To Set Upon or Recline (κεῖμαι)
To set upon or recline (κεῖμαι) is used in a literal and metaphorical sense to express that which is laid upon something for a purpose.
In response to the Pharisees coming to John for immersion, John states that even now the axe has been laid on the roots of the tree, indicating their false religious system was about to fall because the Messiah is coming, for they had usurped the law of Moses for the traditions of their fathers, Matthew 3:10. After the birth of Christ, when He was taken to the Temple, Simon the Priest blessed Joseph and Mary and said to her, this child is laid for the fall and rise of many in Israel and for a sign that will be spoken against, Luke 2:34.
As a child is rocked in his mother’s arms or laid to rest in a manger, as Christ was after his birth, Luke 2:12, laid is also used of how Satan pacifies the world system to control it, 1 John 5:19. Satan placates the world system to maintain control, for he is the father of it.
There is a veil that lays upon the hearts the Jews when they read the Mosaic law, 2 Corinthians 3:15. The glory of the law fades away at the coming of Christ because the law was not laid down for a righteous man, 1 Timothy 1:9-10. Moses indicated this when he would cover his face with a veil so that the sons of Israel did not see the glory of God that was upon him fade, 2 Corinthians 3:13. However, this veil is taken away when they turn to the Lord, 2 Corinthians 3:16.
Although Christ’s body was laid in a tomb, three days later it was no longer there, for He had risen. On that third day, Mary Magdalen and Mary came to the tomb with spices for the body to find the tomb open. The guards before the tomb shook in fear and became as dead men, but an angle spoke to the women telling them not to fear and come look, for He has risen and the place where He was laid is empty, Matthew 28:6, with only the linen cloths lying by themselves, Luke 24:12.
Paul was laid down for a defense of the Gospel of the Christ, Philippians 1:17. Because of this, his chains and tribulations were not something that should cause the believers to be shaken, 1 Thessalonians 3:3. Instead, whether out of strife and envy, or selfish ambition, with the purpose of bring more affliction upon Paul, those who oppose the gospel declared it, Philippians 1:18.
To set upon or recline has its root in that which causes to stand. Whether a city upon a hill so that it cannot be hidden, Matthew 5:14, water pots for purification, John 2:6, or a rich man laying up goods for himself, Luke 12:19, that which is laid is set for a reason.
Boldness in Speech (παρρησιάζομαι)
Boldness in speech (παρρησιάζομαι) is to clearly speak a word openly.
After Paul’s conversion to Christianity and three years in the desert learning from Christ to serve as the steward of the dispensation of grace, he returned to Damascus, speaking clearly and openly, with boldness of speech, showing from Scripture that Jesus is the Messiah, Acts 9:27.
While Paul and Barnabas were in Antioch of Pisidia sharing the gospel of the Christ in the synagogue, the Jews were filled with envy because of the great multitude of Gentiles following Paul; therefore, they began to speak falsely against and oppose what Paul was saying. Their attempt to thwart the good news Paul declared to them only caused Paul and Barnabas to grow in the openness and clarity of their speech, telling the Jews since they did not desire to follow God and counted themselves as unworthy to receive enteral life, they would turn to the Gentiles, Acts 13:46.
In Ephesus, when Apollos, a man from Alexandria, spoke accurately concerning the things of the Lord, knowing only the immersion of John the Baptist, as he began to speak openly in the synagogue, Aquila and Priscilla heard him. They then took him aside and filled him in on all that had happened since the immersion of John, more accurately explaining to him the way of God, Acts 18:26.
When defending himself against false charges from the Jew before Festus and Agrippa, after Festus called him mad, Paul spoke freely to King Agrippa because Paul was convinced that the King already knew about this matter, Acts 26:26. Because of his openness and clarity of words, Agrippa responded saying, “You almost persuade me also to become a Christian.” However, the matter at hand was if Paul was guilty. In response to Festus’ inquiry, Agrippa states that there was nothing Paul did to deserve being in chains; however, due to the Jews working out a plan with the authorities to allow them to kill him, he had appealed to Caesar, which was his right as a Roman. He, therefore, could not be released, Acts 26:32.
After going over the defense we have against Satan, Paul encourages the saints to worship God while supplication for other saints, including himself, so that he has openness and transparency in speech to make known what is the mystery of the gospel, for he is an ambassador in chains, Ephesians 6:20.
Boldness in speech comes from confidence in what is spoken based upon its truthfulness. Paul knew that he was speaking the truth; therefore, even when the Jews would speak against him and oppose what he was saying or beat him for talking about the death for sins and resurrection of Christ, he grew in openness and clarity of his speech because his confidence was in God, not men.
Pleasing (ἀρέσκω)
Pleasing (ἀρέσκω) expresses the concept of acting in a fawning manner to win favor or to act in a way that is pleasing. Therefore, it has a negative, flattery, and a positive, pleasing, side to its meaning.
On Herod’s birthday, Herodias’ daughter danced before Herod and his guests to please him, instigating a response from him that resulted in a promise of a reward. This allowed Herodias to have John the Baptist put to death for calling out Herod’s unlawful act of being with her (his brother’s wife), for she had already instructed her daughter to ask for his head when the King offered her whatever she wanted because she pleased him, Matthew 14:6.
At the beginning of the Church, before the complete revelation concerning the Church was given, the first assembly in Jerusalem faced an issue with the care of the widows among the Hellenistic Jews. This issue required substantial attention and would impact the disciples’ ability to minister to the saints. To address this, the disciples called the multitude together to discuss selecting men who would handle the day-to-day affairs of the assembly, including ensuring that all widows were adequately cared for. This solution would allow the disciples to focus on ministering the Word instead of serving tables. The proposed resolution pleased the multitude, creating the position of Deacon, Acts 6:5.
The desires and works of the flesh cannot please God, for they are carnal in nature and, therefore, hostile to God, Romans 8:8. Because God imputes Christ’s death and resurrection to us, we are able to walk in newness of life, free from slavery to the sin nature, Romans 6:5-6. However, when we try to live the Christian life through law, the result is bondage to the sin nature instead of freedom because the sin nature deceives us through the law, producing dead works in our lives, Romans 7:9.
For a Christian, anything that is done that is not out from faith is sin. Therefore, a person who believes that what type of food they eat may defile them before God, if they partake of that food are sinning, for they knowingly violate what they believe is God’s standard for them, Romans 14:23. However, in Christ we are free from every aspect of the law and, therefore, what we eat does not impact our relationship with God. Instead, food should be taken with thanksgiving and supplication, 1 Timothy 4:4-5. Since we are all part of one body, the stronger in the faith, the ones who understand the elementary principles of the world: touch not, taste not, handle not, do not produce a righteous life, are not to please themselves; instead, they are to bear the scruples of the weaker brother, not causing them to stumble or be scandalized, Romans 15:1.
Within Scripture we find that a lifestyle lived out from faith with a mind that is framed on the things above produces conduct that is pleasing to God, 1 Thessalonians 4:1. The ways of the Gentiles are cast off and our bodies are held in proper honor and set apart, abstaining from fornication, for God has not called us to impurity, but to sanctification, 1 Thessalonians 4:7.
Example (τύπος)
An example (τύπος) represents the broader category, principle, or concept it relates to by providing a concrete and relatable demonstration of quality and characteristics. Therefore, example (τύπος) can also be used for an imprint or pattern.
After some of the disciples saw the resurrected Lord, they informed the others who were not present with them that Christ, indeed, was raised from the dead. Thomas responded to their report by stating that unless he saw the imprint of the nails in Christ’s hands, he would not believe, John 20:25.
While the Israelites were in the wilderness, God gave Moses an example of how the Tabernacle in which God would dwell among His people was to be designed, Acts 7:44. The Tabernacle was a shadow of the real heavenly Temple and, therefore, had to be done in accordance with all that God told Moses, Hebrews 8:5.
Adam was a type of the One to come that would save all those who believe in Him. Through Adam’s sin, he condemned the entire human race, for we all sinned in Adam, Romans 5:14. In contrast to the death that Adam brought, through the one to come, who is Christ, all are made alive, 1 Corinthians 15:22. In Adam we died, but in Christ we live. These two types explain the relationship the human race has to its head. We are not individually created beings; instead, we are propagated and, therefore, subject to the likeness and image of our head. After Adam trespassed and sinned, he had children after his likeness and image, Genesis 5:3. Therefore, his children, including us, are born spiritually separated from God and subject to physical death. All those who believe in Christ’s death for sins and resurrection three days later are taken out of Adam and immersed into the Christ by the Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13. The Christ is the new creation God made when He raised Jesus from the dead, 2 Corinthians 5:17. Through Christ’s obedience, the gift of righteousness and the gracious gift of eternal life are attributed to all who are in the Christ, for He is now their head, making them alive unto God, Romans 5:17-18; Ephesians 1:22-23.
When we faithfully follow the pattern of doctrine Paul has given us, we experience victory over our sin nature, Romans 6:17. The imputation of Christ’s death and resurrection enables us to walk in newness of life, Romans 6:5-6; 11; 13. As we reckon this to ourselves, our natural response is to yield to righteousness, for we have been liberated from the sin nature to become slaves to righteousness, Romans 6:18. This transformation is a testament to the inherent ability of following his pattern of doctrine.
All Scripture, including the examples from Israel, is written for the saint today, providing us with healthy teaching and doctrine. A cautionary aspect of healthy teaching is evident in the lessons from Israel, where God left the bodies of those who did not believe in the wilderness as a warning to us. Do not be a fool, we reap what we sow. This example teaches us not to strongly desire wrong things, things that do not align with our character in Christ, for the destruction of those who turned to idolatry and fornication serves as a warning against tempting God or complaining against Him. These examples are for our admonition, on whom the end of the age has come, 1 Corinthians 10:11.
In our Christian life, we are to mimic Paul and scope out those who walk in the pattern that he showed, Philippians 3:17. Many who walk among the Christians are actually enemies of the cross of Christ, bringing in destructive heresies and leading the simple astray. Their end is destruction, for their god is their belly, and a proper opinion of them is shameful, for they set their mind on earthly things. However, we are citizens of heaven, from whom we await our Savior, Jesus Christ, Philippians 3:20. Pastors are to be examples to the flock, not lording over them, 1 Peter 5:3. Their life is to be a pattern for the assemblies they oversee in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity, 1 Timothy 4:12. In all things, let us follow the example of those who do proper works, in sound teaching, dignified, being beyond reproach in healthy words, for they are examples to us in how to live a life of true godliness, Titus 2:7-8.
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 at before the flood, when the offspring of Noah’s sons attempted to bring back these malignantly evil ways, God introduced different languages to the human race, which caused great confusion and scattered humans across the earth.
When Rebekah became Isaac’s wife, she was a comfort to him after his mother’s death, because he relented from mourning her death, Genesis 24:67. After Jacob stole his father’s blessing from Esau, his mother became aware of a plot that Esau was working on to console himself by killing his brother, Genesis 27:42. Although Esau cared little for his birthright, which he sold to Jacob for a bowl of lentil soup, the blessing was a whole other matter, for it involved Esau’s financial wellbeing. To relent from his grief and anger, Esau determined to kill his brother, claiming all of the possessions of his father for himself and thereby forcibly taking the blessing from Jacob.
After bringing Israel out of Egypt, due to their stiff-neck behavior, God became angry with them and told Moses that He would destroy them all and raise up a nation from his seed. Moses pleaded with God for Israel and God relented and withheld His anger, Exodus 32:14. This encounter is why Moses is referred to as meek, which actually means having an objectivity of mind. God gave him a task to do in leading the Israelites, and Moses was not going to change his focus, even when given the opportunity to destroy these obstinate people who continually complained and were difficult to manage.
The concept of “repent” in Hebrew comes from the word שׁוּב (shuv), which fundamentally means “to return” or “to turn back”. This correlates with the Greek concept of “repent” found in the New Testament, meaning, “to change the mind.” However, due to theology, the concept of remorse for sins has crept into the definition of “repent,” even though it has nothing to do with the original meaning. Therefore, in Numbers 23:19, we see that God is not a man, nor the son of man that He should relent, not repent or regret as though He has done something wrong. He is not going to be persuaded to relent from His word.
The Hebrew word נָחַם (nacham) carries the meaning of relent, never the concept of repentance or remorse. The wickedness of humans was so bad before the flood that God relented on striving with them, not emotionally, but logically, by determining to destroy them and raise up a new generation from the eight souls that He saved, for God does not lie, nor change His mind concerning what He has said He will do. He promised Satan that the seed of the woman would crush his head, and even though humans and angels sought to corrupt all flesh, God destroyed them and preserved the human race so that Christ would be born of a virgin and bring about the destruction of Satan through His death concerning sins and resurrection three days later.
Inherent power (δύναμις)
Inherent power (δύναμις) describes the potential for functioning, the ability or capability to carry something out.
Inherent ability is often translated as, “power”, “wonders”, “mighty works”, or “miracles”, which can cause a lot of confusion in understanding what is being expressed. However, when we go back to its roots, we find that it refers to a person’s natural innate capacity or talent without the need to be taught or trained.
In Matthew chapter eleven, verses twenty through twenty-three, Jesus rebukes Chorazin and Bethsaida for their unbelief because of all the many manifestations of inherent ability that were done before them. In comparison, if these works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, these cities would still remain. However, in the day of Judgment, it will be more tolerable for these cities than for Capernaum, Chorazin, and Bethsaida.
During His earthly ministry, Jesus demonstrated His authority by bestowing inherent ability upon the twelve disciples. He sent them to Israel to proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom of God, equipping them with the inherent ability and authority over demons and diseases, Luke 9:1.
The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved, it is the inherent ability of God, 1 Corinthians 1:18. The gospel of the Christ has within its words the inherent ability to save, Romans 1:16. It is important to clearly and without modification state the good news by which we are saved that is laid out by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. Christ died on behalf of our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. Unlike the message of the Kingdom of the Heavens, which could be snatched by Satan out from the mind of the one who did not understand, Matthew 13:19, once a person believes the gospel of the Christ, it cannot be snatched from their understanding. We proclaim Christ crucified, to the Jews a scandal, and to the Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jew and Gentiles, Christ is the inherent ability and wisdom of God, 1 Corinthians 1:24.
Knowing the inherent ability of His resurrection is of far more value to Christians than anything this world has to offer, Philippians 3:8. We are to be conformed to His death. God imputes the death of Christ to those who are in the Christ, rendering the sin nature ineffective and separating us from the world system, Philippians 3:10. Therefore, we are not to live according to the strong desires of the flesh, or seek to fulfill the desires from the world system, for God also imputes Christ’s resurrection so that we can now walk in newness of life, living out the righteousness we have in Christ, Philippians 3:11. This is the true inherent power of the Christian life, for we have been given all things pertaining to life and godliness to live out the righteousness we have in Christ.