Tag: plousios

2 Peter 1:11 – Heavenly Homecoming

Posted on by Will

for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

Truth to Learn

Our entrance into heaven will be affected by the way we spend our life here on the earth.

 

Behind the Words

Peter starts off this verse with the Greek words houtōs gar, which are connective words meaning, “for in this way.” In other words, “having built these character qualities upon the foundation of our calling and election …”

The next two Greek words are wonderfully descriptive. Although they are the next two words in the Greek text, they are translated at the end of this verse. They are, plousios, meaning “abundantly” or “copiously,” almost to the point of being excessive, and epichorēgeō, which is a compound word made up of epi, meaning “above” or “over” and choregeō, meaning “to furnish, to supply, or to outfit.” Hence, we will be lavishly outfitted or “dressed” for a very spectacular event: our entrance into the eternal kingdom

 

Meaning Explained

Peter has been exhorting us to work diligently to build the previously mentioned Christian character qualities upon the foundation of our calling and election. He said that in doing this, we will never lose our salvation. Peter now tells us that there will be a future benefit to us as well if we develop these character qualities.

Scripture tells us that immediately after the rapture of the church, when Christ returns with the departed saints and unites us all with our heavenly bodies, we will appear before the Bema Seat (judgment seat) of Christ. This is the believers’ judgment where we will receive rewards in the form of crowns for the things we have done in this life. The next thing after the Bema Seat Judgment will be the introduction of the saints to the great King of Kings. Peter is here giving us a glimpse of this “entrance into the eternal kingdom.”

We will be lavishly outfitted for our entrance into the eternal kingdom and our presentation to the God of all creation. Peter refers to it as “the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” This will be our celebratory homecoming event. It is likely that this will also be our opportunity to cast our crowns at His feet proclaiming, “You are worthy, O Lord!”

But, let us not lose focus on what Peter is saying in the midst of all this pomp and circumstance. The point he is making in this verse is that what we do on this earth with the life (both the physical life and the spiritual life) we have been freely given will have a dramatic future effect on us that is worthy of note.

Some will be ushered into the eternal kingdom with the smell of smoke clinging to them as all their earthly works have been burned-up because they were self-serving instead of God-serving. Others will be ushered into the kingdom lavishly adorned because they have spent their time of sojourning here on this earth in the humble service of their Lord and Savior. These are those who lived this life for the glory of God rather than for their own glory.

 

Application

How will you be dressed when you are ushered into the kingdom and appear face-to-face before the one who gave his all for you? Will you smell of smoke, or will you be richly adorned with a crown to cast at His feet?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 2:4 – Abundant Mercy

Posted on by Will

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

Truth to Learn

Because of God’s mercy we don’t get what we deserve. It’s not fair, it’s mercy!

 

Behind the Words

The word “rich” is translated from plousios, which is the condition of having ploutos, meaning “wealth or riches, in money or possession.” Figuratively, it means “to have an abundance of something.”

“Mercy” is from the Greek noun eleos. This word refers to “sorrow over the misfortune of others, which disposes a person to overlook personal offenses and to treat an offender better than he or she deserves.” It is sometimes translated as “compassion.”

“Because of” is a translation of the Greek preposition dia, which means “through, either positionally or instrumentally.” In the current verse it means that God’s mercy is a result of His love.

The adjective “great” is from polus, meaning “much or many.” This is not a measure of size. That would be the Greek word megas. Polus is a measure of quantity or magnitude.

The words “love” and “loved” are from the same root, agapē. This word refers to a kind of love in which the lover is focused on that which will do the most good for the loved one. It is a self-sacrificing love which places the good of the loved one above the good of self.

 

Meaning Explained

In the past few verses the Apostle Paul has been describing how we were dead in sin before we were saved. Our manner of life was controlled by Satan and his world system. We followed the lusts of our flesh and we were deserving of the full weight of God’s wrath.

Here he goes on to describe how all that was changed. The instrument of our change, freedom from the bondage of sin, was God, Himself. We know how rich our God is. In the fiftieth chapter of Psalms we are told that he owns the cattle on a thousand hills (in the Old Testament wealth was measured by how many animals you owned). Paul now tells us that His wealth is not just in material things; He also has an abundance of mercy, that is, He is rich in mercy. Because of this mercy, we Christians will not receive from God the wrath that we truly deserve. Instead, He will be compassionate and merciful toward us.

This mercy that God shows to us is an outgrowth of His love. This love and mercy are so great toward us that He forgives us of all our sins (past, present, and future). Throughout the Bible, forgiveness means more than removal of blame. It includes completely forgetting the offending act. In fact, in the book of Psalms, as a description of God’s forgiveness, we are told:

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. (Psalms 103:12)

We learn in Romans that the penalty for our sins is death. Instead of our death, however, God gave up the life of His Son, who did not deserve death, as the ransom to set us free from death. Because we Christians have accepted Christ’s blood as the payment for our sins, God has forgiven, forgotten, and completely cast away our sinful acts.

 

Application

The next time you complain to God that things are not fair, that you are not getting what you deserve, remember that what you deserve is death and the wrath of God. However, because of His mercy and His great love with which He loved us, He has forgiven our sins and has given us eternal life. Our response to His mercy should be gratitude demonstrated by a life of submission to Him. Let’s take a few minutes right now and thank God for His mercy. Let’s recommit to serving Him out of a heart of gratitude.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 5:1 – Sorrowful Riches

Posted on by Will

that it bursts forth in unashamed wailing and sobbing. This word is distinctly different from the Greek word dakruō, which means “to weep silently and shed tears,” Klaiō is expressed here in the imperative mood, indicating a command from James.

The word “howl” is translated from a form of ololudzō. This is an onomatopoetic word representing the shrieking or loud mournful wailing of someone crying out from the depths of sorrow. It is probably the source of the English word ululate, which is a long, wavering, high-pitched vocal sound resembling a howl with a trilling quality. Ololudzō is used here as a participle, so the opening of this verse could be translated as:

Come now rich ones, wail, crying out mournfully …

The Greek word translated “miseries” is talaiporia, which refers to “hardship and distress” or “calamity.”

The expression “coming upon you” is a translation of eperchomai, which is a compound word made up of epi, meaning “upon” or “over” and erchomai, meaning “to come” or “to go.” Thus, it is translated “coming upon.” It is expressed here as a participle, indicating that it is something which is currently in the process of happening.

 

Meaning Explained

We must be very careful that we don’t assume that James is condemning all who are rich in this verse. There is nothing inherently wrong with having earthly wealth. The real issues are how that wealth has been acquired and how it is used. We also have to recognize that wealth is relative. We who live in the United States of America with only modest possessions of a home, a car (or two), furniture, clothing, etc., are far more wealthy than many people in this world who have little more than the sparse clothing on their backs and a little food to eat.

One commonality among the wealthy is that they tend to place their security in such wealth. James will be showing the tenuousness of wealth and, in this verse, admonishes such people to weep and mourn because of the uncertain nature of such wealth. As we shall see from verses 4 and 5, these particular rich people have obtained their wealth by fraud and they have used that wealth selfishly.

James appears to be addressing the unsaved Jews of his day who have great possessions but are lacking eternal life through Jesus the Messiah. Notice that James has written this letter to: “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (James 1:1), which includes all Jews. The scene portrayed in this and the following verses seems to be that of the Great White Throne Judgment, where riches will have no value at all.

 

Application

Lest you think that this verse does not apply to you, let me remind you that the amount of wealth and possessions that you have right now is more than many people have. Have you received your wealth by fraud and trickery, of did you come by it honestly? Have you thanked God for what you have? Are you using what you have to bring glory to Him?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 1:10 – Humble Wealth

Posted on by Will

but the rich one in his humbling, because like a flower of the garden he will pass away.

Truth to Learn

Riches cause pride and harm our relationship with God. Some day we will pass away and have to give an accounting to God.

Behind the Words

The word translated “rich one” is the Greek word plousios, which means “one who has great possessions.” This is someone who we would say is rich, or wealthy.

The Greek word translated “humbling” is tapeinosis, which is from the same root as “lowly” in the previous verse. It means to be humbled or brought low.

“Garden” is from a form of the word chortos which originally meant “court or garden.” In later usage it also came to mean “a pasture or grassy field”

The word translated “pass away” is a form of parerchomai, which is a compound word made up of para, meaning “near” and a form of erchomai, meaning “to come” or “to go.” So, literally it means to come near or to go close to something. Metaphorically, however, here it means “to pass away, to perish, or to cease to exist.”

Meaning Explained

Since this is a continuation of the sentence started in the previous verse, we need to look and see what the verb is in relation to, “but the rich one in his humbling.” The verb in the previous verse, which applies to “the rich one” in this verse is the one which is translated “let … glory.” So we could interpret the first of this verse as, “but let the rich man glory in his being humbled.”

It’s pretty easy for us to see why the poor people are to glory in being raised-up by Christ and put on an equal footing with all others in the church. But why would someone with great possessions glory in being humbled? When we are humbled before God we realize that we owe everything we have to God, because it has all come from Him. After all, we are not on this earth to gain possessions; rather we are here to glorify God.

Worldly riches have a way of causing us to feel proud and self-sufficient. But this does not draw us closer to God; instead, it leads us away from Him. When we are in need, we get on our knees and seek God’s face. When we have wealth, we have no reason to seek God’s assistance. Those who have riches should recognize that such riches ultimately come from God and belong to Him. Therefore, God should receive glory and praise for them, but this only comes from a heart filled with humility.

One day, like the beautiful flowers in the garden, we will pass away. In the final analysis, what we have done for God is all that will matter. Riches that we have amassed to ourselves make us proud. Riches that are used for God’s glory, on the other hand, will produce eternal reward.

Application

Look at the poor widow in Luke 21:1-4. She gave a mere two small coins to the temple treasury. That’s equal to about 2/5 of a cent today. Jesus said that she gave more than all the others combined, because she gave all that she had. They gave out of their riches because they didn’t need it all. She needed all that she had and yet she gave it all to God.

What are you giving to God?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved