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Foreknowledge (πρόγνωσις)

The English word “Prognosis” comes from this Greek word and still carries its basic meaning. A prediction of an outcome based upon prior knowledge. Typically used in the medical field, where the prior knowledge of the physician is called upon to determine the best course of action to heal a sickness, injury, or disease.

Paul uses prognosis in his defense before Agrippa, calling upon the Jews who all have a previous knowledge of Paul’s lifestyle as a Pharisee (Acts 26:5). After Peter discusses the new heavens and new earth, he encourages us to be on our guard because we have a prior knowledge that what is now will be totally destroyed (2 Peter 3:17).

When it comes to God and His prior knowledge, this same word is used. God marked off the bounds to be conformed to the image of His son, those He foreknew (Romans 8:29). The foreknowledge goes back to the plan God determined before the creation of the universe, in which He determined to set a specific group aside to be conformed to His Son. This foreknowledge is not looking at the individual, but the council that the Godhead determined to fulfill.

Speaking concerning Israel, Paul explains that God has not rejected the people that He foreknew. Israel was set aside to God as a nation and God will not cast them off but will fulfill His Word to them. Elijah learned this while thinking he was the only one left. No, God had seven thousand men who had not bowed the knee to Baal, even though it appeared that all others had. (Romans 11:2-4).

Prior to the foundations of the universe, God the Father determined that God the Son would be wrapped in flesh and […]

Foreknowledge (πρόγνωσις)2023-11-25T08:03:34-08:00

Marking Off the Bounds (προορίζω)

Often translated as “predestined”, it is a word that means boundaries or region (Matthew 4:13), with a preposition added to express something that is done beforehand. It does not inherently imply a destination, but a boundary or area; therefore, using “predestine” to define it adds a meaning that does not exist in the original word.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of theological baggage that has been added to this word. It is used to imply that God predetermined who would be saved and therefore who would not. However, when we keep it in context, we find that this is not true. The first thing we need to do is remove the erroneous definition of “predestined” and use the proper definition, “marking off the bounds beforehand”. Then we need to pay attention to context, especially with the difference in singular and plural subjects.

We see a good example of the proper use of this word when Peter was defending himself and John before the leaders of Israel for preaching the resurrected Christ because he uses “marked off beforehand” when discussing what they were permitted to do to the Messiah concerning the plans of the leaders.

… to do as much as your hand and your determinate will marked off beforehand to come to be – Acts 4:28.

They had already set boundaries concerning what they were planning on doing with Christ before they sent the guards to arrest Him on the night in which He was betrayed.

In Romans, God’s plan is laid out for us in how, according to His purpose, He calls because those who He foreknew He marked off their bounds. They are not predestined to salvation, but according to His purpose, those that will be saved will […]

Marking Off the Bounds (προορίζω)2023-11-25T08:04:18-08:00

2 Corinthians The Christ, A New Creation

Astounded, to God, A Saved Frame of Mind to You, 2 Corinthians 5:13

Astounded – To Stand Out From

The Devout Jews in Jerusalem Hearing the Galileans Speak in Their Dialect, Acts 2:7

Simon the Magician astounding the people of Samaria, Acts 8:9

Simon the Magician’s Seeing the Signs and Wonders Phillip Did in Samaria, Acts 8:13

The Jews with Peter at Cornelius’ House, Acts 10:45

Peter Knocking at the Door of Mary’s House, Acts 12:16

Astounded Is Primarily Used in the Gospels and the Book of Acts

Being Astounded is a feeling or showing of great surprise or wonder

Does not mean to be out of one’s mind

The Jews Concerning Jesus Being Insane, John 10:19-21

Paul Speaking Truth to Festus, Acts 26:24-25

Seeing Something That Blows the Mind

Our Astonishment is Towards God

Towards Others, Having a Sound Frame of Mind, 2 Corinthians 5:13

Having a Saved Frame of Mind

Young Men are to Have a Saved Frame of Mind, Titus 2:6-8

The End is Near So We All Should Have A Saved Frame of Mind, 1 Peter 4:7

The Framing of the Mind is What Boundaries We Set on Our Mind

We Are to Frame Our Minds on The Things Above, Colossians 3:1-2

Not Having a High Frame of Mind Concerning Yourself, Romans 12:3

Having the Same Frame of Mind as Christ, Philippians 2:5-8

What Paul is Expressing to Us is Not Astounding, For With the Holy Spirit We Can Understand

Christ Died Once for All,

2 Corinthians The Christ, A New Creation2023-12-14T12:24:09-08:00

What Goes Through the Mind (διανοίᾳ)

Under the Mosaic Law, Israel was instructed to love their God with all their heart (center of a person), soul (emotions), strength, and what goes through their minds – Luke 10:27. Israel failed this, but God will make a new covenant with them in which He will put His law in their thoughts, not just in the mind, but in what goes through the mind, Hebrews 8:10; 10:16).

For Christians, before salvation we walked according to the age of this world system following the desires of the flesh and of all that went through our minds and were by nature children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3). This produced a hostility within the thoughts towards God (Colossians 1:21). Now we are not to walk as the unsaved in the futility of the mind with our thoughts darkened (Ephesians 4:18) for God has manifested the light of the knowledge of Christ in our hearts (2 Corinthians 4:6). Because the Son of God has come, the thoughts going through our mind can know Him and therefore know the truth (1 John 5:20).

So then let us gird up our thoughts, keep a clear mind, and completely hope upon the grace to come at the appearance of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:13). Hope is always based upon a promise. The promises we have from God impact our everyday life. We are His children (1 John 3:2). We are of the light (Ephesians 5:8). We are free from slavery to the sin nature (Romans 6:14). We are overcomers in Christ so when Satan tries to manipulate us, we are to stand in Christ against him (1 Peter 5:9). We are in the world, but we are not out from the world and therefore […]

What Goes Through the Mind (διανοίᾳ)2023-11-25T08:05:44-08:00

Conclusions of the Mind (νόημα)

How a person’s mind works is seen in their actions, which are a result of the conclusions the mind makes. By taking the word for mind and adding a specific ending, the Greek language is expressing the result of the working of the mind, so not just the thoughts, but the conclusions resulting from our thoughts.

As Christians, we are not to be ignorant of the workings of Satan’s mind (2 Corinthians 2:11). In Scripture, the methods that he uses are revealed to us (Ephesians 6:11); therefore, we are to stand firm against him. He also blinds the results of the working of the mind for those who do not believe (2 Corinthians 4:4). When presented with the truth of Scripture, the suppositions of those blinded are incorrect. A good example with this is the Gospel for Salvation, which is clearly stated in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. Yet how many “gospel” tracks modify the message of the gospel to “repenting of your sins”, “making Jesus the Lord of your life” and so on, which are different gospels that are not good news at all (Galatians 1:6).

Due to Israel’s rejection of God’s covenant of promise and seeking their own righteousness, even today, when they read the Old Testament a veil covers the mind (2 Corinthians 3:14) so they do not understand and draw proper conclusions based upon what it states.

We have a renewed mind in Christ, a mind that can understand the things of the Spirit and produces correct suppositions based upon fact so it is able to discern what is the will of God (Romans 12:2). When we do not use this frame of mind, we can be led astray from the simplicity that is in Christ […]

Conclusions of the Mind (νόημα)2023-11-25T08:05:34-08:00
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