Tag: para

2 Thessalonians 1:6 – Righteous Judgment

Posted on by Will

since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you,

Truth to Learn

God will “pay back” those who cause Christians to suffer.

 

Behind the Words

The word “since” is translated from eiper. This Greek word is made up of ei, which is a conditional particle usually translated as “if” and per, meaning “concerning” or “with respect to.” Eiper assumes that the condition is true and therefore is most often translated as “if indeed” or “since.”

Dikaios is the Greek adjective translated as “righteous.” It is based on the noun dikē, which means “that which is right or just.” Dikaios means that whatever word it describes is the right thing, proper thing, or just thing to do.

“Repay” is from antapodidōmi. This is a double compound word made up of anti, meaning “against” or “opposing,” apo, meaning “from” or “away from,” and didōmi, meaning “to give.” When we put these all together we see that the idea of antapodidōmi is “to give back in return.” It is often used to mean “to repay a debt that is owed to someone.”

The word “with” is from para, meaning “to the side of” or “by.” Here it has the meaning “with respect to God” or “from God’s viewpoint.”

Both of the words “tribulation” and “trouble” are based on the word thlibō, which means “to press together, to squeeze, or to cause affliction.”

 

Meaning Explained

After opening with a typical Pauline greeting in this letter to the Christians in Thessalonica, Paul offered up thanks to God for their growth in faith and in love. On the surface, this spiritual growth may seem unusual because the Thessalonians were suffering under the persecution from those around them. However, we see that spiritual growth, like muscular growth, only comes from repeated difficult activities. Christians for whom life is easy do not grow in their faith because they have no need for God. But Christians who are suffering from persecution have to depend on God, and they grow as a result.

Paul then told them that this persecution and their subsequent growth was evidence of God’s righteous judgment because it indicated that they were being considered worthy of God’s eternal blessing. In other words, God’s decision to provide future blessing to His chosen children is the right and proper thing for Him to do.

Now Paul looks at the other side of the coin. Not only is it right to promise future blessing to those who believe God, but it’s just as right to bring judgment against those who reject God. The non-believers in Thessalonica were causing trouble for the Christians, so Paul says that it is just and proper for God to “pay them back” for the trouble that they caused His children. Not only is this a proper action for a righteous God, it is proper for a loving father to protect and defend His children.

 

Application

If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for your sins, then God loves you as one of His children. Not only has He promised you eternal blessing, but He has promised to “pay back” suffering to those who cause you suffering.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Corinthians 3:19 – Wisdom or Foolishness?

Posted on by Will

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness";

Truth to Learn

Good’s foolishness is better than the world’s wisdom.

Behind the Words

Kosmos is the Greek word translated “world.” It refers to “order” or “arrangement.” It is a reference to the world system, that is, the people and society of this world as opposed to God’s people and His system.

“Foolishness” is translated from the Greek word moria (based on moros) which refers to foolishness, folly, or absurdity.

The word “with” is from para, which expresses a physical nearness or an abstract relationship (with respect to).

“It is written” is the translation of the verb graphō, meaning “to grave” or “to carve.” The most ancient writing was done by carving the letters out of stone or clay tablets; therefore, graphō nearly always refers to writing. The verb is expressed here in the perfect tense, indicating past completed action with an ongoing effect.

The word “catches” is from drassomai, which means “to grasp, take, catch, or seize.” This verb is always written in the middle voice, indicating action done by the subject to, or for, himself.

Panourgia is the word translated “craftiness.” It is made up of pas, meaning “all or every” and ergon, meaning “work or a deed.” Literally, this word means “the ability or willingness to do anything.” It is often used to refer to “craftiness, cunning, or unscrupulous behavior.”

Meaning Explained

In 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, Paul contrasted the wisdom of the world (which is foolishness) with the foolishness of God (which is wisdom). Having rejected God altogether, the people of the world have fashioned their own wisdom to explain away any notion of an all-powerful God. In Paul’s time there were great orators, called sophists (wise ones) who used fancy words and enticing language to persuade their audience that they were speaking “truth.” In reality, especially when laid next to God’s wisdom, these sophists were proclaiming foolishness.

Since Corinth was such a worldly city, the people there were easily caught up in this worldly “wisdom.” Even the teachers within the church had come to believe that they were wise and gifted because they had successfully emulated the oratory skills of the sophists. Unfortunately, in learning the tools and techniques of the sophists, some of the teachers in Corinth had left the true foundation. As a result, they had become proud of their skills instead of becoming humble in their service to God.

To emphasize his point, Paul now quotes from the book of Job. In this passage Eliphaz the Temanite is describing to Job how the wicked of this world are always punished by God’s justice.

He catches the wise in their own craftiness, And the counsel of the cunning comes quickly upon them. (Job 5:13)

Likewise, teachers within the church who rely on earthly wisdom are fools teaching foolishness to God’s people.

Application

Listen carefully to those who teach in your church. Are they teaching “worldly wisdom” or “the foolishness of God?” God’s “foolishness” is better than the world’s “wisdom.”

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2013 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

1 Corinthians 3:11 – A Sure Foundation

Posted on by Will

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Truth to Learn

The church can only be as strong as its foundation.

Behind the Words

The word translated “other” is allos, meaning “another of the same kind.” A similar Greek word, heteros, means “another of a different kind.” Allos is expressed here as a masculine adjective that is connected to “foundation,” indicating that the foundation he is referring to is a person, not a thing.

Dunamai is the verb translated “can.” It refers to having the authority or ability to do something.

“Than” is from the Greek preposition para, meaning “beside” or “alongside.”

The verb “laid” is from keimai, which means “to lay something down.” This is a different verb that that which is translated “lay.” This verb is tithēmi, which we saw in the previous verse, meaning “to set in place.”

Christos is the word transliterated “Christ,” which is based on the verb chrio, meaning “to anoint.” Thus, christos literally means “the anointed one.” It is equivalent to the Hebrew word mashiach, or Messiah.

Meaning Explained

A literal translation of this verse could be, “For no one is able to place any other foundation alongside the one having been laid down, who is Jesus Christ.”

In using this architectural metaphor, Paul wants to make a couple of things very clear. The first is the fact that the foundation is the most important fundamental part of any structure. If it is laid carelessly, or made out of the wrong material, the building that is constructed on top of it will be weak and unstable. So it is with the church. A church that is built carelessly, or built upon anything other than the person and work of Jesus Christ, will be weak and unstable. The other thing that Paul is making clear is that there can only be one foundation of the church. Anything other than the person and work of Jesus Christ that is laid alongside the original foundation is not part of God’s plan for the church. It will not make the church solid but will cause divisions within the church instead of unity.

The apostle tells us that the foundation that has already been laid for the church is Jesus Christ. The central issue of Christian faith is that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Son of God, and as such He is God. Because He is God, He is sinless (righteous), and it is because He is without sin that his death is sufficient payment for our sins. This is the truth that the church is built on. If we add anything to that foundation, whether it be a message from some gifted preacher or even an angel, or the teaching from another religion or religious book, we are building on a false foundation and the church will not stand strong.

Application

Many churches today have added to the foundation that Paul laid and are teaching a salvation based on something else in order to make the message more palatable to people. Every church split is the result of foundation issues. How is your church? Is it strong? Is it built on Jesus Christ and Him alone?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2013 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

2 Thessalonians 1:6 – Righteous Judgment

Posted on by Will

since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you,

Truth to Learn

God will “pay back” those who cause Christians to suffer.

Behind the Words

The word “since” is translated from eiper. This Greek word is made up of ei, which is a conditional particle usually translated as “if” and per, meaning “concerning” or “with respect to.” Eiper assumes that the condition is true and therefore is most often translated as “if indeed” or “since.”

Dikaios is the Greek adjective translated as “righteous.” It is based on the noun dikē, which means “that which is right or just.” Dikaios means that whatever word it describes is the right thing, proper thing, or just thing to do.

“Repay” is from antapodidōmi. This is a double compound word made up of anti, meaning “against” or “opposing,” apo, meaning “from” or “away from,” and didōmi, meaning “to give.” When we put these all together we see that the idea of antapodidōmi is “to give back in return.” It is often used to mean “to repay a debt that is owed to someone.”

The word “with” is from para, meaning “to the side of” or “by.” Here it has the meaning “with respect to God” or “from God’s viewpoint.”

Both of the words “tribulation” and “trouble” are based on the word thlibō, which means “to press together, to squeeze, or to cause affliction.”

Meaning Explained

After opening with a typical Pauline greeting in this letter to the Christians in Thessalonica, Paul offered up thanks to God for their growth in faith and in love. On the surface, this spiritual growth may seem unusual because the Thessalonians were suffering under the persecution from those around them. However, we see that spiritual growth, like muscular growth, only comes from repeated difficult activities. Christians for whom life is easy do not grow in their faith because they have no need for God. But Christians who are suffering from persecution have to depend on God, and they grow as a result.

Paul then told them that this persecution and their subsequent growth was evidence of God’s righteous judgment because it indicated that they were being considered worthy of God’s eternal blessing. In other words, God’s decision to provide future blessing to His chosen children is the right and proper thing for Him to do.

Now Paul looks at the other side of the coin. Not only is it right to promise future blessing to those who believe God, but it’s just as right to bring judgment against those who reject God. The non-believers in Thessalonica were causing trouble for the Christians, so Paul says that it is just and proper for God to “pay them back” for the trouble that they caused His children. Not only is this a proper action for a righteous God, it is proper for a loving father to protect and defend His children.

Application

If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for your sins, then God loves you as one of His children. Not only has He promised you eternal blessing, but He has promised to “pay back” suffering to those who cause you suffering.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved