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To Gain a Firm Mental Grasp (ἐπίσταμαι)

Having a firm mental grasp or acquiring information is expressed by ἐπίσταμαι (epistamai). Its root means to stand (ιστημι). Therefore, it expresses standing with a firm mental grasp because of the information a person is acquainted with.

In Peter’s denial of Christ, when questioned by a young servant girl if he was with Christ, he adamantly denied it, saying that he neither intuitively knows nor has acquired knowledge concerning Christ, Mark 14:68. After Peter is restored from the attack by Satan that caused him to deny Christ, God uses him to show the Jews that the Gentiles are also being accepted into the Church. In Cornelius’ house, Peter states that they have a firm mental grasp on the fact that it is not permissible for a Jew to fellowship or enter into a place with another nation, Acts 10:28. However before Cornelius sent for Paul, God showed him that he is not to call any man common or unclean and, therefore, Peter came without objection.

During the council in Acts chapter fifteen concerning whether or not the Gentiles should be circumcised and obey the law of Moses, Peter spoke up concerning what God had been doing. The elders and apostles present had acquired knowledge concerning the situation when God instructed Peter to enter into the house of a Gentile so they could hear the gospel. They were neither circumcised nor immersed before the Holy Spirit came upon them in the same manner as He did on the day of Pentecost to show the Jews a sign, Acts 15:5.

When Apollos came to Ephesus, he was mighty in the Scripture; however, he was only familiar with (had a firm mental grasp) the immersion of John, Acts […]

To Gain a Firm Mental Grasp (ἐπίσταμαι)Luther Walker2024-02-15T08:03:08-08:00

Prepared food (ὀψάριον)

A tidbit (ὀψάριον), or prepared food, is often translated as fish; however, it is not limited to just fish (ἰχθύς). The Apostle John is the only author who uses this word to describe food.

In the story of Jesus feeding five thousand men with five barley loaves and two small fish, recorded by the Apostle John in John 6:9, he writes that it is prepared food that the young boy had. In this sign, after giving thanks to the Father, the five thousand men following Jesus were able to eat until they were satisfied, John 6:11, leaving twelve baskets of barley and tidbits remaining. When Matthew records this event, he uses the word for fish (ἰχθύς), indicating that the prepared tidbits of food the young man had was cooked fish.

After the resurrection of Christ, to show the disciples that He truly was raised from the dead, He ate with them. The disciples had returned to their fishing business when Jesus stood on the shore, asking if they had food (προσφάγιον – food prepared beforehand). He then instructed them to cast their net on the right side, for they had not caught any fish. The results immediately showed the disciples that they were speaking to their Lord, for they had caught more fish than they could draw in the boat, John 21:6. Once they came to land, Jesus had some prepared food on the coals with bread, John 21:9-10. After setting down to eat breakfast, Jesus partakes of the food to show them He is human, not a spirit. This is the third time Jesus appeared to them after His resurrection, John 21:14.

Prepared food (ὀψάριον)Luther Walker2024-02-08T05:59:57-08:00

Different (διάφορος)

Different (διάφορος) focus on the distinctiveness and, therefore, can express something outstanding or excellent in comparison.

Paul uses “difference” to describe the distinctions between Spiritual gifts in Romans 12:6 according to the grace given to us, and therefore, we are to use the gift we received to its fullest while not seeking to do more than what God has laid out for us. Although there are diversities (διαίρεσις), the sign gifts, revelatory gifts, and edifying gifts all have their purpose, for we are part of one body. God has set each member within the body according to His desire, 1 Corinthians 12:18. This is especially important to understand concerning the use of Spiritual gifts today, for the sign and revelatory gifts have ceased due to fulfilling their purpose. Therefore, let us focus on the edification of the assembly, not an individual, 1 Corinthians 14:4.

Christ is different than the angels, for He is the Son of God, the exact image of God the Father, and has therefore obtained a different name than they, Hebrews 1:2. At no time did God say to an angle, “You are My Son, Today I have begotten you.” Rather, the angels are to worship Christ, showing that He truly is God in the flesh, Hebrews 1:6. To the Son, He said, “Your throne, O God, is into the ages of the ages.”

The Tent that Moses was instructed to build was to be precisely completed in the manner in which He was shown, for it is a shadow of the heavenly things, Hebrews 8:3. Through the Holy Spirit, Hebrews 9:12, Christ entered the Holy of Holies in the heavens and through His blood obtained a more excellent (different) ministry in […]

Different (διάφορος)Luther Walker2024-02-01T05:29:20-08:00

Obtaining by Experience Something Happening (τυγχάνω)

To obtain by experience something happening (τυγχάνω) expresses the concept of hitting the mark or attaining; therefore, that which has occurred or been accomplished. However, it does not convey the idea of something a person seeks to obtain or gain through effort. Instead, it is when something happens; therefore, they have acquired it.

When Jesus spoke of a man who was on his way to Jerusalem from Jericho, it happened to him that thieves stripped, wounded, and left him half dead, Luke 10:29. This was not something that the man sought to attain, in the sense of seeking out. Rather, this happened to him.

In attempting to deceive Jesus into saying something by which they could accuse Him, the Jews question Him about a woman who had seven brothers, who each died without a child. Therefore, as was customary, she became the wife of each brother to pass on their seed. They inquired whose wife she would be in the resurrection. In response, Jesus states that those who are worthy of the age have attained the resurrection out from the dead and, therefore, do not marry, for they are like the angels in this matter, Luke 20:35. The resurrection out from the dead has happened to them.

In Ephesus, Paul taught in the school of Tyrannus for two years. During this time, it happened to Paul that God worked miracles through him so that all of Asia heard of the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jew and Gentile, Acts 19:11. In seeking to persuade Felix to put Paul to death, Terullus speaks of the peace that has happened to them under his leadership, Acts 24:2. Experiencing something happening can relate to obtaining care, such […]

Obtaining by Experience Something Happening (τυγχάνω)Luther Walker2024-01-25T11:37:15-08:00

To Prune (καθαίρω)

Through the concept of a vine and a vinedresser, Christ explains to the disciples the new relationship the saved will have with Him and God the Father after His resurrection. He is the vine, the source of life for the branches. The Father is the vinedresser. In John 15:2, the vinedresser lifts the branches that do not bear fruit and prunes those producing fruit so they can yield more. Lifting (αἴρω) is a word that means to pick up. Prune (καθαίρω) is derived from lifting (αἴρω). By adding a preposition to the front of the word, the meaning changes from lift to lifting away, or pruning. The intent for pruning is given within the passage. He prunes the branches so they may produce more fruit.
Take up (αἴρω) is found in several forms to emphasize the purpose of lifting. In 1 Corinthians 5:2, it is used with the preposition for “out from”. The saints of Corinth were puffed up and boasting about allowing a man who was blatantly sinning among them. Their response should have been to mourn such activities and remove, lift away, that person from among them. We, as sons of God, are not to keep company with any brother who is a fornicator, covetous, idolator, reviler, drunkard, or extortioner. Instead, these people are to be put away from us for they are malignantly evil, 1 Corinthians 5:10.
Pruning (καθαίρω) is therefore done in the life of a Christian who is producing the fruit of the Spirit by governing his life according to the desires from the Holy Spirit so that he can yield more fruit. Neither lifting (αἴρω) nor pruning (καθαίρω) implies the removal of the branch from the vine.

To Prune (καθαίρω)Luther Walker2024-01-18T05:33:50-08:00

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