Tag: tis

Romans 8:35 – Faithful Loving God

Posted on by Will

What will separate us from the love of Christ, tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Truth to Learn

No matter what happens to you, remember that God loves you!

 

Behind the Words

“What” is from the Greek interrogative pronoun tis, meaning “who, which, or what.” In light of the remainder of this verse, I think the best translation here is “what.”

The verb “separate” is translated from the Greek word chōridzō, which is based on the adverb chōris, which means “separately, by itself, apart from.” Hence, chōridzō means “to put distance between” or “to make things separate from one another.”

“Love” is from the Greek word agapē, which refers to a self-sacrificing love in which the lover is focused on the ultimate goodness and benefit of the loved one.

Paul now gives us a number of descriptions of things that can’t separate us from the love of Christ. They are:

  • thlipsis, meaning “pressure, anguish, tribulation, trouble, or affliction.” It refers to troubles pressing from the outside.
  • stenochōria, literally meaning “narrow space.” It is different from thlipsis in that it refers to internal distress or “anguish.”
  • diōgmos, which is derived from the verb diōkō, meaning “to relentlessly pursue or persecute.”
  • limos refers to “a scarcity of food.” It is most often translated as “hunger or famine.”
  • gumnotēs, meaning “nudity or nakedness.”
  • kindunos, meaning “peril or danger.” It refers to someone who is constantly moving because of imminent danger.
  • machaira, meaning “a sword used for warfare and slaughter.”

 

Meaning Explained

Paul has already made several declarations about those of us who are the chosen ones of God including:

  • If God is for us, who can possibly be against us.
  • He who gave His Son for our salvation will freely give us all things that we need for life and peace.
  • No one can get away with charging us with any wrong, and if they do (that is, when Satan does) we have Christ as our defense attorney interceding for us.

Now Paul begins the final declaration of this chapter (although it will take several verses to finish the idea). He starts this verse off with, “What will separate us from the love of Christ?”

The answer to this question doesn’t appear until verses thirty-eight and thirty-nine, but a number of candidates are offered by Paul in this verse. Though he never does directly answer this question, the ultimate answer is, “None of these things can separate us from the love of Christ.”

He will go on to provide an ever greater example of how strong Christ’s love for us is in a few verses.

 

Application

No matter what happens to us, God will always love us as His children (those whom He has chosen, redeemed, and justified).

Always!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 2:18 – Evidence in Action

Posted on by Will

But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Truth to Learn

Good works are the evidence of our salvation.

Behind the Words

The word translated “someone” is the Greek word tis, which is an indefinite personal pronoun, meaning “some person” or “a certain person” or “someone.” James is using this device to present a rhetorical challenge.

“Show me” is translated from deiknuō, meaning “to show” or “to display.” It is used here in the imperative mood. The subtlety of the imperative mood is that it expresses action that is not taking place but which the speaker wants to take place. This is why it is most often expressed in English as a command. Hence, James is saying, “Your faith is not showing, therefore show me your faith …”

The word translated “without” is the Greek word chōris, which means “separately, by itself, or apart from.” So, James is not talking about a faith that does not have works, he is talking about a faith separated from its works. That’s a subtle distinction but one that I believe James is making.

“By” is translated from ek, a Greek preposition meaning “out of.” So, James is actually saying, “…I will show you my faith out of my works.” In other words, the works are the evidence of the faith.

Meaning Explained

James has just said that faith without works is dead. In order to show that he means that faith cannot exist apart from works, he carries the discussion one step further. He assumes that the reader is arguing that salvation is by faith alone. That is, faith and works are separate and faith is the only thing. James states very clearly here that the works are the evidence of the faith. He is not claiming that we are saved by works, rather he says that once we are saved, our actions and deeds will be the evidence of that saving faith.

James now uses a hypothetical person to make the challenge:

You think that faith is the only important thing in the Christian walk and works have no place in salvation. Therefore, show me the evidence of your faith in something other than works, and I will show you the evidence of my faith, which is my works.

The Apostle John expressed a very similar thing in his first general epistle:

Whoever has worldly possessions and notices a brother in need and yet withholds his compassion from him, how does the love of God remain in him? (I John 3:17)

Once again, let me state very clearly what James is and isn’t teaching. He isn’t teaching that we are saved by works, for we cannot earn our salvation; we are saved by grace through faith and faith alone. What he is saying is, if we are genuinely saved, the evidence of that salvation will be the way we treat other people, especially those brothers and sisters in Christ who have needs that we can fill.

Application

Is there evidence of your faith in what you say and do? Or, here’s another way of asking the same question, “If you were arrested today for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Corinthians 3:17 – Destruction Equals Destruction

Posted on by Will

If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Truth to Learn

Destroying a church has dire consequences.

Behind the Words

“Anyone” is translated from the indefinite pronoun tis, which means “someone,” “a certain one,” or “anyone.”

The words “defiles” and “destroy” are both translated from the same Greek verb. It is phtheirō, which means “to corrupt, spoil, or destroy, in a moral or spiritual sense.” In classical Greek it nearly always means “to destroy.”

“Temple” is again translated from naon, which refers to the most sacred part of the temple, where God dwells.

Hagios is the word translated “holy.” It is based on hagos, meaning “that which inspires awe.” The basic meaning of hagios is “that which is set apart from common use to be used in the service of God.” Therefore, hagios is sometimes translated “holy” or “sanctified.” All Christians have been set-apart from the world and set-apart to God.

The word “which” is from the Greek indefinite, relative pronoun hostis. It is made up of hos, meaning “he” or “who” and tis, meaning “anyone” or “someone” Thus, hostis means “someone who.” Grammatically, it refers to “holy,” not “temple.”

“You” is from humeis, meaning “you (plural).” And the verb “are” is from the second person plural form of eimi, meaning “you (plural) are.”

Meaning Explained

In order to get the correct meaning from this verse we have to keep in mind that Paul is talking to the Christians in Corinth about the divisions that had been caused in the church there. Groups of people (cliques) had formed to follow different teachers within the church. Paul has been using the metaphor of constructing a building in reference to the building up of the body of Christ. Back in verse ten of this chapter, he cautioned us that we need to be mindful of the way we build on the foundation (the person and work of Jesus Christ). When people are working at odds with each other, instead of working together for a common goal, the building is weakened and may be destroyed.

Here Paul warns us that anyone who destroys the temple (the body of Christ, the local church in this case), God will destroy him or her. This does not mean that a Christian will lose his or her salvation as a result of destroying the church, because Paul teaches elsewhere that there is nothing that we can do to lose our salvation (see study on Romans 4:24). Therefore, the destruction that he is talking about is either a reference to physical death or it is a reference to unsaved people who destroy the church.

Paul further emphasizes the seriousness of destroying the temple (the local body of Christ), by declaring that we who make up the temple are holy. We have been set apart “from the world” and set apart “to God for His use.”

Application

Be careful how you work on building up the body of Christ. Good work will result in a reward, poor work will go up in smoke, and destructive work will result in your own destruction. Let’s all focus on good construction work.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2013 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

1 Corinthians 3:14 – Crowns of Victory

Posted on by Will

If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

Truth to Learn

Our works in building up the church will be tested by fire and the good works will result in a reward.

Behind the Words

“Anyone’s” is translated from a form of tis, meaning “someone.” It is expressed in the genitive case, indicating possession or source. In the Greek, this reads, “the work of anyone.”

The words “he has built on” are translated from the verb epoikodomeō, which we saw back in verses ten and twelve. It means “to build a structure” or “to build upon.” It is expressed here as an aorist verb indicating past, completed action.

“Endures” is from the Greek word menō, which means “to remain” or “to stay.”

Lambanō is the word translated “receive.” This verb means “to take or receive, either as a self-prompted action or as the result of someone else offering something.” It is expressed in the future tense, indicating action that will take place in the future.

The word “reward” is translated from the Greek noun misthos. This word can refer to something earned or to a reward for an action taken or a deed done.

Meaning Explained

We learned in yesterday’s verse that the works we do in building up the church will be tested (judged) by fire at the Judgment Seat of Christ, also called the Bema Seat Judgment. Those deeds that we do for ourselves or for our own recognition will be burned up like wood, hay, or straw. However, those works that we do under the direction of the Holy Spirit, giving the glory to God, will remain after the fiery trial.

In both Romans 14:10 and 2 Corinthians 5:10 the word translated “judgment seat” is the Greek word bematos, which literally means “an elevated step.” The bematos often had a seat upon it where a judgment or tribunal was held. In the first century AD a Bema Seat (bematos) was where the victor in a race or other contest was awarded a crown by a judge who sat on the Bema Seat. There are at least five different crowns mentioned in the New Testament as rewards for faithful Christians. In each of those references, the word translated “crown” is a form of the Greek word stephanos. This is from the root stephō, which means “to twine” or “to wreath.” This is often referred to as a “victor’s crown.” Since the bema seat judgment is for the purpose of finding good in our works done in this physical body, it follows that at the bema seat judgment we will be awarded our crowns.

One other thing to note regarding our victor’s crowns: In Revelation 4:10, 11 there is a description of the church in the throne room of God casting their crowns before Him declaring, “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

Application

All Christians are called to serve the Lord in the building up of the church. If we perform our works with a humble heart, we’ll receive a crown. Will you have a crown to cast at our Savior’s feet, or will you be standing there with nothing but ashes?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2013 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

 

1 Corinthians 3:5 – Leader or Servant?

Posted on by Will

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?

Truth to Learn

A pastor leads by being an example of a humble servant.

Behind the Words

The Greek word translated “who” is tis, an interrogative pronoun meaning “who?” The oldest manuscripts, however, have the word ti, meaning “what?” Either one makes sense grammatically, but ti (what) makes more sense in context.

“Ministers” is from the Greek noun diakonos. This is the word from which we get our English word “deacon.” It refers to someone who serves, like a waiter serving a meal.

The word translated “through” is dia. In reference to a location, it refers to motion through a place. In reference to time, it refers to a continuance of time. When it is used in regard to a person or his action, it refers to that person and his action as being the instrument through which the objective is achieved.

Pisteuō is the Greek verb translated “believed.” It means “to be firmly persuaded about something,” that is, to believe or have faith in something. It is expressed here in the aorist tense, indicating past action that occurred at a point in time.

“Each one” is from the Greek word hekastos (from hekas, meaning “separate”). It refers to “each one” or to “everyone.” In the case of “everyone,” it implies specific application to each one separately, not to the group as a whole.

Meaning Explained

Today’s verse serves as a transition from Paul’s teaching regarding divisions in the church to teaching about serving God for the purpose of building up the church. As we previously pointed out, Paul is using himself and Apollos as the two specific people that might be seen as leaders of the church in Corinth because they are the two who have done most of the pastoring in that church. Later in this letter we will learn that Paul is about to send Timothy to take over the ministry there.

Before sending him, however, Paul needs to ensure that the members of the Corinthian church recognize that whoever serves in the capacity of pastor or teacher is not doing so as a “leader” but as a “servant.” It is true that the pastor of any local church has some leadership responsibilities. However, it is not his job to become a ruler or even a figurehead for the church.

Paul tells the Corinthians (and us) that the person who oversees the operation of a local church and who provides regular teaching from God’s Word is not a political or religious leader. This man is simply a servant, a conduit of blessing through whom God speaks to the members of the local assembly. He also tells us that these “ministers” serve in the church in accordance with the gifts that each one was given. In other words, it is God who gave Paul the ability to simply and plainly lay out the plan of salvation, it is God who gave Apollos the ability to speak eloquently, and it is God who gives salvation to everyone who believes. By declaring strong allegiance to one man over another, the Christians in Corinth were, in effect, giving individual men credit for what God and God alone has done and is doing.

Application

The position of church pastor is one of the most difficult and thankless jobs a man could have. He is to lead the people without being their leader. He is to be a conduit of God’s blessing and an example to all of how a servant is to behave.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2013 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

1 Corinthians 2:11 – Revealer Of Secrets

Posted on by Will

For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

Truth to Learn

The Holy Spirit reveals God to Christians.

Behind the Words

The Greek word translated “what” is tis. This is an interrogative pronoun that introduces an interrogative phrase (a phrase asking a question). It can be translated as “who,” “which,” or “what.”

In each case, the words translated “man” are from anthropos, which refers to a human being or to mankind as a whole. The first occurrence of this word in today’s verse, unlike the others, is written in the plural.

“Knows” is from the Greek verb eidō, which means “to see with perception.” Used metaphorically, as it is here, it refers to mental perception and can be translated as “to know,” “to be aware of,” or “to understand.”

The phrase “the spirit of the man which is in him” can be literally translated as “the spirit of the man, the one in him.”

“No one” is translated from oudeis, which we saw back in verse eight. It means “no one” or “not a single one.” In this case, it can refer to “no human” or “no being of any kind.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse the Apostle Paul made a very bold statement. He said that the Spirit of God has now revealed the secret of God’s wisdom in His plan of salvation. He now explains why it was necessary for the Spirit to reveal this secret to us.

The opening phrase of this verse actually reads a little differently from what our translation (NKJV) gives. It literally reads, “for who of men …” The NIV and NASB have a better rendering of this phrase: “For who among men …” This may seem a little picky here, but the distinction is important. Paul is not saying, “what man knows his own inner thoughts and motives, except his own spirit.” Rather, he is saying “what man knows the inner thoughts and motives of another person except the inner spirit of that person.”

Paul’s point is that none of us knows the inner workings (the thoughts, the plans, the wisdom) of anyone else, and certainly none of us knows the thoughts, plans, or wisdom of God except as they are revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. The leaders of this age, the philosophers, the sophists, the “holy” men of the world think they can learn about God through their own efforts. But, Paul very clearly tells us here that the only way to really know God is for Him to reveal Himself to us by His Holy Spirit.

It’s sort of like an animal trying to understand the thought processes and motives of a man. By itself, it doesn’t have the ability to understand us. However, we can teach animals to understand us if we so desire. The Holy Spirit of God is just as important to our salvation as the Father and the Son. The Father chose us, the Son gave His life for us, and the Holy Spirit empowers us and teaches us.

Application

Do you want to know God more intimately? If so, you have to let His Spirit talk to you through prayer and through the reading and studying of your Bible.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2013 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

1 Corinthians 1:15 – It’s a Testimony

Posted on by Will

lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.

Truth to Learn

Baptism is a testimony of the salvation in the name of Christ.

Behind the Words

“Lest” is translated from the two Greek words hina mē. The first of these, hina, means “in order that” and mē is the conditional negative particle meaning “not.” So, literally these two words mean “in order that not.” The best English translation is “lest.”

The word “anyone” is translated from tis, which refers to some person or thing that is not specifically named or identified. It can be translated as “anyone, a certain person, something, or anything.”

The words “I had baptized” is transliterated from baptidzō, which we looked at in yesterday’s verse. There is some variation in the form of this verb depending on the text it is translated from. The better texts have this as an aorist passive verb in the second person, plural. Thus, it should be translated as “you were baptized” rather than “I had baptized.”

Meaning Explained

Apparently the people in the church in Corinth were making a great thing out of who they were baptized by. This may have been the original source of the division within the Corinthian church. As we have seen, Paul gets to the point in no uncertain terms that there were only a few in that church whom he had baptized.

Also, Paul makes it very clear that when he did baptize anyone, he did not do so “into my own name.” In other words, he did not proclaim, “I now baptize you in the name of Paul the Apostle.” Instead, he did so either “In the name of Jesus Christ,” or more likely, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” The fact that Paul did not baptize most of the converts under his ministry is in keeping with the example that Jesus gave. Jesus did not baptize people; instead, his disciples did the baptizing.

Let me say a few words about the method of baptism. As we have pointed out, the Greek word baptidzō means “to immerse,” not “to sprinkle” or “to pour.” Therefore, it is most likely that Christian baptisms were originally performed by laying people completely under water and raising them up again. So, if people are baptized by sprinkling or by pouring, are they not really baptized? In the sixteenth century there was a group of Christians who became known as Anabaptists, from the Greek word meaning “baptize again.” Some people believe that their baptizing was a reaction to someone not being “properly” baptized in the first place. In reality, they were baptizing people who had been baptized as an infant. Since an infant could not possibly have confessed Christ as savior, they “baptized again” after a person was truly saved.

Keep in mind, however, that baptism is not necessary for salvation. Rather, it is a testimony regarding the salvation that has already taken place. Therefore, whether you were immersed, sprinkled, or poured upon, you have given a testimony that you are a Christian.

Application

If you were baptized after you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, it doesn’t really matter how you were baptized. The important matter is that you did it as a witness to the fact that you are saved. Anything more than that is ritual.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2013 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

Ephesians 2:9 – Unearned and Secure

Posted on by Will

Ephesians 2:9  – Unearned and Secure

not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Truth to Learn

We didn’t do anything to earn our salvation.

Behind the Words

“Not” is translated from the Greek particle ou, meaning “no or not.” It expresses direct and full negation, independently and absolutely.

The word translated “works” is ergon, from which we get our English word ergonomics. Ergon refers to “any work, deed, act, or action;” that is, it refers to “something done.” It is expressed here in the genitive case, which implies “of” or “from.” But here it is coupled with ou by means of the preposition ek, which means “out of” or “from.” Thus we could translate the first part of this verse as “not as a result of something you do.”

“Lest” is from two Greek words. The first is the conjunction hina, meaning “to the end that” or “in order that.” The second Greek word is mē, which indicates a conditional negation.

“Anyone” is translated from tis, which is an indefinite pronoun. It is variously translated as “anyone, someone, or a certain one.”

The words “should boast” are from the verb kauchaomai, meaning “to boast, glory, or exalt, either in a good or a bad sense.” It is expressed in the subjunctive mood, indicating something that is not happening but might have the possibility of happening.

Meaning Explained

In order to get the full meaning of today’s verse, let’s look at it along with yesterday’s verse.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

In the preceding verses Paul has been talking about the incredible value of God’s grace. We saw in verse seven that God’s purpose in salvation is to shine the spotlight on His marvelous grace. Paul went on to point out in yesterday’s verse that our salvation is the result of this grace of God. We also learned that His grace and our faith unto salvation are a gift to us from God. Now he completes that thought.

Paul tells us that salvation is not the result of any action or actions taken on our part. If we did something to gain this salvation, then it is not a gift; instead, it would be something that we earned. Here’s what Paul says in the book of Romans about earning something as opposed to receiving it as a gift:

Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, (Romans 4:4-5)

Now, if we did not do anything to earn this salvation which we count so precious, then we cannot “un-earn” it. That is to say that if we didn’t do anything to earn it, we can’t do anything to lose it, and God does not take away the gift of salvation.

Application

The precious truth which we see in this verse is that we didn’t earn salvation, so we can’t lose it once we have it – ever!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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Romans 8:35 – Faithful Loving God

Posted on by Will

Romans 8:35 – Faithful Loving God

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Truth to Learn

No matter what happens to you, remember that God loves you!

Behind the Words

“Who” is from the Greek interrogative pronoun tis, meaning “who, which, or what.” In light of the remainder of this verse, I think the best translation here is “what.”

The verb “separate” is translated from the Greek word chōridzō, which is based on the adverb chōris, which means “separately, by itself, apart from.” Hence, chōridzō means “to put distance between” or “to make things separate from one another.”

“Love” is from the Greek word agapē, which refers to a self-sacrificing love in which the lover is focused on the ultimate goodness and benefit of the loved one.

Paul now gives us a number of descriptions of things that can’t separate us from the love of Christ. They are:

  • thlipsis, meaning “pressure, anguish, tribulation, trouble, or affliction.” It refers to troubles pressing from the outside.
  • stenochōria, literally meaning “narrow space.” It is different from thlipsis in that it refers to internal distress or “anguish.”
  • diōgmos, which is derived from the verb diōkō, meaning “to relentlessly pursue or persecute.”
  • limos refers to “a scarcity of food.” It is most often translated as “hunger or famine.”
  • gumnotēs, meaning “nudity or nakedness.”
  • kindunos, meaning “peril or danger.” It refers to someone who is constantly moving because of imminent danger.
  • machaira, meaning “a sword used for warfare and slaughter.”

Meaning Explained

Paul has already made several declarations about those of us who are the chosen ones of God including:

  • If God is for us, who can possible be against us.
  • He who gave His Son for our salvation will freely give us all things that we need for life and peace.
  • No one can get away with charging us with any wrong, and if they do (that is, when Satan does) we have Christ as our defense attorney interceding for us.

Now Paul begins the final declaration of this chapter (although it will take several verses to finish the idea). He starts this verse off with, “What shall separate us from the love of Christ?”

The answer to this question doesn’t appear until verses thirty-eight and thirty-nine, but a number of candidates are offered by Paul in this verse. Though he never does directly answer this question, the ultimate answer is, “None of these things can separate us from the love of Christ.”

He will go on to provide an ever greater example of how strong Christ’s love for us is in a few verses.

Application

No matter what happens to us, God will always love us (those whom He has chosen, redeemed, and justified) as His children.

Always!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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