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To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n There is no reason for pride in the body of Christ.<\/p>\n The words \u201cless than the least<\/span>\u201d are translated from a single Greek word, elachistoteros<\/em><\/span>. This is a very unusual word. It is based on the Greek word mikros<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201csmall.\u201d The comparative of mikros<\/em><\/span> is elass\u014dn<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201csmaller.\u201d And, the superlative of mikros<\/em><\/span> is elachistos<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cthe smallest or the least.\u201d But the comparative of this superlative (elachistos<\/em><\/span>) is elachistoteros<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cless than the least.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI should preach<\/span>\u201d is translated from euangelidz\u014d<\/em><\/span>. This verb is made up of eu<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cgood\u201d or \u201cwell\u201d and angell\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto tell.\u201d Thus, euangelidz\u014d<\/em><\/span> means \u201cto tell the good news;\u201d that is \u201cto preach the gospel\u201d or \u201cto evangelize.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUnsearchable<\/span>\u201d is from the adjective anexichniastos<\/em><\/span>. This is made up of the privative a<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cnot\u201d or \u201cwithout\u201d and a form of the verb exichniadz\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto explore.\u201d Therefore, anexichniastos<\/em><\/span> refers to something that is \u201cunexplorable,\u201d \u201cuntraceable,\u201d or \u201cunsearchable.\u201d<\/p>\n In yesterday\u2019s verse we talked about how the apostles of the church in the first century had a common characteristic of downplaying their position in the church. Perhaps it is because each one of them witnessed the humbleness of Jesus. Upon finally believing that He is the Son of God, each of them must have been struck by the magnitude of His humility given who He really is.<\/p>\n Compared to the Son of God, the Christ, the Messiah, each of these men realized that they were nothing but sinners deserving of eternal Hell, saved by the grace of God. In today\u2019s verse Paul declares himself to be \u201cleast-er\u201d (less than the least) than all Christians. Before we scoff at his improper grammar (even in Greek this would be improper except for poets), let\u2019s see what he said about himself elsewhere:<\/p>\n although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it<\/em><\/span> ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is<\/em><\/span> a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.<\/span> (1 Timothy 1:13-15<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n Paul (formerly Saul, the persecutor of the church) considered himself the greatest of sinners, and he considered himself less than even the lowest of Christians. This man who wrote more of the New Testament than anyone else, who proclaimed salvation to every sinner who would listen (and even to some who wouldn\u2019t listen), did not have a puffed-up opinion of himself.<\/p>\n One thing I find most irritating is when a Christian thinks of himself or herself as \u201chot stuff\u201d in the body of Christ. A proud Christian is a living oxymoron. How can anyone be proud of himself or herself when he or she recognizes what they deserve compared to what God has given them by His grace? Are you a proud Christian or a humble servant?<\/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
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ministryofgrace.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Signature1.gif\" "\\"Will\\"")
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