Christian – Page 3 – God Breathed Words

Posted on July 17, 2020July 17, 2020 by christianwordsblog

JUSTIFY

Apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:21-24)

The word translated ‘justify’ is δικαιόω dikaioo which is word taken from a legal setting, dike is ‘to be proved right’ or ‘to gain judicious approval’. The word translated above as ‘righteousness’ as the noun based on the same root, δικαιοσύνη dikeaiosune.

Posted on July 7, 2020July 7, 2020 by christianwordsblog

EVIL

and deliver us from evil…(Matthew 6:13)

In giving us a pattern for prayer, Jesus tell his followers to pray to be delivered from evil. The Greek word that is translated ‘evil’ is πονηρός poneros, which derives from ponos pain, thus poneros is literally pain-ridden, or more properly that which gives pain.

Posted on July 6, 2020 by christianwordsblog

BAPTISM

The word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Luke 3:2-3)

The Greek word translated baptism is βαπτίζω baptizó.

Posted on June 26, 2020June 26, 2020 by christianwordsblog

RESPECT

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:15-17)

If evangelism has become tainted with the association with ranting and bigotry then perhaps it is because not enough Christians took to heart what Peter says in his first letter. What should characterise the messenger who brings the good news of Jesus, who gave of himself to redeem humankind, is contained in the two words translated as gentleness and respect; the evangelist should speak gently and respectfully.

Posted on June 24, 2020June 25, 2020 by christianwordsblog

WILFUL

For we, wilfully sinning after the receiving the full knowledge of the truth, no more for sins does there remain a sacrifice but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery zeal, about to devour the opposers…(Hebrews 10:26)

This notoriously difficult and controversial passage reads this way in the NIV.

Posted on June 16, 2020June 22, 2020 by christianwordsblog

Church

‘…And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.’ (Matthew 16:18)

This much-misunderstood verse follows Simon Peter’s profession of faith in Jesus as God the Son; the rock, the foundation of the church, is faith not Peter, even if Jesus blesses him for his profession. Church then is simply the earthly host of like-minded believers. The Greek word translated ‘church’ is ἐκκλησίᾳ, ekklēsia from the prefix, ek ‘out, from and to’ and kaleo ‘to call’. This was a common, secular word meaning an assembly, specifically that of a political party literally called out of their homes to assemble in the forum or agora, the market square.

Peter describes the church in this way:

(Those of Christ are…) a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9) Read more

Posted on June 13, 2020 by christianwordsblog

Doubt (of the faithful)

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. (Matthew 28:16-17)

Now the Greek word in this passage that is translated as doubt is the verb διστάζω distazo, which means literally two-fold or double stance. To be caught between two positions, to vacillate.

Posted on June 9, 2020June 10, 2020 by christianwordsblog

GOODNESS (of God)

‘Why do you ask me about what is good?’ Jesus replied. ‘There is only One who is good…’ Matthew 19:17

Jesus is approached by a man; the text identifies him as possessing youth and wealth, a heady combination, yet his question to Jesus is directed toward his salvation.

‘Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?’ (ibid 19:16)

Posted on June 7, 2020 by christianwordsblog

REDEEMER (Kinsman)

I know that my redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth

(Job 19:25)

Job prophesies, here in full:

I know that my redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
with my own eyes – I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me! (ibid 19:25-27)

Posted on June 2, 2020June 3, 2020 by christianwordsblog

HEAD (Covering)

Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? (1 Corinthians 11:13)

The Greek word for veil is καλύπτρα kalyptra gives rise to the verb κατακαλύπτω katakalyto ‘to completely veil’ or ‘to cover up’, and the resultant adjective (above) ἀκατακάλυπτος akatakalyptos ‘uncovered’ or ‘revealed’.