy the desires and cravings of this body because not only does it not own us, but it will be replaced by a much better body some day.

We should not live kata sarka or “according to the flesh.” You will remember that we talked a number of verses back about the fact that kata, means “according to” or “with respect to.” We should not conduct our lives in such a manner as to cater to our fleshly desires. We should, in fact, act as if we were dead when it comes to satisfying the desires of our flesh. That’s what Paul will tell us in the next verse.

Application

The next time one of those sinful fleshly desires begins to get you into trouble, remember that you are not required to obey it; you don’t owe it anything! In fact, we are debtors to someone else. We owe God a great debt, our lives. We owed Him the penalty for our sins (death), but Jesus Christ paid that debt for us so we now have eternal life. Therefore, we owe Him a debt of gratitude for rescuing us. We owe Him our life!

How are you paying off that debt?

In God’s service, for His glory,

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Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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