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that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n All those who believe God\u2019s promise share in God\u2019s gifts.<\/p>\n The words \u201cfellow heirs<\/span>\u201d is translated from sunkl\u0113ronomos<\/em><\/span>. This is a compound word made up of sun<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201ctogether with\u201d and kl\u0113ronomos<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201can heir.\u201d Kl\u0113ronomos<\/em><\/span> is made up of kl\u0113ros<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201ca lot\u201d (a die indicating participation), and a form of nem\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto have in one\u2019s possession.\u201d<\/p>\n The Greek word suss\u014dmos<\/em><\/span>, is translated here as \u201cof the same body<\/span>.\u201d It also contains the Greek word sun<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201ctogether with\u201d and, in this case, soma<\/em><\/span> meaning \u201ca body.\u201d So, we see that suss\u014dmos<\/em><\/span> literally means \u201ctogether, of the same body.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPartakers\u201d is translated from summetochos<\/em><\/span>, which also has the prefix sun<\/em><\/span> meaning \u201ctogether with\u201d added to metochos<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201ca partaker\u201d or \u201ca participant.\u201d Thus, summetochos<\/em><\/span> refers to someone as \u201ca fellow partaker\u201d with someone else.<\/p>\n The word \u201cpromise<\/span>\u201d is from epangelia<\/em><\/span> which is made up of epi<\/em><\/span> used as an intensifier and a form of the verb angell\u014d<\/em><\/span> meaning \u201cto tell\u201d or \u201cto declare.\u201d<\/p>\n Under earlier Greek law, when a father passed away, his children would cast lots to determine who got what portion of the estate, thus indicating the derivation of kl\u0113ronomos<\/em><\/span> as \u201can heir\u201d (one who has a lot in his possession). Under Jewish law only the sons inherited their father\u2019s possessions and the eldest son inherited a double portion. But, under Roman law all children were eligible as well as close friends and loyal servants and distribution was usually made according to a will.<\/p>\n Thus, it is significant that Paul would use sunkl\u0113ronomos<\/em><\/span> in reference to Gentiles being fellow heirs of God along with the Jews. We each hold a \u201clot\u201d in the form of righteousness, which is given by God as a gift when we believe His promise.<\/p>\n But Paul does not stop there. This verse describes in detail what the mystery is that he has been talking about for the past few verses. The mystery is not just that we are fellow heirs with the Jews, but that we are of the same body (suss\u014dmos<\/em><\/span>). Today, all who believe, whether Jew or Gentile, are part of the body of Christ. This is what Paul tells us in his first letter to the Corinthians:<\/p>\n Now you<\/span> [plural] are the body of Christ, and members individually.\u00a0<\/span> (1 Corinthians 12:27<\/span><\/strong>)<\/p>\n But he still doesn\u2019t stop there, for there is a third Greek word in this verse made up as a compound of sun<\/em><\/span>. Along with the Jews, we are joint partakers (summetochos<\/em><\/span>) of God\u2019s promise. Beginning with Abraham, the Jews were promised that a Messiah would come to rescue them. That Messiah has come. His name is Jesus, the Christ, and through faith in His sacrifice on the cross we, too, are saved. And this promise is the essence of the Gospel message.<\/p>\n All believers in the Gospel are fellow heirs and will inherit our Heavenly Father\u2019s estate when we arrive there. All believers in the Gospel are now part of the body of Christ. And, all believers are partakers of His promise of salvation and eternal life. Skin color doesn\u2019t matter, ancestry doesn\u2019t matter, gender doesn\u2019t matter, age doesn\u2019t matter, education level doesn\u2019t matter, and wealth doesn\u2019t matter. Only faith in Christ matters!<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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