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Fond of Honor (φιλοτιμέομαι)

Fond of Honor (φιλοτιμέομαι) is a word built from fondness (φιλος) and honor (τιμη) to express the concept of aspire towards that which is honorable. Therefore, have a strong desire, ambition, or aim to achieve something. It is often used when someone is striving toward a high or noble goal.

Paul aspired to evangelize the gospel where Christ had not been named, taking it to the end of the known world, not building upon another’s work, Romans 15:20. Just as it is written, to those whom it was not announced, they will discern, and to those who have not heard, they will understand.

We walk by faith, not by what we physically see; therefore, we are to aspire, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to God, 2 Corinthians 5:9. While we are present in this body, we are absent from the Lord. Although we groan within ourselves to be swallowed up by life, during our time here on earth we are to strive to be pleasing to God for we will all face the reward seat of Christ and receive the things that have been done in this body, 2 Corinthians 5:10.

Although the Thessalonians saints could have retaliated against the Jews who stirred up the city and instigated the magistrates to illegally demand surety from the victims; instead, Paul encourage them to refrain from disruptive activities, living a well-ordered life, 1 Thessalonians 4:11. This type of lifestyle focuses on your own things, working with your own hands so that you are able to walk in a proper manner to those who are outside the Church.

We are to be fond of doing what is honorable, for God has given us all things pertaining to […]

Fond of Honor (φιλοτιμέομαι)2024-09-26T05:34:54-07:00

Biblical Greek Year 1 Lesson 2

Introduction to Verbs

Class Notes

Introduction to Verbs

A verb is a word that represents an action, occurrence, or state of being. Verbs are one of the fundamental building blocks of grammar in most languages. They are crucial for constructing sentences and conveying actions or states.

There are several types of verbs used to express action or a state of being:

  1. Action Verbs: These describe specific actions performed by the subject. Examples: run, jump, write, speak.
  2. Linking Verbs: These verbs connect the subject of a sentence to additional information about the subject. They do not describe an action. Common linking verbs include forms of “to be” (is, am, are, was, were), seem, become, appear.
  3. Helping Verbs (Auxiliary Verbs): These verbs are used with main verbs to form different tenses, moods, or voices. Examples: have, do, will, shall, can, may, must.
  4. Transitive Verbs: These verbs require a direct object to complete their meaning. Example: “She reads a book.”
  5. Intransitive Verbs: These verbs do not require a direct object. Example: “He sleeps.”

The Greek verb system is complex and encompasses various components, including tense, voice, mood, person, and number.

Tense (Χρόνος)

In the majority of the tenses the kind of action is the primary focus. Only in the Indicated mode is time absolute.

  • Present (Ενεστώτας): Indicates a continuous or repeated action in the present time (e.g., “I am loosing”). 1 John 3:9, Does not “habitually” sin.
  • Imperfect (Παρατατικός): Indicates a continuous or repeated action in the past (e.g., “I was loosing”). John 1:1, the Word was before any beginning.
  • Future (Μέλλοντας): Indicates an action that will occur in the future (e.g., “I will loose”). Matthew 16:18, I will build My Church.
  • Aorist (Αόριστος): Indicates action […]
Biblical Greek Year 1 Lesson 22024-10-02T14:36:13-07:00

Pleasing (ἀρέσκω)

Pleasing (ἀρέσκω) expresses the concept of acting in a fawning manner to win favor or to act in a way that is pleasing. Therefore, it has a negative, flattery, and a positive, pleasing, side to its meaning.

On Herod’s birthday, Herodias’ daughter danced before Herod and his guests to please him, instigating a response from him that resulted in a promise of a reward. This allowed Herodias to have John the Baptist put to death for calling out Herod’s unlawful act of being with her (his brother’s wife), for she had already instructed her daughter to ask for his head when the King offered her whatever she wanted because she pleased him, Matthew 14:6.

At the beginning of the Church, before the complete revelation concerning the Church was given, the first assembly in Jerusalem faced an issue with the care of the widows among the Hellenistic Jews. This issue required substantial attention and would impact the disciples’ ability to minister to the saints. To address this, the disciples called the multitude together to discuss selecting men who would handle the day-to-day affairs of the assembly, including ensuring that all widows were adequately cared for. This solution would allow the disciples to focus on ministering the Word instead of serving tables. The proposed resolution pleased the multitude, creating the position of Deacon, Acts 6:5.

The desires and works of the flesh cannot please God, for they are carnal in nature and, therefore, hostile to God, Romans 8:8. Because God imputes Christ’s death and resurrection to us, we are able to walk in newness of life, free from slavery to the sin nature, Romans 6:5-6. However, when we try to live the Christian life through law, the result […]

Pleasing (ἀρέσκω)2024-09-05T05:52:16-07:00

Idle (ἀργός)

Idle (ἀργός) describes someone who has nothing to do or is unwilling to work and, therefore, lazy.

Words are important. Men will give account for every idle utterance that comes out of the mouth, Matthew 12:36. This is because the mouth speaks out from the abundance of the heart, Matthew 12:34. A good man will store up good treasure in his heart, where a malignantly evil one will bring forth malignantly evil things from the treasury of his heart.

Socialism is not a standard for the Church. As with secular socialism, when people are taken care of and allowed to be idle rather than work, they become lazy. However, within the assembly, the sharing of possessions can and should be done out of love. We are a community that cares for each other. Sharing is not to encourage laziness, for one who does not work is not to be permitted to eat, 2 Thessalonians 3:10. When a woman within the assembly becomes a widow, who is truly destitute having no living relatives, the local assembly is to care for her needs. This type of caring demonstrates our unity and love for the saints. However, if she is young or has other family members who can care for her, she is not to be financially provided for by the Church because of the danger of her becoming idle; instead, she is to marry, bear children, and manage the household, 1 Timothy 5:13.

The standards for a Pastor are essential for the assembly to know and to hold him accountable to. Paul left Titus in Crete to put things in order and appoint elders (pastors) in each of the cities, abiding by the guidance that Paul gave him, […]

Idle (ἀργός)2024-07-25T05:49:45-07:00

Prostration (προσκυνέω)

Prostration (προσκυνέω), the act of lying stretched out on the ground with the face downward, is a profound expression of reverence and compliance. It symbolizes complete dependence and submission to a higher authority, conveying an attitude of deep humility.

During His earthly ministry, Jesus restored a man’s sight on the Sabbath, which caused quite a stir with the ruling religious party. After the Pharisees accused the man of not being blind, which was refuted by his parents, they again questioned him concerning the healing, especially regarding who performed this act upon him. At that time, the man who was blind did not know who had given him sight; however, even he could see that such a one would be from God. The Pharisees disagreed and cast him out of the synagogue because he was healed on the Sabbath. After hearing what had happened, Jesus found the man and asked him if he believed in the Son of God. Inquiring who the Son of God is, the previously blind man prostrated before Jesus when he became aware He was the one who healed him, John 9:38.

Within our English Bibles the word “worship” is predominantly used to translate the word “prostration”, which expresses the concept of lying stretched out in reverence and compliance; therefore, it conveys the meaning of giving proper credit for who a person is. Worship is used in our English translations for a few different Greek words, such as, religious reverence (σεβάζομαι), Romans 1:25, rendering religious service (λατρεύω), Hebrews 10:2, and even prayer. Making it difficult to determine what is implied by the term worship. We see such an instance when Paul instructs the saint in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to pray without […]

Prostration (προσκυνέω)2024-10-18T07:34:05-07:00
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