Tag: pneumatos

Ephesians 5:9 – Goodness, Righteousness, and Truth

Posted on by Will

for the fruit of the light is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth,

Truth to Learn

We should always exhibit goodness, righteousness, and truth.

 

Behind the Words

The word “fruit” is translated from the Greek word karpos, which is derived from the same base as harpadzō, meaning “to pluck” or “to take by force.” Karpos can refer to fruit taken from a tree or any edible thing taken from plants. Paul uses this word metaphorically, referring to the effects of, or result of, a force or an action.

The word “light” is phōs, which we learned in the previous verse, refers either to physically perceived light or to spiritual enlightenment. In some later manuscripts, this word is replaced by pneumatos, which is based on the verb pneō, meaning “to breathe” or “to blow.” Pneumatos literally refers to “a current of air.” Figuratively, it refers to “a spirit” or “a ghost.”

 “Goodness” is from agathōsunē, based on agathos (good or useful). The sunē ending indicates an abstraction from the base noun. Thus, agathōsunē refers to the general characteristic of goodness or usefulness.

“Righteousness” is from dikaiosunē, which is based on the noun dikaios, meaning “just” or “righteous.” As with agathōsunē, t he sunē ending indicates an abstraction from the base noun. Therefore, dikaiosunē refers to “justice” or “righteousness.”

“Truth” is from alētheia, which refers to “truth” or “reality.”

 

Meaning Explained

Today’s verse is one that exhibits a minor variation between the two most often used Greek texts. In this verse the Received Text (from which the KJV and NKJV are taken) reads “fruit of the Spirit” and the Wescott-Hort text (from which the NASB, NIV, ESV, and others are taken) reads “fruit of the light.” Nowhere else in the New Testament does “fruit of the light” appear, but only one other place has “fruit of the spirit” (Galatians 5:22). Both versions make sense and contain teaching that is profitable for all Christians. So to me, it really doesn’t matter which one is the “right” text.

I use my own translation in these studies because I prefer a more literal translation of the Greek, whereas others contain more interpretation and paraphrasing in their translations. Having said all that, I find that the phrase “fruit of the light” makes more sense in today’s verse. Here’s why: In the previous verse Paul said we previously were darkness but now are light and he said that we are to walk as “children of light.” It makes perfect sense that he would now tell us something about walking as children of light.

The fruit that we are to exhibit in our lives is to be characterized by goodness, righteousness, and truth. That which is bad is obviously not from God. That which is unjust or unfair is obviously not from God. That which is false or which is based on falsehood is obviously not from God.

 

Application

What we have to ask ourselves today is not whether the fruit of our thoughts and actions are fruit of the Spirit or fruit of the light. What we have to ask ourselves is, “Do our thoughts and actions demonstrate that God is our Father?” As God’s children we are to exhibit goodness, righteousness, and truth! Do you?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 2:26 – Faith, Dead or Alive?

Posted on by Will

For just as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is also dead.

Truth to Learn

If works of faithful obedience to God are not regularly demonstrated in our walk, then we need to determine if we were ever really saved in the first place. Nothing could be more tragic than someone believing they are saved only to find out when they stand before their God and Judge that they never really believed.

Behind the Words

“Just as” is translated from the adverb hōsper. This word is made up of hōs, meaning “as” and per, meaning “much.” It means “just as” or “exactly like.”

The Greek word translated “body” is sōma, used here as a reference to our physical body

The word “without” is from chōris, which means “separately” or “by itself.”

Pneumatos is the Greek word translated “spirit.” It is derived from pneō, meaning “to breathe.” Hence, the spirit of a person is the “breath of life” which makes him or her a living being.

“Dead” is translated from the Greek word nekros, which refers to a corpse, a dead person.

Meaning Explained

James sums up this entire section with a simple statement that expresses what he has been saying for the past ten verses. Just as your own body cannot exist without the life-giving presence of your spirit, so your faith cannot exist without the presence of works of faithful obedience to your Lord and Master. If those works don’t exist in your life, then you are not really saved.

There are many churches today that are more interested in numbers of converts than reality of converts. They say, “All you have to do is believe that Christ died for your sins and you will be saved.” They say nothing about submitting to the lordship of God or of turning over control of your life to Him. As soon as someone says the sinner’s prayer, they congratulate themselves and record another convert in their membership rolls. What they often don’t tell the new converts is, “How you live your life after you do this will be the evidence of whether or not your faith is real.” As a result, there are many so-called Christians who have professed Christ at some time in the past, but their post-confession life is no different from their pre-confession life. We have to wonder whether they were ever really saved in the first place. James would clearly say they were not.

Application

If you are wondering whether your own profession was real, simply ask yourself: Has my manner of living changed since I confessed Christ as savior? Do I have a hunger for His Word? Do I desire to be with my Christian friends more than my unsaved friends? Does The Spirit convict me when I sin? Do I want to know God better and to please Him as much as possible?

If the answer to any of these questions is no, then take a few minutes right now and do this:

  • Recognize that you are a sinner (we all are) and that the penalty of your sinfulness is death.
  • Humble yourself before God Almighty, recognizing that He is your supreme ruler and master.
  • Repent of your sins (this means turn away from them and go the other direction, toward God instead of away from Him). This doesn’t mean that you won’t sin, but you won’t want to sin.
  • Accept the fact that Jesus, as a sinless man and as God, died on the cross and paid for all of your sins (past, present, and future).
  • Confess, in your own words, that you believe that Christ died for your sins.
  • Walk worthy of the Lord!

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7) 

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 5:9 – Goodness, Righteousness, and Truth

Posted on by Will

(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),

Truth to Learn

We should always exhibit goodness, righteousness, and truth.

Behind the Words

The word “fruit” is translated from the Greek word karpos, which is derived from the same base as harpadzō, meaning “to pluck” or “to take by force.” Karpos can refer to fruit taken from a tree or any edible thing taken from plants. Paul uses this word metaphorically, referring to the effects of, or result of, a force or an action.

The word “spirit” is from pneumatos, which is based on the verb pneō, meaning “to breathe” or “to blow.” Pneumatos literally refers to “a current of air.” Figuratively, it refers to “a spirit” or “a ghost.” The problem that we have in today’s verse is that some manuscripts do not have the word pneumatos, but phōs, which we learned in the previous verse, refers either to physically perceived light or to spiritual enlightenment.

“Goodness” is from agathōsunē, based on agathos (good or useful). The sunē ending indicates an abstraction from the base noun. Thus, agathōsunē refers to the general characteristic of goodness or usefulness.

“Righteousness” is from dikaiosunē, which is based on the noun dikaios, meaning “just” or “righteous.” Therefore, dikaiosunē refers to “justice” or “righteousness.”

“Truth” is from alētheia, which refers to “truth” or “reality.”

Meaning Explained

Today’s verse is one that exhibits a minor variation between the two most often used Greek texts. In this verse the Received Text (from which the KJV and NKJV are taken) reads “fruit of the Spirit” and the Wescott-Hort text (from which the NASB, NIV, ESV, and others are taken) reads “fruit of the light.” Nowhere else in the New Testament does “fruit of the light” appear, but only one other place has “fruit of the spirit” (Galatians 5:22). Both versions make sense and contain teaching that is profitable for all Christians. So to me, it really doesn’t matter which one is the “right” text.

I use the NKJV translation in these studies because I find it to be a more literal translation of the Greek, whereas others contain more interpretation and paraphrasing in their translations. Having said all that, I find that the phrase “fruit of the light” makes more sense in today’s verse. Here’s why: In the previous verse Paul said we previously were darkness but now are light and he said that we are to walk as “children of light.” It makes perfect sense that he would now tell us something about walking as children of light.

The fruit that we are to exhibit in our lives is to be characterized by goodness, righteousness, and truth. That which is bad is obviously not from God. That which is unjust or unfair is obviously not from God. That which is false or which is based on falsehood is obviously not from God.

Application

What we have to ask ourselves today is not whether the fruit of our thoughts and actions are fruit of the Spirit or fruit of the light. What we have to ask ourselves is, “Do our thoughts and actions demonstrate that God is our Father?” As God’s children we are to exhibit goodness, righteousness, and truth! Do you?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved.