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Philippians – Caring for the Saints
holding fast a word of life, unto my boasting unto a day of Christ, that I have not run unto emptiness, nor toiled unto emptiness. But if, assuming it is true, also I am poured out upon the sacrifice even religious service of your faith, I rejoice and I rejoice with all of you. Because of the same also you rejoice and you rejoice with me.
Moreover, I hope by the Lord Jesus to quickly send Timothy to you, in order that I also may be good souled knowing the things concerning you. For I have no one of the same soul who will genuinely care concerning the things concerning you. For they all seek the things pertaining to themselves, not the things concerning Christ Jesus. Indeed you experientially know the proof concerning him that as a son to a father, with me he has served unto the Gospel. Therefore this one I hope to send, as I fix my eyes upon the things immediately concerning me. Moreover, I am persuaded by the Lord, that also I myself will shortly come. And I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and coworker and my fellow soldier, and your apostle, and minister of my needs, since he was longing for all of you and distressed because you heard he was sick. For also he was sick, near to death, but God had mercy on him and not him only, but also me, in order that I should not have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I diligently sent him in order that seeing him you should again rejoice and I should be less anxious. Therefore receive him in the Lord generally associated with joy and hold […]
The Doctrine of the Nicolaitans
Nicolaitans is a transliterated word; therefore, there is no English equivalent. We must look back at the original language and translate its meaning into English to understand what it expresses. Nicolaitans (Νικολαΐτης) is a combination of two words: victory (νῖκος) and people (λαός). By compounding these words, they communicate a victory over the people; therefore, it is a person who holds a position of authority over the people.
The concept of the Nicolaitans doctrine comes from the Jews and the priestly structure under the law. From the very beginning of the Church, it is a false doctrine that continually attempts to creep into the local assemblies. The apostle John writes of this doctrine while addressing the first of the seven assemblies in the book of Revelation. Those in Ephesus were indifferent to the Nicolaitans doctrine, even though some attempted to impose it.
But this you have, that you are indifferent to the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also am indifferent to. Revelation 2:3.
In Christ, the distinctions of sex, class, and race have no value; instead, it is the new creation, Galatians 6:15. This new creation is the body of the Christ, in which Christ is the head and the Church is His body, 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:22-23. Within the body of the Christ, there is no separation based upon any of these statuses, for we are all part of one body, 1 Corinthians 12:13. The doctrine of the Nicolaitans is distinct from the Mosaic law, which implemented a priesthood and specific classes of people. However, in the local assemblies of the Church, the Pastors and other leaders are not separated from the congregation.
In its full form, the doctrine of […]
Might (κράτος)
Might (κράτος) expresses the ability of resident strength, the quality of being able.
When the exorcists of the ruling religious party attempted to rebuke a malignantly evil spirit by using Jesus’ name, for they had seen the Apostles doing this, the spirit responded by first stating that he has an intuitive knowledge of Paul but not of them. He then proceeded to strip them naked and sent them running. This caused great fear in the city of Ephesus, and the Word of the Lord grew in the region.
thus, according to the might of the Lord, the Word increased and became strong – Acts 19:20.
As Christians, our eyes are opened to the truth so that we may know the hope of His calling, the riches of the proper opinion of His inheritance among the saints, and the exceeding greatness of his inherent ability towards us according to the working of the might of His strength, Ephesians 1:18-19. Wicked hands crucified Christ. In response to such malignantly evil work, God the Father raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand. He is now over all authorities and is the head of the Church, which is the new creation God made in raising Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17. This was a display of the resident strength of His inherent ability.
When it comes to battling Satan, we are not called to rebuke demons or to exercise authority over them; instead, we are instructed to stand firm against them by the strength we have in the Lord. For it is in the might of His strength that we have victory, Ephesians 6:10. Our battle is not physical – of flesh and blood. It […]