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.
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 as much as He is the mediator of a better covenant that is built upon better promises, Hebrews 8:6. Therefore, the Church is not Israel and never will take the place of Israel, for our covenant and promises are different. The temple was a shadow of the good things to come, symbolic through the offerings of sacrifices and gifts concerning food and drink, different washings, and fleshly ordinances. However, Christ is the High Priest of the good things to come that are based upon the greater, more complete tabernacle. The One not made with hands, Hebrews 9:8.
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 as with Paul in Sidon, Acts 27:3, or receiving kindness after the shipwreck on Malta, Acts 28:2. Each of these events or circumstances were attained to because they occurred.
As Paul is discussing his plans, when he goes through Macedonia, it may happen (τυγχάνω) that he stays the winter in Corinth; however, for now, he is headed to Jerusalem so he will tarry in Ephesus, 1 Corinthians 16:6. The things that Paul endures is for the sake of the elect that they may attain to salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, 2 Timothy 2:10. This is not gaining salvation, for to be elect is to be saved; rather, it is to attain to a lifestyle that expresses the life we have in Christ, 2 Timothy 2:11.
In dealing with the misuse of the Spiritual gift of speaking in tongues that was active during the early Church as a sign to the unbelieving Jews, Paul states that it happens that there are many kinds of languages in the world, 1 Corinthians 14:10. Therefore, if we do not know the meaning of a language then it has no value to us. Within the Church, it is better to speak a few words with understanding than ten thousand in an unknown language, 1 Corinthians 14:19.
In explaining the resurrection, Paul uses a grain, which may happen to be wheat, to convey the concept that the body sown is not the same as what comes, 1 Corinthians 15:37. Our current body is soulish in nature and relates to the earth; however, the resurrected body will be spiritual and pertain to heavenly things, 1 Corinthians 15:46-49. Old Testament saints who understood Scripture concerning the resurrection to come rejected the payment of a ransom for their freedom so they could attain a better resurrection, Hebrews 11:35.
It has happened to Christ that He has become the Mediator of a better covenant that is built upon better promises, Hebrews 8:6. He has obtained the position of the High Priest after the Melchizedek order, which is not according to the Law, through what He experienced, Hebrews 7:11. It is because He obtained the position of the Mediator of a better covenant that those within the Church are not under law, for their promises are built upon better things.
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.
Propitiation (ἱλάσκομαι)
Propitiation (ἱλάσκομαι) is the act of making compensation, thereby providing a satisfaction. In the Old Testament, propitiation is found in the place between the cherubs on the Ark of the Covenant. The place of propitiation (ἱλαστήριον).
God set forth Christ as a propitiation through His blood to demonstrate His righteousness in the deferring of punishment for previously committed sins, Romans 3:25. Therefore, we are justified out from faith through grace, not through works, because Christ’s death for sin satisfies the righteousness of God in forgiving sins, Romans 3:24. Christ’s propitiatory work not only atones for the sins of those who are saved, but the entire world, 1 John 2:2. Therefore, God is just in permitting unrighteous beings into His presence while He demonstrates an aspect of His character to the spirit beings.
The Apostle John writes that God loved the world in this way, He gave His unique one-of-a-kind Son so that all the ones believing in Him would be saved, John 3:16. His Son made a propitiation for our sins and therefore makes it possible for us to be saved, 1 John 4:10. This is how God loved the world, by giving us a Savior Who was able to satisfy the righteousness of God and provide a sacrifice for the sending away of sin.
Under the Old Testament, The Mosaic Law, God had them build an Ark for the Covenant to reside within and as a place of propitiation for the sins of the people, Exodus 25:10. Often translated as mercy seat, the place between the Cherubim on the Ark was a place of atonement or propitiation, a place of covering (כַּפֹּ֫רֶת kapporet), not of mercy, Exodus 25:17. Either kindness (חֶסֶד kesed), Psalm 23:6, compassions (רַחֲמִים rahamim), Genesis 43:14, or favor (חנן kenen), Job 9:15, are translated as mercy in many English translations; however, they do not all carry a meaning of relief from sin. Paul quotes Jeremiah 31:34 in Hebrews 8:12. For I will be a satisfaction (ἵλεως) to their unrighteousness and their sins I will never remember. Pardon (סלח seleh), found in Jeremiah, is translated by using satisfaction (ἵλεως), not mercy (ελεος). Romans 9:15 shows us that mercy in the Old Testament is expressed by favor (חנן kenen). Therefore, propitiation is not the same as mercy. Rather, propitiation relates to atonement, which is the covering of sin.
Christ’s propitiatory work on the cross provided a satisfaction for the righteousness of the Father concerning the sins of Satan, the angels that followed him, along with humans, showing that He was just in deferring punishment on previously committed sins. However, punishment is still coming for those who reject God, for Christ’s work on the cross did not satisfy the wrath of God. Satan, his angels, and all humans who reject God will face punishment for their works, but not for their sins, because Christ made a satisfaction for them. However, propitiation is not equivalent to salvation. Propitiation shows that God is righteous in providing salvation by faith through grace based on Christ’s death for sins, according to the Scriptures, and His resurrection on the third day, according to the Scriptures, thereby, sending away the trespasses and sins of those who believe, Colossians 1:14 (sins); Ephesians 1:7 (trespasses).