Tag: toutou charin

Ephesians 3:14 – Worship Him

Posted on by Will

Because of this I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Truth to Learn

God wants us to worship Him.

 

Behind the Words

The phrase “Because of this” is translated from toutou charin. Toutou means “this” and charin is the direct object form (accusative case) of charis, which means “a favor or a gift.” When charin is used as a preposition, as it is here, it means “through favor of” or “because of.” Therefore, toutou charin means “because of this” or “for this reason.”

“Bow” is from kamtō, which means “to bend;” that is, “to bend the knees in homage or worship.”

The word “knees” is translated from the Greek noun gonu, meaning “a knee.”

“Father” is translated from patēr, which generally refers to “the male parent.” In its plural form it refers to both father and mother. Here it refers to the first person of the Godhead, God the Father.

The phrase, “of our Lord Jesus Christ” does not appear in the oldest Greek manuscripts and should be omitted.

 

Meaning Explained

Paul started off the first verse of this chapter with the same expression, “Because of this.” He then got side-tracked with an explanation of his ministry of revealing the mystery of the church. Now he finally gets back on track. So, what is Paul referring to when he says, “Because of this”? In order to answer that question, we have to look back at the end of chapter two. There Paul talked about how we Gentiles were once far away from God, without Christ, strangers from God’s covenant promises to Israel, and having no hope since we were without God. He also says that now, through Jesus Christ, we Gentiles have access to God along with the Jews. Then he told us that we are being built as God’s temple as His dwelling place.

Because of this, because we Gentiles now have the same access to God that the Jews have had, Paul says he bows in humble submission to God the Father. Notice that he does not say that he bows to Jesus, but to “the Father.” Nowhere in Scripture are we told to worship Jesus, bow to Jesus, or pray to Jesus. Neither are we told to worship, bow to, or pray to the Holy Spirit. Now, before you get out your clubs and prepare to beat me as a heretic, let me be clear that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are each (and all) God. We ARE told to worship God, to humble ourselves to God, and to pray to God. But we are not told specifically to worship Jesus or the Holy Spirit, or to pray to either one of them. Here’s what Jesus, himself, said:

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. (John 4:23)

But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. (Matthew 6:6)

I may be accused of splitting hairs here, but if the Father wants us to worship Him and we are told to pray to Him, then we shouldn’t start our prayers with, “Dear Jesus,” nor should we end our prayers with “In your name.”

 

Application

Because of what God has done for us, because He has given us access to Himself through the sin-cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, let’s bow to Him and worship Him with all our heart! Without His plan and His work, we would be destined for Hell.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 3:1 – A Serving Stone

Posted on by Will

Because of this I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—

Truth to Learn

Serving God as part of His kingdom is a very high calling.

 

Behind the Words

“Because of this” is translated from the Greek words toutou charin. The first of these, toutou, is a form of touto, meaning “this” and charin means “on account of,” “because of,” or “for the sake of.” So, we have translated the opening phrase as “Because of this.”

“Prisoner” is from desmios, which is derived from the verb desmeō, meaning “to bind.” Thus, desmios means “someone in bonds” or “a prisoner.”

The words “Christ Jesus” are transliterated from the words christou iēsou. The interesting thing to note here is that Paul adds the definite article tou (the). Therefore, this could be translated as “the Christ, Jesus.”

 The second use of the word “for” in this verse is translated from huper, which means “above” or “over.” As used here it means “for the sake of” or “for the benefit of.”

Ethnos is the Greek word translated “Gentiles.” We looked at this in the previous chapter. It refers to any group or race of people. It is what Jews have historically called anyone who was not a Jew. Paul uses this term in reference to two different groups of people. Sometimes, he uses it, like the Jews do, in reference to anyone who is not a religious Jew (as he is in this verse). Sometimes, however, he uses this word in reference to a non-Christian.

 

Meaning Explained

Paul starts out this verse (and this chapter) with “Because of this.” So, we have to ask ourselves, “Because of what?” Well, what has he just been talking about? Beginning in verse eleven of the previous chapter, Paul taught us that before Christ came, we Gentiles were without a savior, we were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and we were not included in the covenants that God made with Israel. Basically, we were without hope. But now, because of Christ, we are no longer strangers and foreigners, we are fellow citizens with the saints of old and we are part of God’s household. And – we are part of God’s temple, which is being built with the lives of all who are saved. In short: we were lost, we are now saved and part of God’s family, and God has a purpose for us in His kingdom.

Because of this, Paul wants to give us further instruction. However, a strange thing happens starting in this verse and continuing through verse thirteen. In these verses Paul gets sidetracked with an explanation and justification of his own ministry (his position as a foundation stone in the temple of God). So, to learn the rest of “Because of this” we have to go to verse fourteen, “I bow my knees to the Father …” As we get to that verse, we will see that Paul has a special prayer for the rest of us building blocks in God’s temple.

Meanwhile, he will share with us some of the reasons why God has made him a foundation stone in the temple. He starts that off with a reminder that he is in bonds. He tells us that he is a prisoner of the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth. In the book of Romans, he goes to great lengths to show us that we were once in bondage to sin but we are now owned by a new master, God Himself. He is now our master. But I don’t think that’s what Paul is referring to here. In chapter six, verse twenty of this letter, he will tell us that he is an ambassador in chains. From this most scholars believe that Paul wrote this letter from a prison cell in Rome where he was sent because of his testimony of salvation in Jesus Christ. Thus, he says that he is a prisoner of Christ (or “because” of Christ). He literally was a prisoner because of his testimony of Christ.

 

Application

How high do you consider your calling in Jesus Christ? Are you willing to go to prison simply because you are a Christian? Are you willing to lose your job simply because you are a Christian? Are you willing to suffer simply because you are a Christian? What’s more important, serving God, or yourself?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 3:1 – A Serving Stone

Posted on by Will

Ephesians 3:1  – A Serving Stone

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—

Truth to Learn

Serving God as part of His kingdom is a very high calling.

Behind the Words

“For this reason” is translated from the Greek words toutou charin. The first of these, toutou, is a form of touto, meaning “this” and charin means “on account of,” “because of,” or “for the sake of.” So, we can translate the opening phrase as “Because of this.”

“Prisoner” is from desmios, which is derived from the verb desmeō, meaning “to bind.” Thus, desmios means “someone in bonds” or “a prisoner.”

The words “Christ Jesus” are transliterated from the words christou iēsou. The interesting thing to note here is that Paul adds the definite article tou (the). Therefore, this could be translated as “the Christ, Jesus.”

Meaning Explained

Paul starts out this verse (and this chapter) with “Because of this.” So, we have to ask ourselves, “Because of what?” Well, what has he just been talking about? Beginning in verse eleven of the previous chapter, Paul taught us that before Christ came, we Gentiles were without a savior, we were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and we were not included in the covenants that God made with Israel. Basically, we were without hope. But now, because of Christ, we are no longer strangers and foreigners, we are fellow citizens with the saints of old and we are of God’s household. And – we are part of God’s temple, which is being built with the lives of all who are saved. In short: we were lost, we are now saved and part of God’s family, and God has a purpose for us in His kingdom.

Because of this, Paul wants to give us further instruction. However, a strange thing happens starting in this verse and continuing through verse thirteen. In these verses Paul gets sidetracked with an explanation and justification of his own ministry (his position as a foundation stone in the temple of God). So, to learn the rest of “Because of this” we have to go to verse fourteen, “I bow my knees to the Father …” As we get to that verse, we will see that Paul has a special prayer for the rest of us building blocks in God’s temple.

Meanwhile, he will share with us some of the reasons why God has made him a foundation stone in the temple. He starts that off with a reminder that he is in bonds. He tells us that he is a prisoner of the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth. In the book of Romans, he goes to great lengths to show us that we were once in bondage to sin but we are now owned by a new master, God Himself. He is now our master. But I don’t think that’s what Paul is referring to here. In chapter six, verse twenty of this letter, he will tell us that he is an ambassador in chains. From this most scholars believe that Paul wrote this letter from a prison cell in Rome where he was sent because of his testimony of salvation in Jesus Christ. Thus, he says that he is a prisoner of Christ (or “because of Christ).

Application

How high do you consider your calling in Jesus Christ? Are you willing to go to prison simply because you are a Christian? Are you willing to lose your job simply because you are a Christian? Are you willing to suffer simply because you are a Christian? What’s more important, serving God, or yourself?

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, send an e-mail to: