Posted on by christianwordsblog

Conscience

Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.  (Romans 13:5)

In the application chapters of his epistle to the Romans, Paul cycles through a number of scenarios where the justified walking the path of sanctification will be confronted with dilemma between conscience and commandment – in the case quoted above, to obey the God-appointed governing authorities.  Given that Paul appealed to Caesar and that emperor was Nero, the dilemma is immediately obvious.

But to understand better, one has to examine Biblically what is ‘conscience’.   The Greek word employed by Paul is συνείδησις syneídēsis is a compound of syn ‘together with’ and eido ‘to know or see’ and describes ‘shared understanding’.  Thus, conscience is the tempering of individual reaction and instinct with respect to others.  Conscience is also concerning with the regulation of conduct and this infers a concept of morality, hence it the Bible there is reference to ‘good’ conscience.  But the interesting consideration is how conscience might grow at all.

Read more
Posted on by christianwordsblog

RELIGION

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.  (James 1:27)

The word translated ‘religion’, is θρησκεία (thréskeia) and while the underlying sense is reverence, its usage conveys worship as expressed in ritual acts.  And it is in the context of action that James exhorts his brethren to be ‘doers of the word’, adding, ‘a doer who acts…will be blessed in his doing’.

Read more
Posted on by christianwordsblog

SANCTIFICATION

 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil.  They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.  And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.  (John 17:15-19)

In his final, extended prayer for his disciples, Jesus asks his Heavenly Father to sanctify them.  The complexity of this prayer is revealed by understanding that ‘sanctify’ translates the Greek verb ἁγιάζω (hagiazó), which means ‘to make holy’ but also has the plainer meaning ‘to set apart’.

Read more
Posted on by christianwordsblog

SHAME

God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.  (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)

Shaming is a process of belittlement and Paul tells us that how God uses it for his good purpose.  The Greek word here is καταισχύνω (kataishuno) meaning to disgrace, confound or dishonour.

But it is equally important to note why God would do such a thing, which stems from the desire to bring all to repentance and through faith to restore hope.

Read more
Posted on by christianwordsblog

SELF-INTEREST (and altruism)

Do nothing according to self-interest or according to vain conceit, but in humility be esteeming one another surpassing themselves. (Philippians 2:3; Berean Literal)

The word in Greek is ἐριθεία eritheia, and means mercenary or self-seeking.  At a casual glance, this might rule out self-interest as Godly, but a fuller quotation suggests otherwise:

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others… (ibid 2:3-4 ESV)

Read more
Posted on by christianwordsblog

HERESY

I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.

(1 Corinthians 11:18-19)

The word that is translated ‘differences’ is αἵρεσις hairesis or heresy.

The English language borrowed words from other languages (notably Greek) for concepts our pagan forebears did not have before becoming Christian.  For example, standing in alignment (rihtwis, the right-wise or way) with your king was critical, so we have righteous; but how and why you chose your deity was not: Frige, Thor, Wotan, Tiw, take your pick; mix and match!  

Read more
Posted on by christianwordsblog

TONGUE – the power of speech

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.  (James 3:5b-6)

The word ‘tongue’ translates γλῶσσα glossa which, as in English, means both the organ of speech and speech itself, in other words, language.

Read more
Posted on by christianwordsblog

PLEASING (GOD)

without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

The verb that is translates ‘to please’ is εὐαρεστέω euaresteó and means ‘to be well-pleasing’, which be extension could be ‘to render good service’.  This verse reads literally:

and apart from faith it is impossible to please well, for it behoveth him who is coming to God to believe that He is, and to those seeking Him He becometh a rewarder.  (YLT)

The writer of Hebrews clarifies an eternal truth, that the unregenerate, that is anyone that is not granted salvatory faith, can never do anything to gain to God’s favour. 

Read more
Posted on by christianwordsblog

DWELL (Tabernacle)

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God’.  (Revelation 21:3)

John the Apostle receives a vision: 

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (ibid 21:1-2)

In this new earth, God will dwell with his people.  The word ‘dwell’ translates a Greek verb σκηνόω skénoó, which literally means to camp, to live in a tent and in some versions is ‘to tabernacle’, referencing the Holy Tent in which God dwelt with his people Israel in Sinai.

Read more
Posted on by christianwordsblog

STRUGGLE

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. (Hebrew 12:4)

The Greek word translated ‘struggle’ is ἀνταγωνίζομαι  antagónizomai, from anti ‘against’ and agónizomai ‘contend with’, whence English derives the verb ‘to agonise’.  The common usage of agónizomai was in the context of warfare or an athletic contest, and it refers to the physical, mental and emotional exertion in contending with an enemy.

The writer of Hebrews references Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, who –

knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”  (Luke 22:42-46)

Read more