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2 Thessalonians 2:15 – Stand Firm and Hold Fast

Posted on August 23, 2016 by Will

Therefore, brothers, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

Truth to Learn

We must learn truth and hold fast to what we know is true.

Behind the Words

“Stand fast” is from the stēkō, which is derived from the verb histēmi, meaning “to stand.” As it is used in the New Testament, stēkō means “to stand firm in faith and duty.” It is expressed here in the imperative mood, indicating a command.

The word “hold” is translated from krateō, which is based on the word kratos, meaning “strength.” Krateō means “to take hold of” or “become the master of.” It implies a degree of force with which one brings a person or thing wholly under one’s power, even when resistance is encountered. It, too, is expressed here in the imperative mood, indicating a command.

Paradosis is the Greek word translated “traditions.” It is based on paradidōmi, meaning “to deliver teaching.” Thus, paradosis refers to doctrine, instruction, or a tradition delivered or communicated from one person to another (usually orally).

The words “you were taught” are from the verb didaskō, meaning “to teach.”

The words “whether” and “or” are both translated from eite, which is made up of ei, meaning “whether” and te, meaning “and.” This word is used to set items in contrast or opposition to one another. It is used at the beginning of the comparison and again between the two things being compared.

Meaning Explained

You may recall from earlier in this letter that the Christians in Thessalonica were disturbed because false teachers had come to them and taught that the Day of the Lord (the Tribulation) had already come. Some of these false teachers had even claimed that their false teaching had come from the Apostle Paul and his companions.

Now, having taught them about the things that must happen before the Day of the Lord, Paul teaches them how to detect and avoid such false teachings in the future. He starts off with a command to stand fast, that is, to not waver back and forth between good doctrine and bad. He adds to this the command to master the good teaching and hold firmly to it.

Keep in mind that in the first century of the church, the only “Scripture” that Christians had was what we call “the Old Testament.” Paul and others were traveling from area to area preaching the new truths and they and others of the Apostles had begun sending letters to churches teaching the truths of the Christian faith. In some cases it was hard for the people to distinguish between good doctrine and false teaching. Therefore, Paul taught them to hold fast to the teaching that they knew to be genuine. This would help them to identify false teaching from others.

In some ways, it us just as easy for us to be deceived by false teaching. If we don’t regularly read and study the Bible for ourselves, instead simply depending on what we are taught by others, it is easy to accept teaching that is not true.

Now, a quick word about traditions. Just because a church has held to long taught traditions, doesn’t mean that they are the truth. The word here translated “traditions” refers specifically to good doctrine and sound teaching. Again, we must be familiar enough with what the Bible actually teaches in order to distinguish between long held traditions and good doctrine.

Application

In these last days it is especially important to know what the Bible teaches. In 2 Timothy 4:3 Paul warned Timothy that many will not want sound doctrine. Stand firm in the faith and hold on dearly to what you know is truth. Don’t be deceived!

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Thessalonians 5:10 – Eternal, Living Faith

Posted on June 21, 2016 by Will

who died for us, that whether we should watch or sleep, we should live together with Him.

Truth to Learn

Faith in Jesus Christ means living with Him eternally.

Behind the Words

“Died” is from apothnēskō, which is composed of apo, meaning “from” or “away from,” used as an intensifier, and thnēskō, meaning “to die.” Literally, apothnēskō means “to die off,” but it is often used to refer to death of any kind.

The word translated “for” is huper (or hyper) meaning “over” or “above.” As used here it also means “for the sake of.”

The words “whether” and “or” are both translated from eite. It is composed of ei, meaning “if” or “whether” and te, meaning “both” or “also.” It is used in Greek to set items in contrast or opposition to one another.

Grēgoreuō is the Greek verb translated “watch.” It means “to keep wake” or “to be watchful.” It is expressed here in the subjunctive mood, indicating possibility or probability.

The word translated “sleep” is katheudō, meaning “to fall asleep.” It, too, is written in the subjunctive mood.

“We should live” is translated from the verb dzaō, meaning “to have life.” Like grēgoreuō and katheudō, it is expressed in the subjunctive mood.

Meaning Explained

In the previous chapter of his letter to the Christians in Thessalonica, Paul began his current teaching regarding the rapture and the Day of the Lord. As he introduced the subject of the rapture, he said:

But we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, that you not grieve as others who have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13)

In this discourse on the rapture and the Day of the Lord, Paul has used the word “sleep” in two different ways. In teaching about the rapture, he used the term to refer to Christians who have died physically. In his teaching about the Day of the Lord, however, he used the word as a reference to those who are spiritually unaware. He contrasted those who are of the day (Christians) with those who are of the night (unbelievers). And, he warned us who are of the day to be awake (aware) and prepared for spiritual battles. In yesterday’s verse Paul reminded us that God did not place us in a situation where we will suffer His wrath (the Day of the Lord), rather in a situation to obtain salvation (raptured off the earth before the Day of the Lord). Also, in yesterday’s verse he reminded us that our salvation is through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Now, Paul says that Christ died for our sake. He didn’t die for Himself because He was without sin and was not facing the death sentence that we were facing. He died so that we could have eternal life. He died for our sake. Why did He die for us? He died for us so that we might live eternally with Him. It doesn’t matter whether we are physically alive or dead at the time of the rapture; all Christians, together, will live with him eternally. This, he tells us in the next verse, should be a comfort to all Christians.

Application

If you are a born-again Christian, you will spend eternity with Jesus Christ. If not, you will be separated from Him forever!

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Corinthians 3:22 – All Has Been Given

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Will

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I know it has been awhile since I sent out my last verse. I have had to take a little time off to re-evaluate this ministry. As you may know, since last December, I have been seeking permission from Thomas Nelson (Harper Collins Christian Publishing) to publish these verses in an e-book. Since I use the New King James Version as the translation for these verses and they own the copyright, without their permission, I can't publish the e-book using their translation. Two weeks ago I got the final word from them telling me that I do not have their permission, even though I already had their permission to use the NKJV in these daily verse studies. Needless to say, this was a great disappointment to me. After a lot of soul searching and prayer and last Sunday's sermon (which I felt like was delivered directly to me), I have decided to take up the mantle again and continue with these daily studies. I offer my thanks to all of you who have supported and encouraged me in the past. Please pray for me that God would guide me regarding how I may yet be able to get them published or, if it His will, that I forget about trying to get them published and simply continue this e-mail and blogging ministry.

In God's service, for His glory,

Will

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whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours.

Truth to Learn

God has given all things to His children.

Behind the Words

The word “whether” is from the Greek conjunction eite. This is made up of ei, meaning “if” and te, meaning “and.” It can be translated as “and if” or “whether.” It is used in the latter sense in today’s verse. This verse is primarily made up of a list of items which are all preceded by eite. This is a list which includes all things in the list, with none of them excluded.

The words “the world” are translated from the Greek word kosmos, which we saw back in verse nineteen. It refers to “order” or “arrangement” and is the word from which we get our English word cosmetics. Though it usually refers to the world system, which is controlled by Satan, it is sometimes used as it is here in reference to all of creation.

“Life” is translated from dzoē, which is derived from the verb dzaō, meaning “to live.” Dzoē refers to “life” or “existence.”

Meaning Explained

This verse has been called “an inventory of the possessions of the child of God.” Although it was directly proclaimed to the Christians in Corinth, it is applicable to all Christians. So what does it mean? God created all that exists for His children. Once sin entered into the world, there was a division between his spiritual children (those who believe Him by faith) and the rest of mankind. Throughout the remainder of the Bible, He makes a distinction between believers and the rest of mankind. God has provided spiritual gifts and gifted Christians for the purpose of building up His spiritual children (the church):

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, (Ephesians 4:11-12)

These leaders in the church were put there for us, we were not put here for them. In that sense, all who build up the body of Christ are ours.

As we said above, God created everything for His children. The world (all of creation) is ours by faith, not just this current world, which is now under Satan’s control, but the recreated heavens and earth which will come at the end of time. Even the very life which we have has been given to us. Again, it does not just mean this present life, but the life eternal which we expectantly wait for. And, even death is ours. Because of the fall of mankind, death is a reality that we all must face. But this death is only the physical death of this life, which is actually a blessing to us. Without it, we would continue to live with a cursed sin nature. Eternal life (without our sin nature), in God’s eyes, is a present possession of every Christian. So, even though we will all die physically, we now have eternal life.

Paul now restates a foundational truth that permeates all of his teaching. Not only do we possess all things now, we already possess the eternal things God has promised to us.

Application

Don’t think of yourselves as being a member of (belonging to) a particular church or group of people who follow a particular leader. Think of yourself as God’s precious child for whom all things were made. Be humbly thankful for all He has given us.

In God's service, for His glory,