Tag: understanding

1 Peter 3:7 – Understanding Co-Heirs

Posted on by Will

Husbands, in the same way, dwelling together with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the gracious gift of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

Truth to Learn

Though our wives are our equal, joint heirs of God, we husbands have a greater responsibility than they do in the marriage relationship.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “understanding” is gnosis, which means “knowledge or understand.” We are to live with them in a knowing, or understanding, way.

“Honor” is translated from timē, meaning “value, esteem, or honor.” It refers to something that we consider of great worth.

The word “vessel” is from the Greek word skeuos, referring to “something which can be filled.” It is a reference to our very being, which can be filled with the Holy Spirit. In Acts 9:15, God refers to Saul (later called Paul) as a chosen vessel.

“Heirs together” is from sugklēronomos, meaning “those who inherit together.” We have an equal inheritance with our wives.

The word translated “hindered” is ekkoptō, which literally means “to cut out.” By application it refers to something that has been made ineffective or nonexistent.

 

Meaning Explained

Okay, men, this is where Peter drops the other shoe and it falls squarely on our toes. Earlier he started off this third chapter with “In the same way” as he talked to wives, and he now starts off with the same connective as he talks to husbands. He is not connecting this with what he said to wives; rather he is connecting this to his previous message on how to humbly live within society as a witness of God’s grace.

Peter tells us to dwell together with our wives knowingly, in an understanding way. We are to put effort into understanding their feelings and emotions and living in such a way as to take these things into account. Our responsibility in the marriage relationship is actually much greater than that of our wives. They are to voluntarily place themselves under our authority, but we are to be ever mindful of them. We are to give them special honor and we are to recognize that they are physically weaker, treating them as precious because of it. Also, the Apostle Paul says we are to love them:

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, (Ephesians 5:25)

This word for “love” is agapaō, the self-sacrificing, unconditional consideration for another, having more concern for their welfare than our own. If we don’t treat our wives with proper respect and loving care, Peter tells us that our prayers may become ineffective.

Christianity is the only major religion that places women in a position of equality with men with respect to the promises and blessings of God. We husbands are to model that to our wives, and to the world.

 

Application

Let me ask you men, does it sometimes feel like God is not listening to your prayers? Could it be the result of your not treating your wife with understanding and honor?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 1:8 – Abundant Grace

Posted on by Will

which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and understanding,

Truth to Learn

God gives us an abundant supply of His grace.

 

Behind the Words

“Made to abound” is translated from perisseuō, which is built upon the preposition peri, meaning “over” or “above.” Perisseuō means “to cause to have much (over and above).” It means that there is an exceedingly great amount of something. Some translations use the words “super abound” to express the meaning of this word.

The word “wisdom” is from the Greek noun sophia. This word refers to “skills in the affairs of life, deep knowledge, natural and moral insight, or practical wisdom.”

“Understanding” is from phronēsis, which is based on the verb phroneō, meaning “to think” or “to have a mindset.” Phronēsis refers to “intellectual, moral insight, or understanding.” This understanding is a direct result of exercising wisdom (sophia).

 

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse we learned that because of the grace of God we have both redemption and forgiveness. That is, through God’s grace we have been set free because the ransom has been paid, and we remain free because He has sent our sins far, far away.

In today’s verse we learn that God did not simply show us a tiny, little piece of His grace, He gave us a super abundant amount of His grace. You might say that God made our “grace cup” overflow, and He did so “in all wisdom and understanding.” As to the meaning of this phrase there are two schools of thought. The first is that two of the products of His abundant grace are wisdom and understanding, which He has given to us. The other is that this grace is a result of His wisdom and understanding.

If the first of these is true, it means that when God caused His grace to be abundantly extended to us, He also imbued us with wisdom (both spiritual and common) and insight as He makes known to us the mystery (see next verse) of His will. Those who hold to this view would say that this is a reference to what Paul says later in verse eighteen:

the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, (Ephesians 1:18)

But if this is the case, then why does Paul pray that we might yet receive this blessing:

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of Him, (Ephesians 1:17).

If, on the other hand, Paul is telling us that God made His grace to super abound to us as a result of all His wisdom and understanding, then it tells us that His grace was not simply an afterthought. It means that in eternity past when the Godhead determined the plan for mankind, He determined by all His wisdom and understanding that grace should be an integral part of that plan. This seems to me to be a better explanation for today’s verse.

 

Application

God’s grace is a central character of his overall plan of salvation for mankind. Were it not for His grace we could not be saved. Part of His plan for the ages was not just to show us a little of His grace, but to heap it on us in an abundant supply. For this reason alone, every Christian alive should thank God for his amazing grace!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Corinthians 1:19 – Worldly Wisdom?

Posted on by Will

For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent."

Truth to Learn

The wisdom of the world is foolishness to God.

Behind the Words

“Written” is from the Greek word graphō, which literally means “to grave,” that is, to carve. It is the most ancient form of writing. In first century common usage, it refers to any kind of writing. It is written here in the perfect tense, so it means “it was written in the past and, therefore, it is written (as a confirmed statement of fact).”

Apollumi, is the word translated “destroy.” It is made up of apo, meaning “from” or “away from,” used as an intensifier, and ollumi, meaning “to destroy.” Thus, apollumi means “to completely destroy. Today, we might say annihilate.

Both “wisdom” and “wise” are translated from a form of sophos, which refers to “wisdom, skill, tact, or expertise in an art form.”

The words “bring to nothing” are from atheteō, which is made up of the privative a, meaning “without” and thetos, which refers to something that has been put in its place. Therefore, athetheō means “to cause something to be without a place.” In other words, it means “to get rid of” or “to abolish.”

Both “understanding” and “prudent” are from forms of the Greek word suniēmi, which refers to “perception, understanding, or intelligence.” It generally refers to the ability to understand concepts and see relationships between them.

Meaning Explained

Paul is making his comments with regard to the gospel message. In the previous verse he said that the good news of Salvation in Jesus Christ is laughable, even absurd, to those who reject it, those who are on death’s road because of such rejection. However, to those of us who believe the salvation truth, it is the life-giving power of God. To further emphasize his point, Paul quotes from the Prophet Isaiah, who said:

Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work Among this people, A marvelous work and a wonder; For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden. (Isaiah 29:14)

This message was delivered to the Israelites because they thought they could rely on the strength of the Egyptians to protect them from a coming invasion by the Assyrians. In spite of all the miracles that God had done to save them and protect them, the Israelites rejected God and relied on their own wisdom and understanding. After all, at that time the Egyptians were the richest, most powerful nation in the world. It seemed like the wisest, most prudent thing to do, to make an alliance with Egypt for their own protection.

One thing we often miss when we read about the Israelites and their Egyptian neighbors: Egypt is a type (a symbolic picture) of the world system that we live in today. The world system will not save you. Only God can do that.

Application

How many Christians today are so caught up in the world around them that they come to depend on it instead of God? Are you one of them? We have to live in the world, but we don’t have to follow it. Where is your heart?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2013 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

Ephesians 4:18 – Darkened, Alienated, and Ignorant

Posted on by Will

having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;

Truth to Learn

The unsaved are the way they are because of unbelief.

Behind the Words

“Understanding” is translated from the Greek word dianoia, which is derived from dia, meaning “through and a form of noeō, meaning “to exercise the mind,” that is, “to think, to consider, or to understand.” Dianoia refers to a person’s intellect or understanding.

The word “darkened” is from the verb skotidzō, meaning “to deprive of light,” that is, “to darken.” In today’s verse it is used figuratively to mean “deprived of the light of understanding.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense indicating past completed action with an ongoing effect, the emphasis being on the effect. In other words, Paul is saying that at some time in the past they were deprived of the light of understanding and as a result they are now in a condition of not understanding.

“Alienated” is from the verb apallotrioō, which is made up of apo, meaning “from or away from” and allotrioō, meaning “to make a stranger,” “to separate from,” or “to make a non-participant.” This word is also expressed in the perfect tense.

The word “ignorance” is translated from agnoeō, which literally means “lacking knowledge.”

The word “blindness” is from pōrōsis, a form of pōroō, meaning “to harden, to petrify, or to make insensitive.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Paul instructed us not to live our lives like unbelievers do. He said that they live their lives intellectually instead of spiritually. He also said that their intellect is worthless. Now he explains why their thinking is so bad. He tells us that the intellectual understanding of the unsaved has been darkened, deprived of the light of understanding. As we discussed in Behind the Words, the tense of this verb indicates that the darkening occurred at some point in time in the past. That point in time referred to is when Adam and Eve sinned by eating the forbidden fruit. From that time onward mankind has been alienated from God with a mind that is deprived of the light of knowledge, the knowledge of God.

That enlightenment can be regained, however. It is given by God through His Holy Spirit. It can be gained by learning the teaching of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, as Paul will tell us later. Here we are told that one of the results of the intellectual darkening is separation from the life (spiritual life) that is in God. We are also told here that one of the reasons that the unsaved don’t have spiritual life is because they lack knowledge (the knowledge of what Christ did for them on the cross). And finally, Paul tells us that they lack knowledge of the work of salvation because of the hardness of their hearts.

So, we can summarize this by saying that sin leads to a hardening of the heart, which prevents the acknowledgement of God’s gift of salvation, which produces alienation from the spiritual life that God offers us all.

Application

If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to save you from your sins, your heart is not hardened, you are not ignorant of God’s truth, and you have eternal life. Hallelujah!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

Ephesians 1:18 – Two Great Truths

Posted on by Will

Ephesians 1:18 – Two Great Truths

the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

Truth to Learn

There are two great truths here. The first is that the Holy Spirit reveals spiritual truth to us. The other is that you are highly valued by God and will be cherished for all eternity.

Behind the Words

The word “understanding” is translated from dianoia. This is made up of dia, meaning “through” or indicating division, and a form of the verb noeō, meaning “to exercise the mind.” Therefore, we see that dianoia indicates something that has been thoroughly thought through, thus “understanding.” This word does not appear in most Greek manuscripts; instead, kardia (heart) is used. So, “heart” is the preferred reading.

“Enlightened” is the translation of phōtidzō, which is derived from phōs, meaning “light.” Phōtidzō means “to shine the light on something” or “to make something visible.”

“Hope” is from the Greek word elpis, meaning “that which is hoped for.” The meaning of this word, however, is not simply something wished for; it includes a full expectation of it actually happening.

The word “calling” is translated from klēsis, a shortened form of the verb kaleō, meaning “to call.” Thus, klēsis refers to “a calling” or “an invitation.”

“Riches” is from ploutos, which refers to “wealth made up of things of value.”

Meaning Explained

This verse contains the continuation of Paul’s prayer for all saints. In the previous verse he asked that God the Father might give us wisdom and revelation through the Holy Spirit. Now he tells us about some of the effects of that revelation provided by the Holy Spirit.

He tells us here that it will produce enlightenment. As we said earlier, the word “understanding” should probably be replaced by “heart.” The Greeks believed that the heart was not just the seat of the emotions, but of understanding and determination as well. So, Paul is saying that the eyes of our heart should receive light. We all know that in the darkness we cannot see or recognize things very well; however, when something is illuminated we can see with both our vision and our perception. That’s exactly what the Holy Spirit does for us. He shines the light of truth on things that we see and hear. Because of this illumination, we can understand spiritual truths which we otherwise would not have understood.

There are three particular spiritual truths which we can know as a result of the Spirit’s illumination. Two are in this verse and the third is in the next verse. Here he tells us about the hope and assurance we have of eternal life as a result of God’s invitation. He also tells us how great the glory of His inheritance is. This is not a reference to our inheritance, which we talked about in verse fourteen. This is a reference to the rich inheritance that Jesus Christ will receive in heaven: all the saints, who will spend eternity with Him.

Application

You may not think or yourself as being worth very much, but God sees each one of us as extremely valuable. We, the bride of Christ, will be the Father’s gift to the Son for all eternity.

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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