Tag Archives: Ephesians 4:11-13

Apostles and Prophets, Part 1

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As I considered the relationship of Moses the prophet and Aaron the priest in Numbers 16 it occurred to me that my religion all but outlaws apostles and prophets. I even wrote that in the essay.  But as I turned to Jesus’ response to the argument he walked down the mount of transfiguration into I thought better of taking on an argument over apostles and prophets in that essay.  Still, the urge to do so persisted.

I suppose that everyone who is called by God, born from above[1] and receives the gift of the Holy Spirit walks down from that experience into 2,000 years of theological arguments with the implicit task of choosing sides or adjudicating between them.  Generally, I try to avoid theological arguments.  Time to study the Bible is precious.  If I spend it on arguments, I am not led by the Holy Spirit but by the people who started the arguments.

But since I have quipped to friends that one way of viewing Evangelicalism is as a mutiny of pastors and teachers against apostles and prophets I have apparently chosen a side without serious thought or consideration. I’m obligated now to be led around by the nose for a time by those who defend the assertion that apostles and prophets are no longer necessary or authorized by God.

My starting position was: why would anyone hope to be church in a hostile environment without such marvelously gifted people? As usual, once I took the time to formulate a coherent question the Holy Spirit was ready with an answer (Jeremiah 31:33, 34 NET):

“But I will make a new covenant with the whole nation of Israel after I plant them back in the land,” says the Lord.  “I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts and minds.  I will be their God and they will be my people.  People will no longer need to teach their neighbors and relatives to know me.  For all of them, from the least important to the most important, will know me,” says the Lord.  “For I will forgive their sin and will no longer call to mind the wrong they have done” [Table].

I asked an older friend if these verses were the goal, aim, purpose, end (τέλος) of the church, the body of Christ. (My friend doesn’t care much for church as a translation of ἐκκλησία.)  The initial response was a qualified, “No, this is for the nation of Israel.”  But that position softened as Paul’s words came to mind: Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and participated in the richness of the olive root…[2]  My own impression that these verses do serve as τέλος for the ἐκκλησία began to harden as I recalled Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (Ephesians 4:7, 11-13 NET):

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ….It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God – a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ’s full stature.

Prior to this approach I would have lined up the above verses right beside Paul’s mention of the same in his letter to the Corinthians as evidence of an ongoing role for both apostles and prophets (1 Corinthians 12:27, 28 NET):

Now you are Christ’s body, and each of you is a member of it.  And God has placed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues.

When I quipped about mutiny I had assumed that first, second and third were meant as a ranking of authority.  This time I could hear the possibility of a temporal ordering of arrival (and departure?) on the scene.  The net effect for me is not unlike voir dire.[3]

Many years ago I was impaneled for jury selection on a criminal case. As I sat across from the defendants in the courtroom there wasn’t a single doubt in my mind that they were guilty.  How else could they have gotten so far through the system?  After the defense attorneys in particular had a go at me during voir dire I didn’t have a clue whether the defendants were guilty or not.  I can only assume that the prosecutors had a similar impact on any who walked in assuming the defendants were innocent because the police and courts only exist to oppress and victimize black people. Voir dire is a very clever procedure for detecting and highlighting bias.

So I began this investigation with my biases exposed and confused. I typed “apostles no longer necessary” into Google and “No Prophets or Apostles Today”[4] by Lori Eldridge appeared at the top of the list.  The first step in her argument was to distinguish between gift and office.

Gift

Office
…the “gift” of prophecy (defending and speaking forth the ESTABLISHED Word of God)… …the “Office” of Prophet (speaking forth NEW revelations from God and establishing scripture).
The gift of prophecy is still in effect… …but not the office of Prophet…

The same can be said for the gift vs the office of Apostle…
…and the former to build new churches on that foundation already established. …the latter being for the purpose to lay the foundation for the Church…

The gift of apostle and prophet is fairly easy to find in the Bible. But to each one of us grace (χάρις) was given (ἐδόθη, a form of δίδωμι) according to the measure of the gift (δωρεᾶς, a form of δωρεά) of Christ.[5] It was he who gave (ἔδωκεν, another form of δίδωμι) some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers…[6]  The office of apostle and prophet is a bit more elusive.  But to say that there is no office of apostle and prophet in the Bible is not quite the same as saying that there was an office of apostle and prophet but it exists no longer.  So I’ll spend some time trying to track down the meaning of office of apostle or prophet.

And it came to pass, that while [a priest (ἱερεύς) named Zacharias[7]] executed the priest’s office (ἱερατεύειν, a form of ἱερατεύω) before God in the order of his course, According to the custom of the priest’s office (ἱερατείας, a form of ἱερατεία), his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.[8]  The concept priest’s office is not two words in Greek but one: ἱερατεύειν in the first instance and ἱερατείας in the second.  I should point out that ἱερατεύειν was translated serving as priest in NKJV and ἱερατείας as of the priesthood.  There is a trend toward eliminating the word office over time.  Be that as it may the priest’s office helps clarify the meaning of office.

The requirements, duties, rights and privileges of priests were spelled out in great detail in the law. The law makes the office – official. And those of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office (ἱερατείαν, another form of ἱερατεία) have authorization (ἐντολὴν, a form of ἐντολή) according to the law to collect a tithe from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen, although they too are descendants of Abraham.[9] In the New Testament in Modern Speech (MSNT) Hebrews 5:1-4 is translated as follows:

For every High Priest is chosen from among men, and is appointed to act on behalf of men in matters relating to God, in order to offer both gifts and sin-offerings, and must be one who is able to bear patiently with the ignorant and erring, because he himself also is beset with infirmity.  And for this reason he is required to offer sin-offerings not only for the people but also for himself.  And no one takes this honorable office (τιμὴν, a form of τιμή) upon himself, but only accepts it when called to it by God, as Aaron was.

The KJV translated τιμὴν as honour.  The translators of the more recent translation added the concept office to that honour.  But I find no fault with the concept of a priestly office carefully delineated in law.  So the question comes to mind, what law authorizes the office of apostle?

Lori Eldridge began as follows:

The following shows us the requirements of the replacement for Judas:

Acts 1:21-26, “Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become A WITNESS WITH US OF HIS RESURRECTION.”

This quotation is from the NIV. It is preceded by: For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be made desolate, And let no man dwell therein: and, His office (ἐπισκοπὴν, a form of ἐπισκοπή) let another take.[10]  At least that’s how ἐπισκοπὴν was translated in the ASV and the NKJV.  The KJV translated it bishopric, and the NIV place of leadership.  But if I am going to find a law authorizing an office of apostle, the word of an apostle seems a likely place to start—on the surface of it.  But watch what happens if I expand the context.

Jesus had told Peter, Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait there for what my Father promised, which you heard about from me.  For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.[11]  Instead, prior to receiving the Holy Spirit, Peter took it upon himself to replace one of the Apostles Jesus had chosen[12] (Luke 6:12-16 NET).

Now it was during this time that Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and he spent all night in prayer to God.  When morning came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles:  Simon (whom he named Peter), and his brother Andrew; and James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

So what did Jesus do? He made a personal appearance on the road to Damascus and chose Saul, a Pharisee who persecuted the early believers.  I can’t say that Jesus deliberately confounded Peter’s rule for apostle selection, because I believe that God’s prerogative—I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion[13]—trumps all law.  I can say that Saul was not one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us, Peter’s stated prerequisite that Ms. Eldridge quoted but did not emphasize in all capital letters: For one of these (ἕνα τούτων) must become (γενέσθαι,a form of γίνομαι) A WITNESS WITH US OF HIS RESURRECTION.

In John’s vision on Patmos the wall of the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God[14] was described as having twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.[15]  I wonder if those who believe that Peter created (and limited) the office of Apostle as stated in Acts 1:21-26 also believe that Matthias will be the twelfth name on those foundations.  If it seems like I’m lobbying for Paul, I am not.

In the past I have lobbied for Paul. But now that I know him better and Jesus through his writing I hope that the twelfth name is Judas Iscariot.  I can’t imagine a more beautiful memorial to the grace and mercy of God in Jesus Christ.  And I think Paul would agree with me: so that God’s purpose in election would stand, not by works but by his calling…[16] So then, it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.[17] For the gifts (χαρίσματα, a form of χάρισμα) and the call of God are irrevocable.[18]

And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion; he will remove ungodliness from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”[19]

But perhaps the office of Apostle precedes Peter’s questionable rule as ἐπισκοπὴν (translated office in the ASV) precedes it.  I’ll look into that in the next essay.  For now I want to wrap-up by saying that this is not an enjoyable pastime for me.

Lori Eldridge was “raised in a cult as a child,” and “saved through Hal Lindsey’s Late Great Planet Earth.”[20]  It seems that she hears or reads sermons or religious writings and the Holy Spirit brings Scripture to mind that contradicts what the preacher preached or wrote.  Though her faith allows her to declare those the Holy Spirit contradicts false prophets and teachers[21] and mine does not, I might still be better served by trying to befriend her rather than by disputing with her.

People will no longer need to teach their neighbors and relatives to know me.  For all of them, from the least important to the most important, will know me, the Lord promised through Jeremiah.  It seems fitting here to highlight the equalizing power of the Bible.  With it, led by the Holy Spirit, Lori Eldridge challenges prophets and teachers and declares them false.  With the Bible, led by the Holy Spirit, I can question the wisdom of Peter’s actions and whether his word established a rule for an office of apostle.  None of that changes if apostles and prophets are still active (and necessary) in the ἐκκλησία.

Apostles and Prophets, Part 2

[1] John 3:3 (NET)

[2] Romans 11:17 (NET)

[3] http://dictionary.law.com/Default.aspx?selected=2229

[4] http://www.endtime-prophets.com/noproph.html

[5] Ephesians 4:7 (NET)

[6] Ephesians 4:11 (NET)

[7] Luke 1:5 (KJV)

[8] Luke 1:8, 9 (KJV)

[9] Hebrews 7:5 (NET)

[10] Acts 1:20 (ASV)

[11] Acts 1:4, 5 (NET)

[12] John 6:70, 71 (NET)

[13] Romans 9:15 (NET)

[14] Revelation 21:10 (NET)

[15] Revelation 21:14 (NET)

[16] Romans 9:11 (NET)

[17] Romans 9:16 (NET) Table

[18] Romans 11:29 (NET)

[19] Romans 11:26, 27 (NET)

[20] http://www.endtime-prophets.com/statement.html

[21] http://www.endtime-prophets.com/

Romans, Part 46

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If it is service (διακονίαν, a form of διακονία),[1] Paul wrote, to continue considering the different gifts (χαρίσματα, a form of χάρισμα)[2] that comprise the diversity of oneness,, he must serve (διακονίᾳ).[3]  Paul wrote to the Corinthians about different gifts (χαρισμάτων, another form of χάρισμα) and different ministries (διακονιῶν, another form of διακονία): the message of wisdom…the message of knowledge…faith…gifts (χαρίσματα) of healing…performance of miracles…prophecy…discernment of spirits…different kinds of tongues, and…the interpretation of tongues.[4]  Yet in the previous chapter of Romans Paul wrote, Seeing that I am an apostle (ἀπόστολος)[5] to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry (διακονίαν, a form of διακονία)…[6]  As I consider this and the historical fact that most of the different ministries (διακονιῶν, another form of διακονία) listed in 1 Corinthians above were associated with Jesus’ apostles, I assume that the ministry (διακονίαν, a form of διακονία) of an apostle was the service (διακονίαν, a form of διακονία) Paul had primarily in mind in Romans 12.

Still, the service (διακονίαν, a form of διακονία) most associated with the apostles is the ministry (διακονία) of reconciliation: God…reconciled us to himself through Christ, and…has given us the ministry (διακονία) of reconciliation.[7]  And the ministry (διακονία) of reconciliation is nothing less than the ministry (διακονία) of the Spirit, the ministry (διακονία) that produces righteousness (2 Corinthians 3:7-9 NET).

But if the ministry (διακονία) that produced death – carved in letters on stone tablets – came with glory, so that the Israelites could not keep their eyes fixed on the face of Moses because of the glory of his face (a glory which was made ineffective), how much more glorious will the ministry (διακονία) of the Spirit be?  For if there was glory in the ministry (διακονίᾳ) that produced condemnation, how much more does the ministry (διακονία) that produces righteousness excel in glory!

It was [Jesus], Paul wrote the Ephesians, who gave some as apostles (ἀποστόλους, another form of ἀπόστολος)…[8]  And God has placed in the church first apostles[9] (ἀποστόλους, another form of ἀπόστολος), he wrote the Corinthians.  Not all are apostles (ἀπόστολοι, another form of ἀπόστολος), are they?[10] Paul asked rhetorically.

If [the gift] is teaching (διδάσκων, a form of διδάσκω),[11] Paul continued in Romans, he must teach (διδασκαλίᾳ).[12]  In Corinth the Lord said to Paul by a vision in the night, “Do not be afraid,but speak and do not be silent, because I am with you, and no one will assault you to harm you, because I have many people in this city” [Table].  So he stayed there a year and six months, teaching (διδάσκων, a form of διδάσκω) the word of God among them.[13]  Paul[14] lived[15] [in Rome] two whole years in his own rented quarters and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching (διδάσκων, a form of διδάσκω) about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete boldness and without restriction.[16]

I was appointed, Paul wrote Timothy, a preacher and apostle (ἀπόστολος) and teacher (διδάσκαλος)[17] of the fact that our Savior Christ Jesus…has broken the power of death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.[18]  Apparently Timothy was also appointed as a teacher.  Until I come, Paul wrote to him, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation, to teaching (διδασκαλίᾳ).[19]  And he continued (1 Timothy 4:14-16 NET):

Do not neglect the spiritual gift (χαρίσματος, another form of χάρισμα) you have, given to you and confirmed by prophetic words (προφητείας, another form of προφητεία) when the elders laid hands on you.  Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress.  Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach (διδασκαλίᾳ).  Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.

It was [Jesus], Paul wrote the Ephesians, who gave some…as pastors and teachers (διδασκάλους, another form of διδάσκαλος), to equip the saints for the work of ministry (διακονίας, another form of διακονία), that is, to build up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God – a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ’s full stature.[20]  And God has placed in the church…third teachers[21] (διδασκάλους, another form of διδάσκαλος), he wrote the Corinthians.  Not all are teachers (διδάσκαλοι, another form of διδάσκαλος), are they? He asked rhetorically.  He also gave Timothy the following prophetic warning (2 Timothy 4:3 NET):

 For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound (ὑγιαινούσης, a form of ὑγιαίνω) teaching (διδασκαλίας, another form of διδασκαλία).  Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers (διδασκάλους, another form of διδάσκαλος) for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things.

In other words, the teachers most honored by people and the teachers spiritually gifted to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God – a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ’s full stature, may not be one and the same.  But the next gift to consider may provide a method for distinguishing between the two.

If [the gift] is exhortation (παρακαλῶν, a form of παρακαλέω), Paul continued in Romans, he must exhort (παρακλήσει, a form of παράκλησις)…[23]  Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Paul began his second letter to the Corinthians, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort (παρακλήσεως, another form of παράκλησις), who comforts (παρακαλῶν, a form of παρακαλέω) us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort (παρακαλεῖν, another form of παρακαλέω) those experiencing any trouble with the comfort (παρακλήσεως, another form of παράκλησις) with which we ourselves are comforted (παρακαλούμεθα, another form of παρακαλέω) by God.[24]

Paul wrote again about receiving God’s exhortation through the message brought by Titus:  But God, who encourages (παρακαλῶν, a form of παρακαλέω) the downhearted, encouraged (παρεκάλεσεν, another form of παρακαλέω) us by the arrival of Titus.  We were encouraged not only by his arrival, but also by the encouragement (παρακλήσει, a form of παράκλησις) you gave (παρεκλήθη, another form of παρακαλέω) him, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your deep concern for me, so that I rejoiced more than ever.[25]

The Corinthians’ longing, mourning and deep concern for Paul also exhorted him: I have great confidence in you; I take great pride on your behalf.  I am filled with encouragement (παρακλήσει, a form of παράκλησις); I am overflowing with joy in the midst of all our suffering.[26]  Therefore we have been encouraged (παρακεκλήμεθα, another form of παρακαλέω).  And in addition to our own encouragement (παρακλήσει, a form of παράκλησις), we rejoiced even more at the joy of Titus, because all of you have refreshed his spirit.[27]  And Paul told Timothy not only to teach but to comfort and encourage his people in a similar manner: Until I come, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation (παρακλήσει, a form of παράκλησις), to teaching (διδασκαλία).[28]

A teacher’s exhortation reveals that teacher’s knowledge and faith.  It may even be another valid way to test the spirits to determine if they are from God.[29]  Surely the Spirit from God knows the depth (βάθος)[30] of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God,[31] that from him and through him and to him are all things.[32]  For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep (βάθη, another form of βάθος) things of God.[33]  Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God,[34] John wrote.  Does a given teacher comfort me with the knowledge of the love that God has in us, or encourage me to believe the love that God has in us[35] in Jesus, the Christ who has come in the flesh, the Son of God, through his Holy Spirit?  Or does that teacher rob me of such comfort, and encourage me to know or to believe or to do something else instead?

Romans, Part 47

Back to Saving Demon, Part 2

Back to Fear – Exodus, Part 7

Back to Fear – Exodus, Part 8

Back to Romans, Part 87

[3] Romans 12:7a (NET)

[4] 1 Corinthians 12:4, 5, 8-10 (NET)

[6] Romans 11:13b (NET)

[7] 2 Corinthians 5:18 (NET)

[8] Ephesians 4:11a (NET)

[9] 1 Corinthians 12:28a (NET)

[10] 1 Corinthians 12:29a (NET)

[12] Romans 12:7b (NET)

[13] Acts 18:9-11 (NET)

[14] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ο παυλος (Paul) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[16] Acts 28:30, 31 (NET) Table

[17] 2 Timothy 1:11 (NET)

[18] 2 Timothy 1:10 (NET)

[19] 1 Timothy 4:13 (NET)

[20] Ephesians 4:11-13 (NET)

[21] 1 Corinthians 12:28 (NET)

[23] Romans 12:8 (NET)

[24] 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4 (NET)

[25] 2 Corinthians 7:6, 7 (NET)

[26] 2 Corinthians 7:4 (NET)

[27] 2 Corinthians 7:13 (NET)

[28] 1 Timothy 4:13 (NET)

[29] 1 John 4:1 (NET)

[31] Romans 11:33a (NET)

[32] Romans 11:36a (NET)

[33] 1 Corinthians 2:10b (NET)

[34] 1 John 4:2 (NET)

Romans, Part 45

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For by the grace (χάριτος, a form of χάρις)[1] given to me, Paul continued describing the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect,[2] I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith.[3]  To offset my own tendency to think that sober discernment is necessary because God has distributed a niggardly measure of faith (μέτρον[4] πίστεως[5]) to me, I want to look at two other occurrences of χάριτος.  The first described the words Jesus read from the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4:18, 19 NET):

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

After Jesus returned the scroll to the attendant and sat down, he added, Today this scripture has been fulfilled even as you heard it being read.[6]  Luke wrote, All were speaking well of him, and were amazed at the gracious (χάριτος, a form of χάρις) words coming out of his mouth.[7]  So proclaiming 1) good news to the poor, 2) release to the captives, 3) the regaining of sight to the blind, 4) setting free those who are oppressed, and 5) the year of the Lord’s favor were called gracious (χάριτος) words.[8]  There was nothing niggardly about it.

For if, by the transgression of the one man, Paul wrote the first time he used χάριτος in his letter to the Romans, death reigned through the one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace (χάριτος, a form of χάρις) and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ![9]  Sober discernment entails all of these facts without implying a niggardly measure of faith, but the realization that any of the recipients of this χάριτος is one person among many.  For just as in (ἐν)[10] one (ἑνὶ, a form of εἷς)[11] body we have many members, Paul continued, and not all the members serve the same function, so we who are many are one (ἓν, another form of εἷς) body in (ἐν) Christ, and individually we are members who belong to one (εἷς) another.[12]

I think sober discernment was equivalent for Paul to walking worthily of the calling with which [we] have been called, as he wrote the Ephesians, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.[13]  For here, too, a description of oneness followed (Ephesians 4:4-7 NET).

There is one (῞Εν) body and one (ἓν) Spirit, just as you too were called to (ἐν) the one (μιᾷ, yet another form of εἷς) hope of your calling, one (εἷς) Lord, one (μία)[14] faith, one (ἓν) baptism, one (εἷς) God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in (ἐν) all.  But to each one (Ἑνὶ, still another form of εἷς) of us grace (χάρις) was given according to the measure (μέτρον) of the gift of Christ.

And we have different gifts (χαρίσματα, a form of χάρισμα)[15] according to the grace given to us, Paul continued to describe the diversity of this oneness in Romans, a theme he revisited often:

The Diversity of Oneness
And we have different gifts (χαρίσματα) according to the grace given to us. If the gift is prophecy (προφητείαν, a form of προφητεία),[16] that individual must use it in proportion to his faith.  If it is service, he must serve; if it is teaching, he must teach; if it is exhortation, he must exhort; if it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; if it is leadership, he must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness.

Romans 12:6-8 (NET)

 It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets (προφήτας, a form of προφήτης),[17] some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God – a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ’s full stature.

Ephesians 4:11-13 (NET)

 Now there are different gifts (χαρισμάτων, another form of χάρισμα), but the same Spirit.  And there are different ministries, but the same Lord.  And there are different results, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.  To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all.  For one person is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, and another the message of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts (χαρίσματα) of healing by the one Spirit, to another performance of miracles, to another prophecy (προφητεία), and to another discernment of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.  It is one and the same Spirit, distributing as he decides to each person, who produces all these things.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (NET)

I want to consider these different[18] gifts (χαρίσματα) individually.   If the gift is prophecy (προφητείαν), that individual must use it in proportion to his faith.[19]  I am assuming that in proportion (ἀναλογίαν, a form of ἀναλογία)[20] to his faith relates back to that measure (μέτρον) of faith God has distributed to each.  In the law the Lord said to Moses (Deuteronomy 18:18-20 NET):

I will raise up a prophet like you for them from among their fellow Israelites.  I will put my words in his mouth and he will speak to them whatever I command.  I will personally hold responsible anyone who then pays no attention to the words that prophet speaks in my name.  But if any prophet presumes to speak anything in my name that I have not authorized him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die.

Now if you say to yourselves, the Lord continued, “How can we tell that a message is not from the Lord (yehôvâh)?”[21] – whenever a prophet speaks in my name and the prediction is not fulfilled, then I have not spoken it; the prophet has presumed to speak it, so you need not fear (gûr)[22] him.[23]  But a fulfilled prediction alone was not sufficient to declare one a prophet of yehôvâh (Deuteronomy 13:1-5 NET):

Suppose a prophet or one who foretells by dreams should appear among you and show you a sign or wonder, and the sign or wonder should come to pass concerning what he said to you, namely, “Let us follow other gods” – gods whom you have not previously known – “and let us serve them.”  You must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer, for the Lord your God will be testing you to see if you love him with all your mind and being.  You must follow the Lord your God and revere only him; and you must observe his commandments, obey him, serve him, and remain loyal to him.  As for that prophet or dreamer, he must be executed because he encouraged rebellion against the Lord your God who brought you from the land of Egypt, redeeming you from that place of slavery, and because he has tried to entice you from the way the Lord your God has commanded you to go.  In this way you must purge out evil from within.

The prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah (apparently a false prophet), From earliest times, the prophets who preceded you and me invariably prophesied war, disaster, and plagues against many countries and great kingdoms.  So if a prophet prophesied peace and prosperity, it was only known that the Lord truly sent him when what he prophesied came true.[24]  In this light I can begin to appreciate the proportion of Jesus’ faith when He read those gracious words—The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor; He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor—and added, Today this scripture has been fulfilled even as you heard it being read.

And so Paul wrote, If the gift is prophecy (προφητείαν), that individual must use it in proportion to his faith.  And if I have prophecy (προφητείαν), he wrote the Corinthians, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.[25]  I can’t tell if this was a hypothetical consideration to highlight the preeminence of love, or an actual concern.  It is difficult to imagine an individual who received so many of the different gifts[26] (Διαιρέσεις δὲ χαρισμάτων) of the Spirit, not shared by all (For one person is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom[27]…to another prophecy [προφητεία][28]…), and yet did not have the love that is given by the same Spirit to all believers.  If such a monstrosity is actually possible it would seem to be someone with a religious mind believing something other than the word of the Lord to quench the love that is the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Love never ends, Paul continued to contrast love and prophecy in Corinthians.  But if there are prophecies (προφητεῖαι, another form of προφητεία), they will be set aside[29]…when what is perfect comes…[30]  Pursue love, he wrote, and be eager for the spiritual gifts (πνευματικά, a form of πνευματικός),[31] especially that you may prophesy (προφητεύητε, a form of προφητεύω).[32]  Then he contrasted prophesying to one speaking in a tongue.

Tongues

Prophecy
For the one speaking in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, for no one understands; he is speaking mysteries by the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 14:2 (NET)

 But the one who prophesies (προφητεύων, another form of προφητεύω) speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation.

1 Corinthians 14:3 (NET)
The one who speaks in a tongue builds himself up…

1 Corinthians 14:4a (NET)

 …but the one who prophesies (προφητεύων, another form of προφητεύω) builds up the church.

1 Corinthians 14:4b (NET)
I wish you all spoke in tongues…

1 Corinthians 14:5a (NET)

 …but even more that you would prophesy (προφητεύητε, a form of προφητεύω).

1 Corinthians 14:5b (NET)
…unless he interprets so that the church may be strengthened.

1 Corinthians 14:5d (NET)

 The one who prophesies (προφητεύων, another form of προφητεύω) is greater than the one who speaks in tongues…

1 Corinthians 14:5c (NET)

Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, Paul concluded, seek to abound in order to strengthen the church.  So then, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.[33]  And, I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you, but in the church I want to speak five words with my mind to instruct others, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.[34]  Then he quoted the Old Testament prophecy concerning tongues: By people with strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, yet not even in this way will they listen to me…[35]  So then, tongues, he concluded, are a sign…for unbelievers.  Prophecy (προφητεία), however, is…for believers.[36]

So if the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and unbelievers or uninformed people enter, will they not say that you have lost your minds?[37]  In other words, the Old Testament prophecy holds true: unbelievers hearing strange tongues will not listen to the Lord.  Rather, they say, you have lost your minds.  But if all prophesy (προφητεύωσιν, another form of προφητεύω), and an unbeliever or uninformed person enters, he will be convicted by all, he will be called to account by all.  The secrets of his heart are disclosed…[38]  So prophecy is for believers, their rightful occupation that brings an unbeliever or uninformed person to faith and repentance, and in this way he will fall down with his face to the ground and worship God, declaring, “God is really among you.”[39]

Still, It was [Jesus] who gave…some [not all] as prophets (προφήτας, another form of προφήτης) …to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God – a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ’s full stature.[40]  And God has placed in the church…second prophets (προφήτας, another form of προφήτης)…Not all are prophets (προφῆται, another form of προφήτης), are they?[41]  No, because we have different gifts (χαρίσματα, a form of χάρισμα) according to the grace given to us.[42]  For just as in one body we have many members, and not all the members serve the same function, so we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually we are members who belong to one another.[43]

 

Addendum (7/18/2015): Jim Searcy has published that the Septuagint is a hoax written by Origen and Eusebius 200 hundred years after Christ.  “In fact, the Septuagint ‘quotes’ from the New Testament and not vice versa…”  His contention is that the “King James Version is the infallible Word of God.”  So, I’ll re-examine the quotations above with the KJV.

My thoughts on Luke 4:18, 19 are too long to append to this essay.  This addendum is found as Study: Luke 4:18-19.

Romans, Part 46

Back to Fear – Exodus, Part 6

Back to Son of God – 1 John, Part 3

Back to Saving Demons, Part 2

Back to Romans, Part 49

[2] Romans 12:2b (NET)

[3] Romans 12:3 (NET)

[6] Luke 4:21 (NET)

[7] Luke 4:22a (NET)

[8] Luke 4:22 (NET)

[9] Romans 5:17 (NET)

[12] Romans 12:4, 5 (NET)

[13] Ephesians 4:1-3 (NET)

[18] κατὰ τὴν χάριν τὴν δοθεῖσαν ἡμῖν διάφορα (literally, “according to the grace given to us differently”) Romans 12:6 (NET)

[19] Romans 12:6b (NET)

[22] Septuagint: ἀφέξεσθε receive in full or abstain http://lexicon.katabiblon.com/?search=ἀφέξεσθε

[23] Deuteronomy 18:21, 22 (NET)

[24] Jeremiah 28:8, 9 (NET)

[25] 1 Corinthians 13:2 (NET)

[26] 1 Corinthians 12:4 (NET)

[27] 1 Corinthians 12:8 (NET)

[28] 1 Corinthians 12:10 (NET)

[29] 1 Corinthians 13:8 (NET)

[30] 1 Corinthians 13:10 (NET)

[32] 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NET)

[33] 1 Corinthians 14:12b, 13 (NET)

[34] 1 Corinthians 14:18, 19 (NET)

[35] 1 Corinthians 14:21 (NET)

[36] 1 Corinthians 14:22 (NET)

[37] 1 Corinthians 14:23 (NET)

[38] 1 Corinthians 14:24, 25a (NET)

[39] 1 Corinthians 14:25b (NET)

[40] Ephesians 4:11-13 (NET)

[41] 1 Corinthians 12:28, 29 (NET)

[42] Romans 12:6a (NET)

[43] Romans 12:4, 5 (NET)

Romans, Part 44

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Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, Paul continued, by the mercies (οἰκτιρμῶν)[1] of God…[2]  The Greek word οἰκτιρμῶν (a form of οἰκτιρμός), translated mercies, is the noun that corresponds to the verb translated compassion in, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion (οἰκτιρήσω, a form of οἰκτείρω)[3] on whom I have compassion (οἰκτίρω, another form of οἰκτείρω).[4]  It was translated mercy again in Paul’s conclusion written to the Colossians: Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy (οἰκτιρμοῦ, another form of οἰκτιρμός), kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else.  Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others.[5]

Jesus said, love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back.  Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people.  Be merciful (οἰκτίρμονες, a form of οἰκτίρμων),[6] just as your Father is merciful (οἰκτίρμων).[7]  The Greek word οἰκτίρμων is essentially the adjective of the noun οἰκτιρμός and the verb οἰκτείρω.  Taken together these three passages give me some understanding of what it means to present [my body] as a sacrifice in Paul’s conclusion: Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God – which is your reasonable service.[8]

It took me some time to get here.  At first I thought the phrase by the mercies of God (διὰ τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν τοῦ θεοῦ) applied only to Paul’s exhortation.  I thought that because of God’s mercies to me it was reasonable that I present my body as a sacrifice to Him.  My religion had no rite or ritual for accomplishing this, but it did have a saying: Those who attend faithfully on Sunday morning love the church; those who attend faithfully Sunday morning and Sunday evening love the Pastor; but those who attend faithfully on Sunday and Wednesday evening prayer meeting love the Lord.  I assumed that presenting my body as a sacrifice had something to do with attending church every time the doors were open and doing whatever the Pastor said: Obey your leaders and submit to them, the author of the letter to the Hebrews wrote, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work.[9]

I might have continued trying to prove how much I loved God rather than being transformed by his love.  But I continued studying the Bible and the Holy Spirit brought Scriptures to mind that disagreed with, or severely limited, the points my various Pastors made in their sermons.  It was a difficult and confusing time.  But eventually I began to see the Bible, not as a rule book, but as a way to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He] sent.[10]

The Bible changed then from a discussion of many things into a discussion of primarily one issue from many perspectives, namely, this eternal life in Jesus Christ.  In that light it was easier to recognize that the phrase by the mercies of God (διὰ τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν τοῦ θεοῦ) also described how to present my body as a sacrifice: διὰ (through) the mercies of God, sharing in his compassion, clothed with [his] heart of mercy, his kindness, his humility, his gentleness, and his patience…forgiving one another…Just as the Lord has forgiven [me], being merciful just as he is merciful.

Do not be conformed to this present world,[11] Paul added more detail.  I assume that this present world is equivalent to the works of the flesh:[12] hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, and envying.[13]  I didn’t leave sexual immorality (πορνεία),[14] impurity, depravity, idolatry, sorcery and murder[15] out of this list because I think they are any less the works of the flesh.  Given my background and upbringing they are the obvious works of the flesh while hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, and envying might seem virtuous if directed against sin or sinners or heretics or people who don’t accept my interpretation of the Bible.

The word translated envying for instance is φθόνοι (a form of φθόνος).[16]  Pilate knew that [Jesus’ accusers] had handed him over because of envy[17] (φθόνον, another form of φθόνος).  If I were writing myself as a character in a movie it would make perfect sense for that character to envy Ingmar Bergman, a creative genius, a talented and successful director of both theater and film.  So much in his films seems like anti-religious agitprop.  I have never heard that he repented or showed any signs of faith in Jesus.  By all rights I, like Bess from Lars Von Trier’s “Breaking the Waves,” should say of Ingmar Bergman, “He will go to hell; everyone knows that.”

Yet when I search myself I find instead that I hope against hope for God’s mercy.  I can’t find an explanation for it apart from the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control[18] that floods into me and through me from the Holy Spirit.  I am not as creative or talented or successful as Ingmar Bergman, but I have received a superabundance of mercy and grace while he suffered unspeakably from religious minds, his own as well as those of others.  Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, Paul continued in Romans, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect (τέλειον, a form of τέλειος).[19]

Love never ends (πίπτει, a form of πίπτω),[20] Paul wrote the Corinthians.  According to the definitions listed in the NET online Bible this means that love never 1) descends from a higher place to a lower; love never 1a) falls, 1a1) is thrust down 1b) (metaph.) falls under judgment, or comes under condemnation; love never 2) descends from an erect to a prostrate position 2a) falls down 2a1) is prostrated, or falls prostrate;[21] love never 2a2) is overcome by terror or astonishment or grief or under the attack of an evil spirit or of falling dead suddenly; love never 2a3) is dismembered like a corpse by decay 2a4) prostrates itself 2a5) renders homage or worship to one 2a6) falls out, falls from, perishes or is lost; love never 2a7) falls down, or falls into ruin 2b) is cast down from a state of prosperity 2b1) falls from a state of uprightness; love never 2b2) perishes, comes to an end, disappears, ceases; love never 2b3) loses authority, or no longer has force 2b4) is removed from power by death 2b5) fails of participating in, or misses a share in [Christ’s salvation because love (ἀγάπη) is his salvation and his righteousness in a word].

This was in contrast to prophecies, that will be set aside…tongues, that will cease…and knowledge, that will be set aside.[22]  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when what is perfect (τέλειον, a form of τέλειος) comes, the partial will be set aside.[23]  Love not only transcends this coming perfection, it facilitates it according to John: whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected (τετελείωται, a form of τελειόω).[24]  By this we know that we are in him.[25]

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ,[26] Paul wrote the Ephesians.  It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God – a mature (τέλειον, a form of τέλειος) person, attaining to the measure of Christ’s full stature.[27]  I have begun to wonder: if the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers aren’t encouraging me to be perfected in God’s love, are they acting as ambassadors for Christ[28] or emissaries of the religious mind?

Paul wrote the Colossians, I became a servant of the church according to the stewardship from God – given to me for you – in order to complete (πληρῶσαι, a form of πληρόω; or, fulfill) the word of God, that is, the mystery that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now been revealed to his saints.  God wanted to make known to them the glorious riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  We proclaim him by instructing and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature (τέλειον, a form of τέλειος; e.g., perfected in and by God’s love) in Christ.[29]

When I consider the justice of God’s mercy in and through Christ I am reminded of Friedrich Nietzsche.  Jesus said, Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.[30]  The soul cannot be killed with weaponry.  But Friedrich Nietzsche came about as close to being a soul killer as I can imagine a human being becoming.  Who can calculate his devastating impact on the souls of academics and the intelligentsia?  But if I imagine him in torment in hell for all eternity, cursing his nonexistent god, I realize that I can imagine no greater destruction of the personality I know as Friedrich Nietzsche than to find him one day clothed and in his right mind,[31] and sitting at the feet of Jesus.

[2] Romans 12:1a (NET)

[4] Romans 9:15 (NET)

[5] Colossians 3:12, 13 (NET)

[7] Luke 6:35, 36 (NET)

[8] Romans 12:1 (NET)

[9] Hebrews 13:17a (NET)

[11] Romans 12:2a (NET)

[17] Matthew 27:18 (NET)

[18] Galatians 5:22, 23 (NET)

[19] Romans 12:2 (NET)

[20] 1 Corinthians 13:8a (NET)

[21] At the end of the movie “The Lord of the Rings – The Return of the King” as the newly crowned king approached, the Hobbits—Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin—bowed.  The king said, “My friends, you bow to no one.”  Then he and all present knelt before them.  In the context of the fruit of the Spirit love certainly does not fall prostrate before rules or laws:  Against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:23b NET).  On the contrary, Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10 NET).  The fear that I might love too much, be too joyful, too peaceful, too patient, too kind, too good, too faithful, too gentle, or too controlled by the Holy Spirit, that I should intervene and hold myself aloof from being engulfed, buoyed up and carried along by that living stream that makes glad the city of God, that I should draw back to some Aristotelian mean between the extremes, is not from God.  In this sense then I understand “Love never falls prostrate” (or never “renders homage or worship”), not that Love is god, but that God is love.

[22] 1 Corinthians 13:8b (NET)

[23] 1 Corinthians 13:9, 10 (NET)

[25] 1 John 2:5 (NET)

[26] Ephesians 4:7 (NET)

[27] Ephesians 4:11-13 (NET)

[28] 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NET)

[29] Colossians 1:25-28 (NET)

[30] Matthew 10:28a (NET)

Romans, Part 33

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In the same way, Paul continued, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groaning (στεναγμοῖς, a form of στεναγμός).[1]  I think in the same way above referred back to 1) the groaning of creation, the whole creation groans (συστενάζει, a form of συστενάζω)[2] and suffers together until now;[3] and 2) we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan (στενάζομεν, a form of στενάζω)[4] inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies.[5]  In the same way…the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groaning (στεναγμοῖς, a form of στεναγμός).  Why?  The Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray.

To the Holy Spirit’s intercession with inexpressible groaning I can only say amen and thank you.  But I want to linger awhile over the insight we do not know how we should pray.

If I think of people at all when I think of church, I think of a small clique relative to all who believe, or have believed, or will believe in Jesus Christ for salvation.  If I’m honest the word church conjures up the by-laws and functions of a property owning not-for-profit corporation where we strive to keep the doors open, lights on, heat and air conditioning functioning so we can attract more people to help keep the doors open, lights on, heat and air conditioning functioning so we can attract more people…

In 1 Corinthians Paul effectively equated church with the body of Christ:  Now you are Christ’s body (σῶμα[6] Χριστοῦ[7]), and each of you is a member of it.  And God has placed in the church (ἐκκλησίᾳ)[8] first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues.[9]  And again to the Ephesians Paul wrote, It was [Jesus] who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ (σώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ), until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God – a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ’s full stature.[10]

The body of Christ, as opposed to church, gives me a whole new vision of my ignorance regarding how I should pray.  Here is my analogy:  I have decided that the body of Dan will extend its right arm parallel to the floor.  If I could imbue each muscle cell in that arm with sight and speech and reason, it is not too hard to imagine what some might say.  As they tired, as they began to think about why they were so tired, they would realize that the muscle cells across from them were pulling against them, in the opposite direction.

“Stop, you’re pulling the wrong way!” they would say.

The muscle cells on the other side of my arm would say, “You stop, we are pulling the way the spirit of Dan’s nervous system is telling us to pull.”

The others would counter, “No, you stop, we are pulling the way the spirit of Dan’s nervous system is telling us to pull.  You must be mistaken.”

“We know what the Spirit of Dan’s nervous system is telling us.”

“That’s impossible!  We know Dan.  He is very rational.  You are asserting that he would act irrationally.”

“We know the spirit of Dan’s nervous system.”

“You must be deceived by some form of evil masquerading as the spirit of Dan’s nervous system.”

On and on they argue from their limited perspectives.  How could they pray intelligently?  And if I decided that the body of Dan would wave its arm back and forth, first one side would receive the signal to relax as the other side continued pulling.

“Finally, you see the light,” the pulling side would exclaim.  And they would encourage each other with words like, “We’re winning!  The truth prevails!”

Then as the direction changed and that side was given the signal to relax and the other side to pull, the relaxed muscle cells would lament, “Oh, no!  Evil rules!”

Obviously, If I had imbued my muscle cells with any kind of self-will they would fight me to satisfy their own egos, if I imbued them with egos, that is.

It is easy now to see why the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groaning, but what about those times I pray with my mind?  I still meditate on Scripture, and I still ramble on and on about my confusions, frustrations and concerns, but when I ask for things in prayer I have become very dependent on the Lord’s Prayer, not as a model prayer, but word for word from Matthew 6:9-14 (NET):

Our Father in heaven…  I am particularly mindful then that I pray for all who call on our Father, or have called, or will call, on Him.  My prayer is no longer limited geographically or temporally.  It is as expansive and all-encompassing as Almighty Eternal God chooses to hear it.

…may your name be honored…  Here is the raison d’etre[11] for all who call on our Father.

…may your kingdom come…  Here is the mission amplified by the next line, may your will be done (or, become) on earth as it is in heaven.  I have no idea how God’s will is done in heaven, but I assume it is not by police forces but by something more akin to being led by the Holy Spirit.

Give us today our daily bread…  Like Jesus’ disciples[12] before me I thought He was talking about bread, food.  After I studied life (ζωή) I realized He meant bread of life.[13]  I pray for that daily infusion of Christ Himself, his love, his joy, his peace, his patience, his kindness, his goodness, his faithfulness, his gentleness, and his self-control (ἐγκράτεια).[14]  And I pray this not for myself alone but for all who call on our Father, or have called, or will call, on Him.

…and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors.  Oh, how I used to labor here, wondering, doubting, could it be enough?  The Lord knows my weakness, my need for penance.  What could be better than to preoccupy myself and my mind with forgiving others?  But again, I pray not for myself alone but for all who call on our Father, or have called, or will call, on Him.

And do not lead us into temptation (πειρασμόν), but deliver us from the evil one.  Though James[15] had a singularly macho attitude toward temptation (πειρασμοῖς and  πειρασμόν are forms of πειρασμός),[16] I am more than content to side with Jesus here, and pray not for myself alone but for all who call on our Father, or have called, or will call, on Him.

And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, Paul continued in Romans, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will.  And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.  And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.[17]

He is worthy of our trust.

Romans, Part 34 

Back to Justice, Vengeance and Punishment

Back to Fear – Genesis, Part 5

Back to Romans, Part 40

Back to Antichrist, Part 5

[1] Romans 8:26 (NET)

[3] Romans 8:22 (NET)

[5] Romans 8:23 (NET)

[9] 1 Corinthians 12:27, 28 (NET)

[10] Ephesians 4:11-13 (NET)

[11] French: meaning “reason for being”

[13] John 6:35, 48 (NET) ὁ ἄρτος τῆς ζωῆς

[17] Romans 8:27-30 (NET)