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Relent (נָחַם)

Nacham (נָחַם) is often translated as “comfort”, “sorry”, “relent”, “repent”, “moved with pity”, or “grieved”, making it difficult to understand its true meaning. The basic meaning of נָחַם is “to relent”; however, in context it can also express “to console,” since by the nature of relenting one concedes from his distress.

The first occurrence of נָחַם (nacham) in Scripture is when Lamech named his son Noah, which is a form of נָחַם (nacham), meaning, “one who brings comfort,” Genesis 5:29. The birth of a son brought comfort to his parents because they would be able to relent from their work, having an additional hand to assist.

In Genesis 6:6, after seeing that mankind had rejected good and only goes after wrong all day long, for even every formation of the intent of his heart only sought after evil, God determines to destroy these wicked humans. Although many of our translations use the word “sorry” or “regret”, neither of these actually expresses the meaning of נָחַם (nacham), and both imply something about God that is not true. God did not change His mind, or feel regret, concerning creating humans; instead, He relented from striving with humans because of their wickedness. God did not forget His word to Adam, Eve, and the serpent. Due to the wickedness of these humans, God chose to destroy them to stop their evil ways. However, He saved eight souls, allowing humanity to continue and His word to be fulfilled. Genesis 6:6-7 show us that wickedness is very repulsive to God and that He will only permit it to go so far before bringing judgment. To ensure the wickedness of humans would not again get to the point that it was […]

Relent (נָחַם)2024-08-26T07:22:22-07:00

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

Reconcile (καταλλάσσω)

Reconcile (καταλλάσσω) involves the settlement of disputes or differences between two or more individuals or groups. It is often facilitated by a third party. An agreement is reached that satisfies all persons involved in the dispute, thereby restoring a sense of cooperation and harmony.

In the marriage relationship among saints when there is a dispute that results is a separation, they are not to marry another. Rather, they are to stay unmarried or be reconciled to each other, 1 Corinthians 7:11. However, if an unbelieving spouse abandoned the marriage, the believer is free to remarry another believer, 1 Corinthians 7:15.

God demonstrated His love towards us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us, Romans 5:8. Through the death of Christ, the righteousness of God was satisfied, permitting reconciliation, Romans 5:9. Therefore, since when we were enemies He made reconciliation for us through His blood, how much more through His life will we be saved, Romans 5:10. He was raised three days later, proving that His sacrifice was acceptable to God and, therefore, we are justified through Him, Romans 4:25. It was necessary that Christ died for our sin because without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin, Hebrews 9:22. Without the shedding a blood a settlement could not be garnered that would satisfy all parties.

In this dispensation, those who are saved are given the ministry of reconciliation, 2 Corinthians 5:18. God was in Christ reconciling the world, not imputing their trespasses, and has given to us the word of reconciliation, 2 Corinthians 5:19. We supplicate on behalf of Christ to those who do not believe to be reconciled to God, 2 Corinthians 5:20.

Adam’s sin brought death unto all humans, […]

Reconcile (καταλλάσσω)2024-07-04T06:46:30-07:00

Mental Control (πίμπλημι)

Mental Control (πίμπλημι) is a type of filling in which the person, or thing, is completely filled up in such a way as to directly influence its direction and activities; therefore, they are dominated by what is filling them.

This is the type of filling used by the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost in the upper room in Acts chapter two when the disciples were dominated by Him to speak with other dialects. This is not the Spiritual gift of speaking in tongues, which is a replenishing type of filling; instead, it is an Old Testament type of filling that was for the purpose of showing the Jews a sign from God.

And they were all dominated by the Holy Spirit and began to speak different languages just as the Spirit gave them to declare – Acts 2:4.

The other type of filling, which is to replenish, is also used in the same context in Acts chapter two for how the sound of a mighty rushing wind filled the house with sound as the Holy Spirit came down from heaven, Acts 2:2.

The Spiritual gift of speaking in tongues that was given to the Church as a sign to the unbelieving Jews is a different type of filling from what happened on the day of Pentecost. It is a filling up where lacking, or replenish, and the person being filled in this way maintains mental control over the use of the gift, 1 Corinthians 14:32. On the day of Pentecost the disciples did not have control over what they were speaking; however, concerning the Spiritual gift of speaking in tongues, Christians are instructed to abstain from speaking if they do not have someone who can […]

Mental Control (πίμπλημι)2024-06-27T05:53:58-07:00

To Suppose (νομίζω)

“To suppose (νομίζω)” expresses following a practice that is customary or common in use, leading to the concept of forming an idea or making a tentative supposition concerning something in a traditional manner.

During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells the Jews not to form a common opinion that He is seeking to release the Law or the Prophets for He came to fulfill, not loose, them, Matthew 5:17. As Jesus sends out twelve disciples, He instructs them to not go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans. Instead, they are only to go to the household of Israel preaching the Kingdom of the Heavens. They are to be wise as serpents, yet as harmless as a dove, for many will deliver them to councils and scourge them in their synagogues. However, they are not to fear them because those who verbally agree that Jesus is the Messiah, He will confess them before the Father in heaven. They are not to suppose that He came to bring peace to the earth, which was the customary way of thinking concerning the Messiah’s coming; instead, He brings a sword, for brother will be against brother, and a son against his father concerning the message of the Kingdom of the Heavens, Matthew 10:34.

Speaking concerning the Kingdom of the Heavens, Jesus uses a parable in which He speaks of a landowner who hired laborers to work in his vineyard for the day. He did this three times throughout the day, gathering more laborers each time. At the end of the day, when the laborers came to receive payment for their work, those who started work in the morning supposed they should get more money than they agreed upon because […]

To Suppose (νομίζω)2024-06-20T05:43:15-07:00
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