Tag: prokopto

Romans 13:12 – Prepare for Battle!

Posted on by Will

The night is nearly over, the day is at hand. Therefore, let us lay aside the works of darkness and put on the weapons of light.

Truth to Learn

Wake up! Prepare for battle! Our Lord is coming soon!

 

Behind the Words

The words “is nearly over” are from the verb prokoptō, which is made up of pro, meaning “before” or “forward” and koptō, which means “to cut, strike, or impel.” Thus, the root meaning of prokoptō is “to drive forward.” Figuratively, with regard to time, it means that it is “advanced, nearly used up, or well along.”

“Is at hand” is translated from the verb engidzō, based on the noun engus (which we saw in the previous verse), meaning “near.” Hence, engidzō means “to come near” or “to approach.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense, which in Greek implies a completed past action with an ongoing effect where the emphasis is on the effect. So, Paul is saying that the day has already drawn near and now is very near.

“Lay aside” is from the Greek verb apotithēmi, made up of apo, meaning “away” and tithēmi, meaning “to lay something down.” Thus, apotithēmi means “to lay something aside.”

The word translated “darkness” is skotos, which is based on the word skia, meaning “a shadow” or “shade.” Skotos literally means something shady or something dark.

The Greek word translated “put on” is enduō, which means “to sink into” or “to put ourselves into.” It is expressed in the middle voice which means that it is something that we must do to ourselves; it is not something that someone else can do for us.

The word “weapons” is hoplon, which refers to “instruments, or tools, or weapons of warfare.”

 

Meaning Explained

At nighttime we all sleep. While we are asleep, we are unaware of what is going on around us. We are in a dream world where nothing is real. But when we wake up, we see reality and we have to face up to it. Many of us get up before it is daylight. We do so because we know that the daylight is coming. If we were to wait for the daylight before rousing ourselves, we would be late. If we lay in bed when it is time to get up, we often fall back asleep.

This is precisely the picture that Paul is painting for us in the previous verse and the current one. The time of the return of Christ is close at hand. It is almost morning. We need to wake up and get to work. Paul tells us that we are to lay aside all of our works that are shady or those which spring from darkness, (a metonym for sinful).

Instead of doing those things that are wrong, instead of doing things that are even a little bit shady, Paul tells us to “lay them aside and put on the weapons of light.” Some translations have this as “the armour of light.” On the surface, this may sound like a defensive posture, but as we saw in “Behind the Words,” this refers to our tools of warfare against the powers of darkness. We are in a constant spiritual battle with our adversary and we need to be on the offensive, spreading the word of truth, the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to be witnessing and we need to be building up and encouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

Application

In case you don’t realize it, these verses represent God’s alarm clock and it just went off! It’s time to leave our dream world and prepare for the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So, let’s get up, let’s arm ourselves for the spiritual battle ahead, and let’s get to work! Our Lord is coming soon!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

2 Peter 3:18 – Eternal Praise

Posted on by Will

But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and the day of eternity! Amen.

Truth to Learn

We are to grow spiritually and give God all the glory.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “grow” is auxanō, meaning “to grow.” This growth, however, implies the result either of some outside agent or the element of life within. It is the word used of a seed which grows into a plant, simply because it has the element of life in it. There is a different Greek word, prokoptō, which also refers to growth. This, however, refers to growth as a result of human achievement. So we see that even though Peter gives this to us as a command, our growth in grace (there is no definite article “the” in the Greek text) and knowledge of Christ is not a result of our active conscious effort, but a result of the spiritual life within us.

The word translated “glory” is the Greek word doxa. The root of this word, dokeo, means “favorable thought or opinion.” Hence, it is often translated as “glory, praise, or honor.”

“Day of eternity” is translated from the Greek expression hēmeran aiōnos. The word hēmera refers to a “day.” It can refer to a specific twenty-four hour period of time, or it can refer to an indefinite period or point in time such as “the day of the Lord.” The word aiōnos refers to an “age of time.” It is most often used to refer to an indefinitely long period of time and, therefore, is often translated as eternity. These two words, therefore, refer to “the day of eternity,” that is, the time after the creation of the new heavens and the new earth when time will no longer have any meaning.

 

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Peter told us to beware of the false teachers and scoffers, and we learned that we can only protect ourselves from false doctrine by studying correct doctrine. He now gives us another command. He says to “grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Peter tells us that we are to grow both in grace and in knowledge. Like a tree which continues to grow because it has life fed from the roots sunk deep in the earth, we are to grow because we are being fed from our roots in Christ through the Word of God. The only way to have continual growth is to be fed regularly from the book of life, the Bible. Only through regular constant reading and fellowshipping with the God of the Bible will we receive regular nourishment.

Peter then closes his letter with a word of praise for the one to whom we owe everything. He says, “to Him be glory …” God, and God alone, is to be given recognition for who He is and what He has done. Peter proclaims that this praise and honor is His both now and into (or unto) the day of eternity.

 

Application

As we complete this study of 2Peter, let’s take a few minutes in prayer to give Him the worship and praise that He is due. And let’s submit ourselves wholeheartedly to Him and commit ourselves to doing His will…

… from now until the day of eternity!

May God richly bless you as you do these things.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 13:12 – Prepare for Battle!

Posted on by Will

Romans 13:12 – Prepare for Battle!

The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

Truth to Learn

Wake up! Prepare for battle! Our Lord is coming soon!

Behind the Words

The words “is far spent” are from the verb prokoptō, which is made up of pro, meaning “before” or “forward” and koptō, which means “to cut, strike, or impel.” Thus, the root meaning of prokoptō is “to drive forward.” Figuratively, with regard to time, it means that it is “advanced, nearly used up, or well along.”

“Is at hand” is translated from the verb engidzō, based on the noun engus (which we saw in the previous verse), meaning “near.” Hence, engidzō means “to come near” or “to approach.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense, which in Greek implies a completed past action with an ongoing effect where the emphasis is on the effect. So, Paul is saying that the day has already drawn near and now is very near.

“Cast off” is from the Greek verb apotithēmi, made up of apo, meaning “away” and tithēmi, meaning “to lay something down.” Thus, apotithēmi means “to lay something aside.”

The word translated “darkness” is skotos, which is based on the word skia, meaning “a shadow” or “shade.” Skotos literally means something shady or something dark.

The word “armor” is hoplon, which refers to “instruments, or tools, or weapons of warfare.”

Meaning Explained

At nighttime we all sleep. While we are asleep, we are unaware of what is going on around us. We are in a dream world where nothing is real. But when we wake up, we see reality and we have to face up to it. Many of us get up before it is daylight. We do so because we know that the daylight is coming. If we were to wait for the daylight before rousing ourselves, we would be late. If we lay in bed when it is time to get up, we often fall back asleep.

This is precisely the picture that Paul is painting for us in the previous verse and the current one. The time of the return of Christ is close at hand. It is almost morning. We need to wake up and get to work. Paul tells us that we are to lay aside all of our works that are shady or those which spring from darkness, (a metonym for sinful).

Instead of doing those things that are wrong, instead of doing things that are even a little bit shady, Paul tells us to “lay them aside and put on the armor of light.” On the surface, this may sound like a defensive posture, but as we saw in “Behind the Words,” this refers to our tools of warfare against the powers of darkness. We are in a constant spiritual battle with our adversary and we need to be on the offensive, spreading the word of truth, the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to be witnessing and we need to be building up and encouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Application

In case you don’t realize it, these verses represent God’s alarm clock and it just went off! It’s time to leave our dream world and prepare for the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So, let’s get up, let’s arm ourselves for the spiritual battle ahead, and let’s get to work! Our Lord is coming soon!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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