Deceive (ἀπάτη)
Deceive (ἀπάτη) expresses the concept of misleading someone through untrue statements intended to give them a wrong impression or misrepresentation of the truth.
When the man of lawlessness comes, it will be in accordance with the working of Satan by his inherent ability with signs and lying wonders and with all unrighteous deception to the ones perishing. Those who follow him will have strong delusion upon them because they did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness, 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10.
During Christ’s earthly ministry, the deception of the riches of this world choked out the message of the Kingdom of the Heavens many received, Matthew 13:22. Rather than following the Messiah, whom they believed was Jesus, they allowed the deceitful desire for wealth to lead them away from the promise of God.
One of the derivatives of this word emphasizes a thorough deception. Eve was thoroughly deceived (ἐξαπατάω) by Satan into eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; however, Adam was not deceived (ἀπατάω), 1 Timothy 2:14. This is why sin came into the world through Adam; although, Eve was first to transgress, Romans 5:12. The sons of the unpersuaded use empty words to deceive, Ephesians 5:6. The false teachers among us thoroughly deceive the hearts of the simple, Romans 16:18. If anyone considers himself to be religious but cannot bridle his tongue, he is deceived in his own heart, James 1:26. Our sin nature uses law to thoroughly deceive us, making it impossible to live out our righteousness in Christ through law, Romans 7:11.
Those who intentionally deceive are misleading others by distorting the truth, just as Satan deceived Eve by his craftiness, they seek to corrupt our minds from the simplicity of the Christ, 2 Corinthians 11:3. Through the traditions of men and the basic principles of the world, false teachers will seek to cheat us by using philosophy and empty deceit, Colossians 2:8. We are complete in Christ, touch not, taste not, handle not, and the observation of days are principles of the world for righteousness, not for those who are in Christ, for we govern out lives out from faith not out from law. In these last days, many false teachers will carouse in their own deceptions while feasting among the saints, 2 Peter 2:13. They have forsaken the right way, loving the wages of unrighteousness by imposing tithing on the assemblies. Sin is very deceitful and will cause us to harden our hearts, not listening to God, Hebrews 3:12-13. Many assemblies today seek to please the emotions, exchanging proper doctrine for teachings through which they merchandise the saints. Through their sinful desires to seek their own righteousness, they have hardened their heart, abusing spiritual gifts, seeking signs and wonders so their eyes are pleased, and turning the grace of God into licentiousness. We are to stand away from such assemblies lest the deceitfulness of sin hardens our hearts, while being vigilant against deception by fostering a sense of alertness and caution concerning what is being taught.
As Christians, we are to put off our former conduct. The old man, which is who we were in Adam, grows corrupt according to the deceitfulness of strong desires, Ephesians 4:22. As part of a new creation, we are imputed the righteousness of our head, Who is Christ, 1 Corinthians 1:30. Therefore, when we frame our mind on the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God, so that we are seeking to identify and do the desires from the Holy Spirit, we will manifest the quality of righteousness we have in Christ, putting off the former conduct in the old man and no longer being deceived by its strong desires, Ephesians 4:23-24.
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, Romans 5:12. God instructed Adam not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, informing him that on the day in which he eats, dying he would die. Before he sinned, Adam trespassed by determining to break God’s law, even though Satan had not deceived him; although, he was able to fully deceive Eve, 1 Timothy 2:14. Therefore, through his trespass, he became dead to God in his spirit, and through his sin, the penalty of physical death was applied. Although Adam did not immediately drop dead, his act of disobedience guaranteed his physical death. Since Adam is the head of the creation of humans, he passed down these deaths and condemnation to all, Romans 5:12-14. Therefore, it is appointed to man to die, Hebrews 9:27. The blood of Christ satisfies the requirements of God’s righteousness concerning Adams trespass and sin; thereby freeing those who believe in Christ’s death for sin and resurrection on the third day from the wrath of God, Romans 5:9.
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 translate what is being said, 1 Corinthians 14:26-28.
There are a few forms of the words for filling in Greek that can be a bit confusing at first; however, a bit of study will clear up any misunderstanding. Platho (πληθω) is a form of (Pimplami) πίμπλημι, not a separate word. It looks very similar to πληρόω (Plarow); however, when the root of the word is properly determined, it express a dominating type of filling (πίμπλημι), not replenishing (πληρόω). What is being conveyed by the different uses of these words can be correctly expressed in English by the use of “dominate” for filling up in a mentally controlling manner and “to replenish” for filling up where lacking. Scripture was originally written in Greek for a reason. The distinctions of these words are here on purpose so that we properly understand the truth being conveyed by their use.
As the Old Testament saints began to transition to grace and the New Covenant, there was a time period in which God demonstrated to the Jews through signs and wonders that what was happening was His work. When Israel fully rejected the resurrected Messiah, the sign and miracles gifts ceased, including speaking in another dialect (speaking in tongues). After John wrote the book of Revelation, the gift of prophecy also ceased to operate in the Church, 1 Corinthians 13:8-10.
How a dominating (Pimplami πίμπλημι) type of filling controls can be seen in its effects on the entire city of Ephesus, which was filled with confusion by Demetrius and the silver smith’s yelling, causing all in the city to rush into the theater with one accord, Acts 19:29. The Jews in Antioch of Pisidia were dominated by their envy for the response among the Gentiles to Paul and Barnabas so that they spoke contradicting and blasphemous things against Paul, Acts 13:45. The result of their opposition to truth was the message of the Gospel of God’s grace going to the Gentiles, Acts 13:47-51. In contrast to the Jews being dominated (filled) by their envy, the disciples are replenished (filled) with joy by the Holy Spirit, Acts 13:52.
The last time a Christian was dominated by the Holy Spirit in Scripture was with Paul when he was dealing with Elymas the sorcerer, Acts 13:8-9. Through Paul, the Holy Spirit condemned and punished Elymas for standing against the truth. The only type of filling that the Spirit does today is a replenishment when the saint puts on the new man and, therefore, is able to use the fruit from the Spirit as the Holy Spirit filled him up where he is lacking so that he can fully manifest the character of Christ, Ephesians 5:18.
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 the two other groups were also being paid the same amount, but did not work as long, Matthew 20:10.
Following a day’s journey from Jerusalem after the feast of Passover, Jesus’ parents supposed that He was in the company of travelers with them, which was customary since they did this every year; however, after seeking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances they did not find Him. Three days later they found Him in the Temple in Jerusalem among the teachers listening and asking questions of them, Luke 2:44.
Although Moses grew up in Pharaoh’s house, he was aware that his roots were from the Jews. At the age of forty, it came into his heart to visit his people. During this time, he comes upon an Israelite who was suffering wrong by an Egyptians; therefore, Moses defended his brethren and struck down his oppressor. Moses supposed concerning this matter that his brethren would understand God would deliver them by his hand; however, they did not put it together, Acts 7:25.
Those who teach contrary to the healthy words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teachings of godliness are puffed up and mentally grasping nothing but are morbidly sick with disputing and arguing with words, out from which comes envy, strife, blasphemy, malignantly evil suspicions, constant arguments from men of spoiled minds and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness, 1 Timothy 6:5.
Not Striking against (ἀπρόσκοπος)
While Paul was defending himself before Felix against accusations from the Jews, he spoke of his conscience. He strives to have a conscience that does not strike at, hence, cause offense, God or men, Acts 24:16.
Although we understand that food does not defile a person, if someone lacks this knowledge, we are not to use our freedom to cause offense to ( a strike against) their conscience. Instead, whatever we eat or drink it is to be in a way that expresses a proper opinion of God, not striking against the conscience of the Jews, Greeks, or Church of God, 1 Corinthians 10:32.
As we grow in love our full experiential knowledge and perception abound more and more so that we are able to approve the things that differ. In doing this, we will live out the life we have in Christ in a sincere manner and without offense to another until the day of Christ as we are filled up with the fruit of righteousness that is through Jesus Christ, Philippians 1:10.
‘Not striking against’ (ἀπρόσκοπος) is a concept often translated in English as ‘not offending’. However, ‘offense’ is also used for different words, such as ‘scandalizing’ (Matthew 18:7), and ‘trespass’ (Romans 4:25). Therefore. it is important to discern what Paul is referring to when he states we are not to give offense to any of the races. ‘Not strike against’ is a negation of the word ‘to strike’, which is used of dashing a foot against stone, Matthew 4:6, or stumbling while walking at night, John 11:10. ‘Aproskopos’ is predominately use concerning the conscience. Paul strived to have a good conscience before God and men, that did not strike against them; therefore, does not cause offenses to others while still maintaining a proper conscience before God. He never violated his conscience to please men; instead, he gave up his freedom for the sake of another’s conscience to ensure he did not cause their conscience to be scandalized or strike against it.
Self-Control (ἐγκράτεια)
Self-control (ἐγκράτεια) means to have strength over one’s appetites through regulating emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in the face of impulses or temptations.
Self-control is an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:23. Since it is a part of the fruit belonging to the Spirit, we cannot obtain it through law or self-effort. Those who seek to be righteous through their works, although having a word of wisdom through self-imposed religion, humility, and the neglecting of the body, do not through these enjoy freedom over the indulgences of the flesh, Colossians 2:23. Self-control is a product of walking by the Spirit; therefore, self-control is an ingredient of the characteristics of Christians who are Spiritual, Acts 24:25.
As we work out our faith, we gain knowledge. To this knowledge, we are to add self-control, through which we can apply godliness to our lives, 2 Peter 1:6. As we continue to mature, we add to godliness a fondness for the brethren that gives place to seeking the best for the ones loved, so the we abound and are not unfruitful or barren in the full experiential knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Therefore, self-control is a natural result of seeking out and governing our lives by the desires from the Holy Spirit, so that in freedom we maintain strength over our appetites, emotions, thoughts, and behavior in a worthy manner that glorifies God as the Holy Spirit produces the character of Christ through us.