A Doer of Wrong (κακοποιός)
There are two types of evil described in Scripture that are often not distinguished in many English translations. The first kind of evil (κακός) expresses someone who is doing wrong, doing that which lacks in character. The second form of evil (πονηρός) is the person spreading their erroneous ways to others. These expect and encourage others to participate in their wicked ways; hence, they are malignantly evil. A doer of wrong (κακοποιός) describes the character of a person who is known to do things in an untruthful, deceptive, or corrupt manner; a willingness to do things in a way they know is not correct to gain or to take advantage for themselves. In contrast to this type of evil is the concept of doing what is proper, which produces beneficial works rather than causing harm and calamity.
When the Jews sought to have Pilate put Jesus to death, they delivered Him over to Pilate as one who is a doer of wrong. However, Pilate found nothing in Jesus’ actions to indicate this; therefore, he told them to take Jesus and judge Him by their laws. However, the Romans did not allow the Jews to put someone to death; therefore, they required Pilate’s assistance to crucify Jesus, John 18:30-31. By continuing to hold Jesus, and ultimately fulfilling the desires of the Jews, both Pilate and the Jewish leaders are the ones who are actually doers of wrong, for they knew that Jesus had done no wickedness, yet still had Him put to death.
When it comes to the behavior of Christians, we are to abstain from fleshly lusts that war against our emotions (soul) while having a proper conduct among those who are not saved. When they speak against us, as though we are the ones who do wrong because we refuse to participate in their corrupt lifestyle, we will be justified by our proper works, 1 Peter 2:11-12.
Governments, and those in positions of authority, are set up for the purpose of punishing those who do wrong and praising the ones who are involved in beneficial works. In seeking opportunities to do good, we are to submit, for the benefit, to every creation of men on account of the Lord and not use our freedom as a cloak to do wrong, 1 Peter 2:13-14. In doing good, we are to muzzle the ignorance of foolish men, for there are many in positions of government that usurp authority to do wicked things and enrich themselves; therefore, our actions should expose them, for we are to shine as luminaries among this crooked and perverse generation through our good conduct in Christ, 1 Peter 2:15. However, if we are going to suffer, let us suffer for doing good, never for doing wrong, for we are to have no part in the wickedness of this world, 1 Peter 3:17.
When it comes to being persecuted for doing good and refusing to participate in the malignant evil ways of the unsaved, rather than being discouraged, we are to set apart Christ as the Master of our lives and always be ready to give a verbal defense for the hope that we have, 1 Peter 3:14-15. With objectivity of mind and respect, we are to maintain a good conscience so that when we are reviled for our good conduct in Christ as though we are the ones doing wrong, those who accuse us will be put to shame, 1 Peter 3:16. Since as a Christian, we are not of this world, and therefore, the world is indifferent to us, we will be persecuted for doing good when it does not line up with what those of the world desire. Therefore, let none of us suffer for being a murderer, thieves, a doer of wrong, or busybodies; rather, let us do good. And when we suffer as Christians, let us not be ashamed, but rather, show a proper opinion of who God is through our proper conduct, 1 Peter 4:14-16.
Hatred (στυγητός)
Hatred (στυγητός) expresses a despicable or loathsome attitude. It is in contrast to indifference (μισέω), which conveys the concept of not caring about the well-being of others unless it benefits you. Hate is a type of attitude likened to how a storm makes the sky appear in the distance: dark, gloomy, and threatening, Matthew 16:3.
“Hateful”, as an adjective, is only used once in scripture in Titus 3:3. In submitting to rulers and authorities so that we are ready in every good work, we are to put away blasphemy as we seek peace and show kindness to all. Not forgetting that in our former manner of life, we were disobedient, malice, and hateful while being indifferent to others. Since hateful and indifference are used together in the same sentence to describe a person’s attitude and activities, they do not carry the same meaning. This is important to note because many of our English versions translate indifference (μισέω) as hatred, thereby masking the actual meaning of indifference. The apostle John writes concerning those who say they love God but are indifferent to their fellow brother in the Lord. Since they are showing indifference to a fellow saint, they cannot be loving God, 1 John 4:20. This is not hatred towards others, but not being concerned about their well-being, for indifference expresses an attitude that is apathetic towards others because you have no particular interest in or concern about them. This cloaking in the meaning of indifference also impacts the saint’s understanding of the world system, for it does not have a loathsome or despicable attitude towards Christians; rather, it is indifferent to them. Therefore, the world system has no issue with using Christianity and Christians for its benefit, but the moment they are no longer of any value to it, the world will cast them off. This is indifference, where hatred would not tolerate Christians in any aspect of today’s civilized world.
During Christ’s ministry, a rich man asked how he could obtain eternal life. Because of the manner in which he spoke to Jesus, Jesus responded by telling the man to obey the Mosaic law, for he had addressed Jesus as a good teacher, trying to appease Him with words to get what he wanted, Mark 10:17-19. Replying to Jesus’ statement concerning obedience to the Mosaic law, the rich man informs Him that he has followed the law from his youth, Mark 10:20. It is at this time that Jesus expresses love towards the man, seeking the best for him, and informs him on what he must do, which is to sell all his possessions and follow Him, Mark 10:21. During Christ’s earthly ministry, the Jews had to take up their cross and follow Jesus, Mark 8:34. The cross they would bear was the rejection of their family, friends, and the rulers of Israel for following the Messiah, Matthew 19:29. However, Jesus’ response was not what the man wanted to hear so he went away in grief, hating the word that Jesus said. “But he, while being hateful upon this word, left, being caused to grieve for he had great possessions.” Mark 10:22. He was not sad; rather, his attitude towards Jesus’s word telling him to give away all his goods and follow Him was hatred, for the reason the man would not follow the Messiah was because it would cause him to lose his wealth. Therefore, the issue was not that he was wealthy but that he held his prosperity in this world to be of more value than eternity. In his hatred towards Jesus’ words, we see why Christ stated that the one who is fond of his life in this world will lose it, Mark 8:35-36.
As Christians, we are to abhor malignant evil while clinging to what is proper, Romans 12:9. Abhor is a derivative of hate, showing that when it comes to wickedness and doing things in a wrong manner, these types of works are to be seen as despicable and disgusting. Therefore, we are to loathe anything that is malignant evil, refusing to have any part in it.
A quality of the wrath of God is seen upon those who live an ungodly and unrighteous lifestyle, along with those who hold down the truth in unrighteousness. This wrath is manifested by God turning them over to a reprobate mind and allowing them to destroy themselves through their corrupt desires and works. These are the ones who are full of unrighteousness and haters of God, Romans 1:30.
Although not often used in Scripture, “hatred” expresses a loathsome or vile attitude directed at others or situations that is distinct from indifference and, therefore, should not be used synonymously. As for the Christian, the only aspect of hatred that should be shown is towards anything manifesting malignant evil.
In One Accord (ὁμοθυμαδόν)
“In one accord” (ὁμοθυμαδόν) is a derivative of anger (θυμος), which expresses an inner burning heat combined with homogenize. By merging “thumos” (θυμος) with “same” (ομοιος), “in one accord” (ὁμοθυμαδόν) does not hold onto the concept of anger; rather, it only retains the intensity that thumos (θυμος) expresses.
This together intensity can be seen with those who do not want to hear the truth, Acts 7:57, and those who believed because of the signs and wonders being done through the Apostles at the beginning of the Church, Acts 8:6. In the secular realm “in one accord (ὁμοθυμαδόν)” is used of the people of Tyre and Sidon coming to Herod to retain peace, for their country was supplied with food from Herod, Acts 12:20. We also encounter this concept when Gallio was proconsul in Achaia, the Jews in one accord rose up against Paul, for they were angry that he was having such success with teaching the Jewish people about the resurrected Christ, along with all the Gentiles that were coming to salvation through the gospel Paul was proclaiming. They express their intense togetherness against Paul to Gallio, who dismisses them because it is not a matter of wrongdoing or a wicked crime being committed, Acts 18:12. This act from Gallio finally gave Paul time to rest from the persecution by the Jews. As the gospel of Christ spread through Ephesus, the silversmith Demetrius, whose primary business was selling idols of Diana, stirred up the city because the prosperity of the gospel of Christ was so predominant that it negatively impacted his business. Demetrius persuaded the other silversmiths of their dilemma, and in their wrath, they confused the city as they all, in one accord, rushed into the theater while claiming Diana of Ephesus is great, Acts 19:28.
On the day of Pentecost after the death and resurrection of Christ, many of the saints are in an upper room in Jerusalem, including the apostles. They are all together in one accord and, therefore, have the same type of intensity within them, Acts 1:14. This is a very tense time for the saints. As Christ prepared to ascend for the final time before sending the Holy Spirit, He instructed the Apostles to stay in Jerusalem until they received the promise from the Father, Acts 1:4. The promise is the Comforter Who He said, during the time of the last supper, that He would send after He leaves to return to the Father, John 14:16. Now, they are all together waiting; however, they do not know when this will happen, although they knew it would be within a short period of time, Acts 1:5. Therefore, “in one accord” is expressing their intensity caused by not only the atmosphere, for the leaders of Israel had just crucified the Messiah and God raised Him three days later from the dead, but also the anticipation of the promise coming, which is shown by their continual participation in worship and supplication. On the day of Pentecost, they were all together again in this same state when the promise came. In His coming, the Holy Spirit mentally controlled them to speak in tongues of other nations as a sign to the Jews in Jerusalem that what was happening was from God, Acts 2:1.
Out from the sign given to the Jews on the day of Pentecost at the beginning of the Church when the Holy Spirit came upon those in the upper room, over three thousand devout Jews in Jerusalem believed that Jesus is the Messiah, Who died on behalf of the sins of the people and was raised from the dead three days later, just as Scripture stated. Therefore, they were all in one accord in the Temple as the apostles taught. In addition, each day they were breaking bread and fellowshipping with each other, for great respect towards God had come upon all of them because of the signs the Apostles were performing, Acts 2:46. During this time, while the Apostles were teaching the Jews in the Temple concerning what Christ had told them before His death and resurrection about the age and dispensation to come, the Priests and the Sadducees were greatly troubled by what they were saying; therefore, they had Peter and John arrested. Standing before Anas, the High Priest, and the elders of Israel, the Holy Spirit mentally controlled Peter to speak boldly the truth of the resurrected Christ, the One they had crucified, but God raised from the dead. After the leaders of Israel threatened and released them, the saints, in one accord, raised their voices to God, giving Him worship and expressing how the Scriptures revealed the nations and rulers would stand against the Messiah. As a result of their communication to God, the whole place was shaken, and they were all mentally controlled by the Holy Spirit to speak boldly, Acts 4:24. This togetherness was not expressing that they were all of one mind; rather, it signifies the burning intensity they all had due to the threat from the leaders of Israel.
In dealing with the heresy that a Christian must be circumcised and, therefore, follow the Mosaic law to be saved, which was brought to Galatia by men claiming to represent the assembly in Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem to discuss the matter with the Apostles. The entire council determined that it is clear by how God is saving the Gentiles that He does not require circumcision for them. In agreement, they were of one accord in sending a group of men back with them to clearly express that it is not appropriate to teach such things and those who do are not from them, Acts 15:25. Therefore, along with being in agreement, they were intensely burning together to ensure the saints knew the outcome of their decision on this matter so they were not deceived.
As Christians, we are to have a shared intensity when it comes to bearing with one another, leading to the edification of the assembly, Romans 15:5-6. This comes from a love for each other that is expressed through ensuring we are looking after the weaknesses of others so that they do not fall. The strong, watching out for the frail in the faith, and the weak, not judging the strong in the faith. For we are all part of one body in Christ.
“In one accord” (ὁμοθυμαδόν) expresses a togetherness in the same burning intensity, not just simply doing things together, being in agreement, or having the same mindset. Even though it is derived from the Greek word for “an inner burning anger”, it does not retain the anger articulated by thumos (θυμος); however, it does retain the intensity of the inner burning to convey an intense burning togetherness due to opposition from others or for the care of the saints.
Testing for Approval (δοκιμάζω)
Testing for approval (δοκιμάζω) is to make a critical examination of a person or thing to determine its authenticity, drawing a conclusion about its worth. Therefore, it is testing to establish whether or not there is something of value within who or what is put to the test.
Today, the wrath of God is upon all ungodliness and those holding down the truth in unrighteousness, for they consider the knowledge of God to be of no value and are therefore given over to a mind that, when tested, fails because it is found to be full of unrighteousness, Romans 1:28. This lack of worth is seen in the conclusions that this type of unapproved mind makes, for they go against the facts presented and are not base on reality. Such as a man who claims there is no God; however, he is fully aware that the universe is more expansive than humans have currently examined, and therefore, making such a statement shows that his conclusions are not of any value. Or a scientist who claims humans came from evolution. A hypothesis that is its own worst enemy, for within its declarations, it ignores the facts and presents evidence for support that is contrary to its own theories, because the evidence actually shows that humans were created. Therefore, the mind can be in such a state from the result of rejecting truth and reality that when put to the test for approval, it fails.
A Jew who claims to rest upon the law and makes his boast in God, asserting he knows His desirous will and is able to discern for good all things for he is instructed in the law, yet breaks the very rules he states others must follow is only fooling himself, Romans 2:18. These types of people we see even in the Church today, who claim to follow Christ and understand Spiritual things; however, when put to the test they do not line up to the standard of who and what a Christian is. Today, we use the term Christian as a general reference to those who are saved. However, technically, this is a saved person who is living in a Christ-like manner, Acts 11:26. Therefore, only the one who has believed that Christ died for our sins and was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures and is feeling at ease in the Christ can be Christ-like, Galatians 2:20. Those who claim a gospel other than the one found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 are not saved, for it is the message by which we are saved. The new creation is the Church, in which Christ is the head and the Church is the body, 2 Corinthians 5:17. Within this new creation, all things have become new because we are born again, 1 Peter 1:23. Therefore, the old nature has been rendered ineffective, Romans 6:6, which is plagued with the sin nature passed down from Adam, Romans 5:12-21. Since we now possess a new nature, when we feel at ease with what God has done in salvation, we are able to manifest the life of Christ within us, Colossians 3:10. Therefore, this is a life that is living out from faith, Romans 1:17. Law is not out from faith; therefore, anyone teaching the Mosaic law for Christians today is not approved, Galatians 3:12.
When it comes to our works, we should be putting them to the test to verify that they are being done in a proper way, out from faith, not because of any quality of Law, 1 Corinthians 11:28, for our works will be declared on the day the Lord returns to take His church home and all that are not approved will be burned up just as all impurities when put to the test with fire, 1 Corinthians 3:13. Therefore, it is important that we have our faith to ourselves. That is, if we say we have faith, let us live out that faith unto God regardless of what others are doing around us, for happy is the man that does not condemn himself for what he approves, Romans 14:22.
One of the aspects of our salvation is that we possess a renewed mind. It is with this mind that we are able to put all things to the test to approve what is the desirous will of God for us, Romans 12:2. We were once children of darkness, but now we are light in the Lord. Therefore, let us walk as children of the light, putting all things to the test, training our senses to discern what is proper from what lacks in character, so that our fruit is found to be of good quality as we seek to please the Lord, not taking part in the unfruitful works of darkness but exposing them, Ephesians 5:8-11. As we grow in knowledge and discernment, we will be able to approve the things that differ so that we live a life that is sincere and without offense, being full of the fruits of righteousness, Philippians 1:9-11. Not fearing trials and temptations that only serve to put our faith to the test so that it is found to be genuine and more precious than gold refined by fire, 1 Peter 1:7. Therefore, let us test all things and hold to what is proper while refraining from all appearances of malignant evil, 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22.
Knit-together (συμβιβάζω)
Knit-together (συμβιβάζω) expresses closely connecting things together in a logical way.
When we go back to the root of this word, without the concept of close together, it is used of prisoners being put onto a ship, Acts 27:6. It is not the same as embarking, which is articulated by ἐμβαίνω as seen in Matthew 8:23. Therefore while putting the prisoners in the ship, the centurion did this in such a way as to ensure they are not mixed with anyone else, not just causing them to get onto the ship. Therefore, it predominantly relates to connecting things together in a logical manner based upon the facts.
After Saul’s encounter with the resurrected Christ on the Damascus road and his time in the desert training to understand what new thing God was doing, he returned to the city. However, this time, rather than seeking to imprison those who followed the way, he returned proclaiming that Jesus is the Christ and was confounding the Jews by knitting together the facts in the Old Testament that prove Jesus is the Messiah, Acts 9:22. Therefore, Paul was properly and logically closely connecting the revelations in the Old Testament concerning Christ to reveal that, in fact, Jesus is the Messiah.
As Paul traveled around spreading the Gospel of the Christ, the Holy Spirit forbade them from entering Asia. Arriving at Troas, Paul is given a vision in the night of a man of Macedonia. Through all of this, Paul logically closely associated what had happened and his vision in the night, concluding that the Lord wanted them to go to Macedonia and proclaim the gospel to them, Acts 16:10.
In 1 Corinthians 2:16, Paul asks a question concerning who has known the mind of the Lord. This refers to a statement made by Isaiah in 40:13-14 where he writes, “Who can measure the Spirit of the Lord or a man His counselor having caused Him to know? With whom did the Lord take advice, and has caused Him to understand, and taught Him in the way of justice?” However, Paul is not quoting Isaiah in 1 Corinthians 2:16; rather, based upon Isaiah’s statement, Paul is asking who is the one who will be knit-together with the Lord. No one possesses the ability to know the mind of God and, therefore, will be knit together with Him in the future. One of the aspects of our salvation today is that we have the Holy Spirit, Who intuitively knows the things of God and reveals them to us, 1 Corinthians 2:12-13. These things are spiritually discerned, for when we focus on our emotions, we cannot understand the things of God, 2 Corinthians 2:14-15. We are then able to understand the things of God because, as part of a new creation, the Christ, we have a new mind that relates to our spirit, which is connected to God. “For who has known [the] mind of [the] Lord, who will be knit-together with Him? Indeed, we have a quality of the mind of Christ” – 1 Corinthians 2:16. Many English translations make the error of interpreting the Greek word for “knit-together” with “instruct”. However, this Greek word is never used for instruction; rather, the concept of instructing is found in κατηχέω (instruct), Romans 2:18. The only justification for this interpretation is an erroneous translation that has not been corrected with new Bible versions, by taking this as a quote and swapping the Greek with the Hebrew word, for within the Greek language, “knit-together” is not used in this manner. Therefore, because we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us, we can know a quality of the mind of the Lord; however, no one knows His mind and consequently can be knit-together with Him in a manner, that Isaiah expresses, as to advise Him.
Due to the Church being part of a new creation, in which Christ is the head and the Church is the body, 2 Corinthians 5:17 – So then, since someone is in Christ, a new creation (the Christ), the archaic things have passed away, behold, all things have become new; Ephesians 1:22-23, Christ is the One Who knits together those in the body, by giving us Pastors even teachers to bring us to a oneness of the faith unto a mature man in Christ so that we are no longer tossed around by every wind of teaching by the trickery of men, Ephesians 4:16. We are not to let anyone cheat us out of the benefits of being in the Christ by taking delight in humility or the worship of angels. These are the ones introducing things which they have not seen, vainly puffed up in their minds, not holding to the Head from Whom the whole body is nourished and knit-together, Colossians 2:18. They claim authority over demons, receiving of visions, interpreting of dreams, imagining spiritual battles in the heavens, which they have only seen in their minds while ignoring the body of the Christ and the truths concerning this dispensation. It is Christ Who knits us together, and therefore, it is through fellowship and studying of the Word that the saints grow together as one body, supporting each other. Against those who would deceive us with persuasive words, we are to stay steadfast in our faith, being knit-together in love, having a full assurance of understanding concerning the mystery of God and the Christ, in Whom is hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, Colossians 2:2-3.
Knitting together does not express the concept of instructing; rather, it can articulate the logical putting together of facts that are closely associated, or how saints become meticulously connected with each other within the body of The Christ as we are being built up together unto a mature man to the stature of Christ, being knit together in love.
Apostle (ἀπόστολος)
An apostle (ἀπόστολος) is a messenger who is sent out on a specific mission; however, unlike a regular messenger who delivers a message, an apostle is sent with a specific task to perform while giving the message.
Christ sent out the 12 apostles to the Jews during His earthly ministry to proclaim the message of the kingdom of the heavens, Matthew 10:5-42. They were not to take any provisions with them for their journey or go into any city of the Gentiles nor to the Samaritans, for they were sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. Herod sent forth men with a specific mission to slay all the children in Bethlehem who were two years old or younger after the Magi left the region, having been warned by a messenger, failing to report where they found the King of the Jews, Matthew 2:16.
In a single act of expressing love towards the inhabited world, God the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world, 1 John 4:14. He sent Him on a specific mission so that through Him we should have life, 1 John 4:9. In this we know love, for God sent His Son to be a propitiation for our sins, 1 John 4:10.
When Christ ascended, He gave gifts to men for the edification of the Church to bring us to a oneness of the faith so that we are no longer tossed around like inarticulate babblers by every wind of teaching by the trickery of men, Ephesians 5:8. Of these gifts were the Apostles, Ephesians 5:11. Twelve of them to the Church. These twelve laid down the foundation of the Church, built upon Christ, giving us the entire revelation concerning the whole council of God. Christ instructed them before His final ascension that as they were caused to go, they were to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all that Christ had commanded them, Matthew 28:18-20.
In the upper room, before the disciples were aware that Paul would be the twelfth Apostle to the Church, in determining to replace Judas, they gave the requirements for a disciple who could be counted among the twelve. They had to be with them for the entire time the Lord Jesus went in and out, from the beginning of John to the day He was taken up; therefore, seeing the resurrected Christ, Acts 1:21-22. As one of the Pharisees, Paul knew of the immersion of John and would have known about Christ. Paul is the last of those who saw the resurrected Christ and considered himself to be one who was born out of time regarding becoming an Apostle to the Church, 1 Corinthians 15:1-9.
The Apostles to the Church are the twelve men, eleven of whom walked with Christ during His earthly ministry, that were given to the Church by Christ when He ascended on High, Ephesians 4:11. There are no additional Apostles added to the Church today, for these twelve make up the foundation, Revelation 21:14. And anyone claiming to have seen Jesus today is lying, for when we see Him we will be like Him, 1 John 3:2, and none of us will be in our current condition before all of us receive our full redemption, the resurrection of our bodies. Not even those who have died in Christ see Him before we all share in that moment, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.
Therefore, the title of an Apostle in the Church is reserved for only the original twelve apostles who were sent specifically to proclaim the Gospel of the Christ. Eleven of whom focused on Israel and Paul, who is the apostle to the Gentiles, Acts 18:6.