Tag: suneidesis

Romans 13:5 – Submission by Conscience

Posted on by Will

Therefore it is necessary to be subject to the authorities, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.

Truth to Learn

We are to submit to authorities because it is the right thing to do.

 

Behind the Words

“It is necessary” is a translation of the Greek word anangkē, which means, “it is necessary.” It expresses a stronger sense than simply, “it is appropriate” or “it is proper.”

The words “be subject” are translated from hupotassō, which we saw back in verse one means “to place oneself under the authority of another.” It is frequently translated as “submit.” It is expressed here as an infinitive. Thus, a literal translation of the opening part of this verse could be “Therefore it is necessary to be submissive.”

“Conscience” is translated from the noun suneidēsis, which is from the verb suneidō. This is made up of sun, meaning “together,” but often carrying the meaning of “completely” when used in a compound word, and eidō, meaning “to know” or “to perceive.” Hence, suneidō means “to be completely aware of” or “to be conscious of.” Thus we can see that suneidēsis refers to the state of being conscious or completely aware of something. It is that state which presents us with a moral decision of doing what we know to be right or not.

 

Meaning Explained

Paul now summarizes the two reasons why we should be submitted to the authorities over us. He says that it is necessary for us to submit to authorities and that it is necessary for two reasons. The first reason is “because of wrath.” That is, the authorities over us have the power and responsibility to punish disobedience. It is necessary for us to be subject to and obey the authorities over us because if we refuse to submit to them and obey them, they have the God-granted power to punish us. The second reason we are to be submissive to authorities is “for conscience’ sake.” Since we are completely aware of our responsibility to submit to authorities, we have a moral obligation to do so. In other words, in order to have a clear conscience before God, it is necessary that we submit ourselves to those in authority over us.

But what about Henry David Thoreau’s eloquent treatise On Civil Disobedience? Isn’t it sometimes appropriate, in fact isn’t it sometimes necessary, to be part of civil disobedience? For Christians, according to the Apostle Paul, unless the authority is commanding us to act contrary to the Word of God, the answer is No! We have an excellent example of this type of submission in the person of the prophet Daniel. He was taken captive to Babylon, forced to take on a new name and a new language. But he did not compromise when it came to obeying what God had commanded him to do, even though it nearly cost him his life. Not only did he survive, he prospered under the authority of Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian ruler, and he also prospered under the authority of the Medo-Persian king Darius who conquered Babylon. Daniel was submissive to the authorities over him because he was submitted to God.

 

Application

As Christians. our ultimate objective is to be submissive to God, and part of that is to be submissive to authorities because we know that it is the right thing to do.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 2:15 – Conscience Conviction

Posted on by Will

who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also giving witness, and their thoughts between themselves accusing or even excusing)

Truth to Learn

Our conscience is more effective at controlling our actions than any set of rules.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “conscience” is suneidēsis, which is made up of sun, meaning “together” and a form of eidō, meaning “to know.” It is that part of our mind that knows, along with our heart, whether something is right or wrong.

“Bearing witness” is from summartureō, which is made up of sun, meaning “together” and martureō, meaning “to witness.” In this verse Paul says the conscience is witnessing together with the heart, where the natural law is written.

 

Meaning Explained

Paul is continuing on from the previous verse where he said that even though the Gentiles don’t have the Law of Moses, they still do things that are good. In today’s verse he is saying that when they do good things their conscience is clean because they know that they have done good. Likewise when they do not do what is right, their conscience witnesses to their heart that what they have done is not right.

This is a significant statement from Paul because, as he said in the first chapter of this epistle, the natural man knows and understands the nature and power of God simply from the creation around him. Now he is saying that the natural man knows, instinctively, the difference between right and wrong. He even goes one step further saying that those without the Law recognize when another person does good or bad and as a result they either accuse or excuse one another. There is a law written in our hearts, to which our conscience bears witness, and it teaches us the difference between good and bad.

Do you remember when the Scribes and Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman who was caught in the act of adultery? The Law demanded that in such a case the woman was to be stoned to death. Jesus initially responded by bending down and writing in the dirt with his finger, pretending not to hear them. As they continued to press him about it he responded by saying:

He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first. (John 8:7b)

Do you remember what happened next?

Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. (John 8:9)

Do you see that? They were not convicted by the Law, they were convicted by their own consciences.

 

Application

We all know when we have done right and when we have done wrong, even if we don’t know everything taught in the Bible. It’s true that there are some people who don’t seem to have a conscience. They actually have one, but they have denied it for so long that it has become ineffective at directing their actions. But they are not free of their conscience, they are trapped by their sin nature and their conscience has become ineffective.

Is your conscience still working effectively?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Peter 3:16 – A Good Conscience

Posted on by Will

having a good conscience, that when they slander you as evildoers, those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

Truth to Learn

Having a good conscience allows us to be a powerful witness.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “conscience” is suneidēsis, which is made up of sun, meaning “together” and a form of eidēnai, which means “to know.” The fundamental idea of this word is “knowing together with oneself.” Hence it denotes the conscience, that part of our being that knows what is morally right or wrong for us to do.

 

Meaning Explained

Peter has been talking about our attitude while we are suffering for doing what is right and has just said that we should “be ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason of the hope in you, with meekness and fear;” The reason we should be ready to give this answer is because we are, in this case, suffering wrongfully; therefore, we have a good conscience. He goes on to say that even though we are suffering for having done good and there are those who will speak against us as evildoers and who will falsely accuse us for our good behavior in Christ as though it were evil, they will someday be ashamed of it.

The point is that we should always be ready to give the reason for the hope in us because our witness in times of persecution and of suffering and our patient suffering without retribution is the type of behavior that the world doesn’t understand. It appears supernatural to those who don’t have it and, in some cases, may be used by God to open the eyes of others in order to bring them to saving faith in Christ. It was Christ’s patient suffering that paid for all our sins, and it is our patient suffering that shows our own conformity to Him.

The Apostle Paul had this to say about suffering for Christ:

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, … that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death (Philippians 3:8, 10) [NASB]

Do you want to know Christ as completely as Paul did? If so, you should be ready to suffer for it, and in the midst of that suffering be ready to testify regarding the hope that you have.

But whether suffering or not we should all be living a life that is a testimony to the One for whom we are ambassadors. Our manner of life should be such that others will see Christ in us, and when they ask us about it we should always be ready to give them a reason. The reason is Christ and what He did for us. The reason is a God who loves us so much and wants to have such fellowship with us that He provided a way for that to occur, if we will but humble ourselves and believe.

 

Application

Most Christians in the western world today have not had to suffer false accusations and defamation just because they are believers in Christ, but there are many in the world who are undergoing such persecution. Let’s take a moment to pray for them right now that they might be good witnesses for Christ.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Peter 2:19 – Joyful Suffering

Posted on by Will

For this is commendable, if because of consciousness of God one endures grief, suffering unjustly.

Truth to Learn

We should rejoice when we suffer for doing what is good.

 

Behind the Words

“Commendable” is translated from the Greek word charis, which is derived from the verb chairō, meaning “to rejoice” or “to be glad.” Hence, charis refers to the joy or gratification one feels for a kindness or a favor granted. It is often used to refer to that kindness or favor, especially when it is undeserved (as the grace which God showed to us in forgiving our sins). In the current verse, however, it refers to the joy that we should feel knowing that we are in a good relationship with God.

The word translated “consciousness” is suneidēsis, a form of suneido which is made up of sun, meaning “together” and eidō, meaning “to perceive” or “to know.” Hence, suneidēsis literally refers to joint knowledge or joint perception. In this verse it refers to the joint knowledge with God that He is doing what is the best thing to bring glory to Himself.

“Endures” is from hupopherō, which is made up of hupo, meaning “under” and pherō, meaning “to bear.” So it literally means “to bear under” or “to endure.”

The expression “if … one endures grief” is an expression of the first class condition, which in Greek means that it is assumed to be true. Hence, Peter is assuming that each one of us does occasionally endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

The word translated “unjustly” is adikōs, which is made up of the privative a, meaning “not” and a form of dikē, meaning “justice.” Hence, it means “unjustly” or “wrongfully.”

 

Meaning Explained

Peter is telling us in this verse that if we do what is right because it is what God has told us to do and we end up patiently suffering for it, then it is a joyful thing. James told us a similar thing in his letter:

My brothers, consider it all joy when you fall into various trials, (James 1:2)

The word James used for “joy” is chara, which is also from the verb chairō, meaning “to be glad.” God does not promise us that obeying Him will always result in blessing and happiness; quite the contrary, in fact. Christ told the disciples:

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation … (John 16:33a)

We are not told that we may suffer for Christ, but that we will suffer for Him. But Peter is telling us that if we endure it, even though we may be suffering unjustly, we can be glad.

 

Application

The ruler of this world (Satan) is the enemy of God. If we are ambassadors of our Heavenly Father in this world, obeying Him and representing him by our conduct and actions, His enemy will not like it. Let us not be surprised, therefore, when we suffer for doing good.

Are you suffering for your testimony and obedience to Christ? Be glad! Rejoice! And give God the praise!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 13:5 – Submission by Conscience

Posted on by Will

Romans 13:5 – Submission by Conscience

Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.

Truth to Learn

We are to submit to authorities because it is the right thing to do.

Behind the Words

“You must” is a translation of the Greek word anangkē, which means, “it is necessary.” It expresses a stronger sense than simply, “it is appropriate” or “it is proper.”

The words “be subject” are translated from hupotassō, which we saw back in verse one means “to place oneself under the authority of another.” It is frequently translated as “submit.” It is expressed here as an infinitive. Thus, a literal translation of the opening part of this verse could be “Therefore it is necessary to be submissive.”

“Conscience” is translated from the noun suneidēsis, which is from the verb suneidō. This is made up of sun, meaning “together,” but often carrying the meaning of “completely” when used in a compound word, and eidō, meaning “to know” or “to perceive.” Hence, suneidō means “to be completely aware of” or “to be conscious of.” Thus we can see that suneidēsis refers to the state of being conscious or completely aware of something. It is that state which presents us with a moral decision of doing what we know to be right or not.

Meaning Explained

Paul now summarizes the two reasons why we should be submitted to the authorities over us. He says that it is necessary for us to submit to authorities and that it is necessary for two reasons. The first reason is “because of wrath.” That is, the authorities over us have the power and responsibility to punish disobedience. It is necessary for us to be subject to and obey the authorities over us because if we refuse to submit to them and obey them, they have the God-granted power to punish us. The second reason we are to be submissive to authorities is “for conscience’ sake.” Since we are completely aware of our responsibility to submit to authorities, we have a moral obligation to do so. In other words, in order to have a clear conscience before God, it is necessary that we submit ourselves to those in authority over us.

But what about Henry David Thoreau’s eloquent treatise On Civil Disobedience? Isn’t it sometimes appropriate, in fact isn’t it sometimes necessary, to be part of civil disobedience? For Christians, according to the Apostle Paul, unless the authority is commanding us to act contrary to the Word of God, the answer is No! We have an excellent example of this type of submission in the person of the prophet Daniel. He was taken captive to Babylon, forced to take on a new name and a new language. But he did not compromise when it came to obeying what God had commanded him to do, even though it nearly cost him his life. Not only did he survive, he prospered under the authority of Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian ruler, and he also prospered under the authority of the Medo-Persian king Darius who conquered Babylon. Daniel was submissive to the authorities over him because he was submitted to God.

Application

As Christians. our ultimate objective is to be submissive to God, and part of that is to be submissive to authorities because we know that it is the right thing to do.

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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