Tag: pur

2 Thessalonians 1:8 – Righteous Blazing Fire

Posted on by Will

in blazing fire giving vengeance to those who do not know God, and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Truth to Learn

God will judge unbelievers, so we don’t need to.

 

Behind the Words

“Blazing” is translated from the Greek word phlox, which refers to “a flame or a blazing fire.” It is sometimes translated as “flaming.”

The word “fire” is from pur, which refers to something that is burning. When combined with phlox, as it is in today’s verse, it refers to a hot, blazing fire.

Didomi is the Greek word translated “giving.” Some translations have this as “taking” but actually, the primary meaning of didomi is “to give” rather than “to take.”

“Vengeance” is translated from ekdikēsis. This word is made up of ek, meaning “out” and a form of dikē, meaning justice. Thus, ekdikēsis refers to handing out a just sentence.  It is sometimes translated as retaliation or punishment.

The verb “know” is from eidō, meaning “to see” or “to perceive.” Since knowing something is like “seeing with the mind,” it is often translated as “to know.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense, indicating past completed action with an ongoing effect, where the emphasis is on the effect.

“Obey” is from the Greek verb hupakouō, which is made up of hupo, meaning “under” or “beneath” and akouō, meaning “to hear.” It is a picture of a disciple listening attentively to his or her master and obeying the instruction given.

 

Meaning Explained

In verse six Paul told us that it is a righteous, or proper, thing for God to repay with tribulation those people who have been persecuting the Christians in Thessalonica. Now in this verse and the next, Paul tells how God will repay them. He says here that God will give a just sentence to them. That just sentence, according to Paul, is blazing fire. This is a clear description of hellfire. Observe that it is God who hands out this judgment. In his letter to the Roman Christians Paul said:

Beloved, do not take revenge yourselves, but leave room for wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay," says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)

The words translated “revenge” and “vengeance” are from the verb form and noun form of ekdikēsis, the same as in the current verse. So, Paul is telling the Romans that it is not up to them (or us) to be judge, jury, and executioner. We may be suffering from persecution and injustice from non-believers, but we can rest in the fact that not only has God prepared a glorious future for us, He will also repay our persecutors with a just sentence.

Now, let’s take a look at the two main characteristics of those who are persecuting us and causing us tribulation. Paul says that they “do not know God” and they “do not obey the gospel.” As we discussed in Behind the Words, this word “know” indicates a perception or awareness of God. They either refuse to believe that there is a God, or the god they choose to worship is not the true God. As a result, they don’t believe the truth that He has communicated to all mankind, that we are all sinners and that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has paid the price for our sins.

 

Application

When you suffer for being a Christian or for proclaiming the Gospel message, don’t be discouraged. Know that God will bless you and will judge those who are persecuting you.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 3:6 – The Inflaming Tongue

Posted on by Will

And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. So the tongue is set among our members defiling the whole body, and inflaming the course of nature; and it is inflamed by hell.

Truth to Learn

Our tongue, like an out of control fire, is the source of much of our sinfulness.

Behind the Words

The word “fire” in this verse is from the Greek word pur which means “fire.” However, it is also the word that is specifically used of lightning, indicating the rapidity and unexpected nature of the fire.

The word “unrighteousness” comes from the Greek adikia, which is made up of the privative a, meaning “without” and a form of dikē, which means justice or righteousness. Hence, adikia refers to anything which is “unjust, unrighteous, or morally wrong.”

The word translated “defiling” is from spilos, which means “a stain” or “a blemish.” In the Greek text this word is expressed as a participle, so it could be rendered, “defiling” or “staining.”

“Course of nature” is translated from trochon tēs geneseōs, which literally means “wheel of birth.” That is to say, the wheel which is set in motion at birth and runs on th the close of life. Thus, it is a figurative description of human life. Metaphorically it refers to the entire circuit, or pathway, of life.

The word “inflaming” is a form of phlogidzō, which means “to set on fire.” It is expressed here as a present, passive participle, which implies continuous action done to the subject (course of nature).

Finally, the word translated “hell” in this verse is gehenna. Gehenna is a reference to the valley of Hinnom, on the south side of the city of Jerusalem, where trash and refuse were constantly burned. Because of the unceasing fire there, it came to mean an eternal fire, which is thus interpreted as “hell.”

Meaning Explained

This is one of the more difficult passages of James to interpret because of his use of so many odd or obscure words. He literally says that the tongue is “the world of unrighteousness.” That is, the tongue personifies all that is unrighteous. As was pointed out in verse two, we are all sinners. This is because we all have a sin nature and our sin nature is often revealed by our words. Hence, our tongue is the ambassador for the world of our sin nature and thereby stains, or defiles, all that we do. In other words, the tongue reveals the most basic unrighteousness in us, kindling the worst fires in the entire course of our life.

James is telling us that even though the tongue is only a small member of our body, it is a rapid fire starter, causing sin. Therefore it blemishes our entire being and continually inflames all of our being into a fire like that of Hell itself.

Lest we give up without even trying, however, let’s remember that God’s grace is greater than our sin. And through the power of the Spirit of God we can control our tongue.

Application

Wow! No wonder James said earlier that the man who can control his tongue is a fully mature Christian. I hope I get there someday soon, how about you? Don’t relax just yet, though. James has lots more to say about the tongue. Apparently, he felt that it was a subject about which we all need a lot of teaching.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

1 Corinthians 3:15 – Enduring or Flammable?

Posted on by Will

If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Truth to Learn

We need to build with enduring works, not flammable works.

Behind the Words

Katakaiō is the Greek word translated “burned.” It is made up of kata, meaning “down,” used here as an intensifier and kaiō, meaning “to set on fire” or “to burn.” Thus, katakaiō means “to burn down” or “to burn up completely.” It is expressed here in the future tense, indicating action that will take place in the future.

The words “will suffer loss” are from the Greek verb dzēmioō, meaning “to bring loss upon someone” to “to suffer damage or loss.” This verb is also expressed in the future tense, indicating action that will take place in the future.

“Will be saved” is the translation of the verb sōdzō, meaning “to preserve safe from danger, loss, or destruction,” or “to keep alive.” Like the previous two verbs, this is expressed in the future tense.

Pur is the word translated “fire.” Although it is occasionally used metaphorically, here it is used as a reference to literal fire.

Meaning Explained

As we have pointed out previously, Paul has been scolding the Christians in Corinth about the divisions which had sprung up in the church. By direct application, the teachings of this third chapter refer to the teachers and preachers in the church who had either directly or indirectly caused such divisions. However, by indirect application we can see that Paul is writing about every member of the church, since each one of us has a responsibility to build up the body of Christ. Preachers and teachers need to be especially careful that what they say is based on the truth of the Word. James, in speaking directly to those who teach in the church declared this warning:

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. (James 3:1)

Keep in mind that we are all responsible for building on the foundation that has been laid. The work we do in building up the church will undergo the fire test. That which we do in humble submission to God, for His praise and glory, will endure the flames. Those acts of service that we do carelessly or for our own glory will all go up in flames and we will lose any profit we may have expected from them.

Nonetheless, we will not be consumed by the fire. Remember that this is referring to the judgment of our works, not the judgment of our souls. This is not a reference to the fire of Hell. Christians will not experience such tormenting flame. This is a judgment of our works. Notice that Paul says, “if anyone’s work is completely burned up.”

Also notice that Paul says that as our worthless works are burned up, we will be saved. Again, this is not a reference to our eternal salvation, but to the fact that we will not be harmed by the flames that consume our worthless works.

Application

Let’s take a few minutes to evaluate our own works in building up the body. Are they being done in the proper spirit and in submission to God and to the leaders He has placed us under? We need to be doing enduring works, not flammable works.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2013 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

1 Corinthians 3:13 – The Fire Test

Posted on by Will

each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.

Truth to Learn

We need to be working in the church for God’s glory.

Behind the Words

“Each one’s” is from the Greek word hekastos, which we saw back in verse five. It refers to “each one” or to “everyone.” It implies specific application to each one separately, not to the group as a whole.

The word “work” is from ergon, meaning “a work or a deed.”

Phaneros is the Greek word translated “clear.” It is derived from phainō, which means “to shine” or “to cause to appear.” Hence, phaneros means “to be publicly apparent.”

The word “declare” is translated from dēloō, meaning “to make known” or “to reveal.”

“Revealed” is from apokaluptō, which is made up of apo, meaning “away from” and kaluptō, meaning “to cover.” Thus, apokaluptō means “to uncover” or “to expose.”

Pur is the Greek word translated “fire.” It refers to literal fire.

The word “test” is from dokimadzō, which means “to test for the purpose of finding good or value.”

Meaning Explained

Paul is talking about work that is being done in building God’s temple on the foundation of Jesus Christ, that is, the work of building the church body. Each and every Christian is responsible for using the gifts given him or her to build up the body of Christ. In verse ten we were told that we each need to take heed how we build on the foundation. In today’s verse Paul tells us why. He says that the work we do will be made publicly evident in “the Day.” Most Biblical scholars agree that this is a reference to the Bema Seat Judgment:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

This is a judgment of our works, not of our sins. Our sins were judged and paid for at the cross. These works will not be used to determine if we are saved or not because the Bema Seat Judgment happens after the rapture when all Christians are already in heaven. Also, notice in verse fifteen that even if our works are burned up, we will still be saved. The purpose of this judgment is to “test each one’s work.” The word translated “test” is dokimadzō, as we pointed out above. It is the word used of testing gold or silver in order to determine its worth. Also notice in verse fourteen that the works which endure the fire will result in a reward.

If we pay close attention to the context of today’s verse, we will see that the works being talked about here are specifically those done to build up the church, the body of Christ. This is of special note to anyone who is not serving in some capacity within the local church or the church universal.

Application

If we are not actively working to build up the church, we may find that we have no works to be judged. However, if we are working to build up the body, we need to be doing so at God’s direction and for His glory or our works may be burned up.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2013 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

2 Thessalonians 1:8 – Righteous Blazing Fire

Posted on by Will

in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Truth to Learn

God will judge unbelievers, so we don’t need to.

Behind the Words

“Flaming” is translated from the Greek word phlox, which means “to burn brightly.” It could be translated as “blazing.”

The word “fire” is from pur, which refers to something that is burning. When combined with phlox, as it is in today’s verse, it refers to a hot, blazing fire.

Didomi is the Greek word translated “taking.” Actually, the primary meaning of didomi is “to give” rather than “to take.”

“Vengeance” is translated from ekdikēsis. This word is made up of ek, meaning “out” and a form of dikē, meaning justice. Thus, ekdikēsis refers to handing out a just sentence.

The verb “know” is from eidō, meaning “to see” or “to perceive.” It is often translated as “to know.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense, indicating past completed action with an ongoing effect, where the emphasis is on the effect.

“Obey” is from the Greek verb hupakouō, which is made up of hupo, meaning “under” or “beneath” and akouō, meaning “to hear.” It is a picture of a disciple listening attentively to his or her master and obeying the instruction given.

Meaning Explained

In verse six Paul told us that it is a righteous, or proper, thing for God to repay with tribulation those people who have been persecuting the Christians in Thessalonica. Now in this verse and the next, Paul tells how God will repay them. He says here that God will give a just sentence to them. That just sentence, according to Paul, is blazing fire. This is a clear description of hellfire. Observe that it is God who hands out this judgment. In his letter to the Roman Christians Paul said:

Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay," says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)

The words translated “avenge” and “vengeance” are from the verb form and noun form of ekdikēsis, the same as in the current verse. So, Paul is telling the Romans that it is not up to them (or us) to be judge, jury, and executioner. We may be suffering from persecution and injustice from non-believers, but we can rest in the fact that not only has God prepared a glorious future for us, He will also repay our persecutors with a just sentence.

Now, let’s take a look at the two main characteristics of those who are persecuting us and causing us tribulation. Paul says that they “do not know God” and they “do not obey the gospel.” As we discussed in Behind the Words, this word “know” indicates a perception or awareness of God. They either refuse to believe that there is a God, or the god they choose to worship is not the true God. As a result, they don’t believe the truth that He has communicated to all mankind, that we are all sinners and that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has paid the price for our sins.

Application

When you suffer for being a Christian or for proclaiming the Gospel message, don’t be discouraged. Know that God will bless you and will judge those who are persecuting you.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved