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PAUL AN APOSTLE OF CHRIST JESUS:
Paulo apostolos Christou Iesou:
(See Torrey's Topic "Apostle".
Click
Easton's Bible Dictionary for nice
summary of "Apostle";
click
ISBE for more detail discussion)
Spurgeon writes that...
The second epistle to Timothy is
remarkable as being probably the last which the apostle wrote; it
contains dying advice, written in the immediate prospect of martyrdom.
Looking forward calmly to the grave, and with the executioner's axe in
the foreground, Paul pens
this letter to his favourite disciple, and solemnly charges him to abide
faithful unto death. (The Interpreter)
D. Edmond Hiebert notes
that...
"In accordance with
the accepted practice of that day, Paul begins with his own name. We
moderns sign our name at the end of our letters, while the writer of a
letter in that day, with greater logic, placed his name at the beginning
of his letter. And the very sight of that name at the head of this
communication to him must have thrilled the soul of Timothy. How eagerly
he would peruse any word from his beloved friend and teacher!
(Hiebert, D. E. 2 Timothy).
Apostle (652) (apostolos
from apo = from +
stello = send forth)
(Click
word study on
apostolos)
(Click
another discussion of
apostle)
means one sent forth from by another, often with a special commission to
represent another and to accomplish his work. It can be a delegate,
commissioner, ambassador sent out on a mission or orders or commission
and with the authority of the one who sent him.
Apostolos referred to someone who was officially commissioned to a
position or task, such as an envoy. Cargo ships were sometimes called
apostolic, because they were dispatched with a specific shipment for a
specific destination. In secular Greek apostolos was used of an
admiral of a fleet sent out by the king on special assignment.
In the
ancient world a apostle was the personal representatives of the
king, functioning as an ambassador with the king’s authority and
provided with credentials to prove he was the king's envoy.
Here are the 89 uses of apostolos in
the NT (NASB) - Matt. 10:2; Mk. 3:14; 6:30; Lk. 6:13; 9:10; 11:49; 17:5;
22:14; 24:10; Jn. 13:16; Acts 1:2, 26; 2:37, 42f; 4:33, 35, 36, 37; 5:2,
12, 18, 29, 40; 6:6; 8:1, 14, 18; 9:27; 11:1; 14:4, 14; 15:2, 4, 6, 22,
23; 16:4; Ro 1:1; 11:13; 16:7; 1 Co. 1:1; 4:9; 9:1, 2, 5; 12:28, 29;
15:7, 9; 2Co 1:1; 8:23; 11:5, 13; 12:11, 12; Ga 1:1, 17, 19; Ep 1:1;
2:20; 3:5; 4:11; Php 2:25; Col 1:1; 1Th 2:7; 1Ti 1:1; 2:7; 2Ti 1:1, 11;
Titus 1:1; He 3:1; 1Pe 1:1; 2Pe 1:1; 3:2; Jude 1:17; Re 2:2; 18:20;
21:14
Unger's Bible Dictionary writes that...
The Jews, it is said, called
the collector of the half shekel, which every Israelite paid annually to
the Temple, an apostle;
also those who carried about encyclical letters from their rulers."
(Unger,
M. F., Harrison, R. K., Vos, H. F., Barber, C. J., & Unger, M. F. The
New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Chicago: Moody Press)
A good parallel of
apostle is our English word ambassador defined by Webster as
"a diplomatic agent of the highest
rank accredited to a foreign government as the resident representative
of his own government for a special and often temporary diplomatic
assignment". (cp Eph 6:20-note)
Paul was a man with a mission having been commissioned by Christ Himself,
Whose will was made known in (Acts 9:15, 22:14, 15, 21, 26:16, 17,18).
Paul further explained that he was
"an apostle (not sent from
men
nor
through the
agency of
man, but
through
Jesus
Christ and
God the
Father, Who
raised Him from the
dead" (Gal 1:1).
Paul was
commissioned as Christ's "chosen
instrument" (Acts 9:15) and
ambassador to the Gentiles with a message of reconciliation (Ro 5:11-note,
2Co 5:18,19), a message that he "neither received...from man, nor was...
taught, but ... through a revelation of Jesus Christ." (Gal 1:12).
In his salutation to the Romans Paul added that
"through
(Jesus
Christ our
Lord) we have
received
grace and
apostleship to
bring
about the
obedience of
faith
among
all the
Gentiles for His
name's
sake".
(see note
Romans 1:5)
And so we see that Paul was endued
with the "apostolic" authority and power to convey the gospel
of his Lord. Paul belongs to Christ, has been commissioned and sent by
Him, and acts as His authorized representative.
Easton's Bible
Dictionary - Apostle
A person sent by another; a
messenger; envoy. This word is once used as a descriptive designation of
Jesus Christ, the Sent of the Father (Hebrews 3:1; John 20:21). It is,
however, generally used as designating the body of disciples to whom he
entrusted the organization of his church and the dissemination of his
gospel, "the twelve," as they are called (Matthew 10:1, 2, 3, 4, 5; Mark
3:14; 6:7; Luke 6:13; 9:1). We have four lists of the apostles, one by
each of the synoptic evangelists (Matthew 10:2, 3, 4; Mark 3:16; Luke
6:14), and one in the (Acts 1:13). No two of these lists, however,
perfectly coincide.
Our Lord gave them the "keys of the kingdom," and by the gift of his
Spirit fitted them to be the founders and governors of his church (John
14:16,17,26; 15:26,27; 16:7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15). To them, as
representing his church, he gave the commission to "preach the gospel to
every creature" (Matthew 28:18, 19, 20). After his ascension he
communicated to them, according to his promise, supernatural gifts to
qualify them for the discharge of their duties (Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians
2:16; 2:7,10,13; 2Co 5:20; 1 Corinthians 11:2). Judas Iscariot, one of
"the twelve," fell by transgression, and Matthias was substituted in his
place (Acts 1:21). Saul of Tarsus was afterwards added to their number
(Acts 9:3-20; 20:4; 26:15-18; 1 Timothy 1:12; 2:7; 2Tim 1:11).
Luke has given some account of Peter, John, and the two Jameses (Acts
12:2,17; 15:13; 21:18), but beyond this we know nothing from authentic
history of the rest of the original twelve. After the martyrdom of James
the Greater (Acts 12:2), James the Less usually resided at Jerusalem,
while Paul, "the apostle of the uncircumcision," usually travelled as a
missionary among the Gentiles (Galatians 2:8). It was characteristic of
the apostles and necessary (1) that they should have seen the Lord, and
been able to testify of him and of his resurrection from personal
knowledge (John 15:27; Acts 1:21,22; 1Corinthians 9:1; Acts 22:14,15).
They must have been immediately called to that office by Christ (Luke
6:13; Galatians 1:1).
It was essential that they should be
infallibly inspired, and thus secured against all error and mistake in
their public teaching, whether by word or by writing (John 14:26; 16:13;
1 Thessalonians 2:13).
Another qualification was the power of working miracles (Mark 16:20;
Acts 2:43; 1 Corinthians 12:8, 9, 10, 11). The apostles therefore could
have had no successors. They are the only authoritative teachers of the
Christian doctrines. The office of an apostle ceased with its first
holders.
In 2 Corinthians 8:23 and Phil 2:25
the word "messenger" is the rendering of the same Greek word, elsewhere
rendered "apostle."
BY THE WILL OF
GOD: dia thelematos theou :
By the will of
God - Paul is not being arrogant but is saying in essence that he is
in the center of God's will as he proclaims the promise of life in
Christ Jesus.
Will
(2307) (thelema) means a desire which
comes from one’s emotional nature as contrasted with the other Greek word for
"desire" (boule) which describes a desire emanating from one’s rational
processes. The
upshot is that thelema indicates that this call of Paul as an apostle
began in the heart of God...God started it and God
completed it!
In four
other epistles, as here in 2 Timothy, Paul relates his apostleship to
the will of God: (see all uses of phrase will of God in NASB --
Mk. 3:35; Ro 1:10; 8:27; 12:2; 15:32; 1Co 1:1; 2Co 1:1; 7:9, 10; 8:5; Ep
1:1; 6:6; Col 1:1; 4:12; 1Th 4:3; 2Ti 1:1; He 10:36; 1Pe 2:15; 4:2, 6,
19; 5:2; 1Jn 2:17)
"Paul, called as an apostle of
Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother"
(1Corinthians 1:1)
"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and
Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth
with all the saints who are throughout Achaia" (2Corinthians 1:1)
"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the
saints who are at Ephesus, and who are faithful in Christ Jesus"
(Eph 1:1--note)
"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and
Timothy our brother" (Col 1:1-note)
This repeated
emphasis by Paul expresses his continual consciousness that the divine
will had chosen him as an apostle, despite that fact that he neither
sought it nor merited it. Practically, his consciousness that this was
God's purpose that was being worked out and not his own plan, held him
firm throughout all the years of his strenuous and eventful life. And
here in his last written words, it was this conviction that kept him
calm in the face of impending martyrdom. As a prisoner, lonely and
largely forsaken, he could fall back upon the consciousness that he was
an apostle, not by his own appointment, but by the will of God.
As Horton writes,
"In the hour of our extremity, when earthly friends and securities
fail, there is but one security, the Rock on which we stand, the will of
God, and the assurance that we are standing upon it".
Are you doing
what you're doing by the will of God? Or stated another way are you in
the center of His will, beloved? Or are you "kicking against the
goads" refusing to obey His clear call and command on your life?
Remember, we only go around once, so what better place to be than in the
center of the "will of God"!
I love what W. E. Vine says about being in God's will
"He
who is assured that the work in which he engages is God’s will for him
will find therein a means of steadfast continuance, no matter how great
the trials and difficulties he experiences. When the will of God is the
foundation of our activities, it acts as a counteractive power against
all self-glorying and should render His glory the inspiring aim of our
whole being and service. It will lead us to say with Paul, “Not I, but
Christ.” (Vine,
W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson
)
Paul was an apostle because God in
His sovereignty had willed it. He was not an apostle by personal choice
but was a divine decree and entrustment. His apostleship was not of
human origin or ordination, but of heavenly decree directly from Christ
as he stated in Galatians writing that he was
"an apostle (not sent from men, nor through the agency of man, but
through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead)"
(Galatians 1:1)
Paul had not sought
for this position of apostle to the Gentiles who he had once sought to
murder. On the other hand neither had Paul run from the responsibility
of an apostle once he was called. It is notable that in the first letter
to Timothy Paul had stated that he was
"an apostle of Christ Jesus
according to the commandment of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus, our
hope" (1Timothy 1:1)
Paul willingly,
unhesitatingly obeyed God's command.
One of the
problems that has always plagued the church is the reversal of this
order. Too often it is the unqualified who seek positions of spiritual
leadership while the qualified have run from these roles.
None are allowed to go for God but
those who are sent by him. - Matthew Henry
The Christian worker must be sent; he
must not elect to go. - Oswald Chambers
It is not what we do that matters,
but what a sovereign God chooses to do through us. God doesn't want our
success, he wants us. He doesn't demand our achievements; he demands our
obedience. - Charles Colson
God will not thank thee for doing
that which he did not set thee about. - William Gurnall
Whatever is laudable in our works
proceeds from the grace of God. - John Calvin
Our efficiency without God's
sufficiency is only a deficiency. - Vance Havner
Whatever it is our Lord has called
us to, our
response should ever be that of Paul's,
"Lord what will You have me to
do?" (Acts 22:10)
Service for the
Lord will be eternally significant only to the degree that we can say
with Paul that it is "by the will of God" and "in Christ Jesus".
Stated another way, divine service must be divinely initiated. Richard
Sibbes rightly said "Whom God calls he qualifies."
Guzik has
an excellent application writing that...
Some of us could write, "pastor by
the will of God" or "evangelist by the will of God" or "pray-er by the
will of God" or "encourager by the will of God" or "supporter by the
will of God." We all have our role to play, and God wants us to walk in
it!
Torrey's Topic
Apostle
Christ pre-eminently called "The
Apostle" -Hebrews 3:1
Ordained by Christ -Mark 3:14; John 15:16
Received their title from Christ -Luke 6:13
CALLED BY
God -1Co 1:1; 12:28; Ga 1:1,15,16
Christ -Mt 10:1; Mk 3:13; Ac 20:24; Ro 1:5
The Holy Spirit -Ac 20:24; Ro 1:5
Were unlearned men -Acts 4:13
Selected from obscure stations -Mt 4:18
Sent first to the house of Israel -Mt 10:5,6; Lk 24:47; Acts 13:46
Sent to preach the gospel to all nations -Mt 28:19,20; Mk 16:15; 2Ti
1:11
Christ always present with -Mt 28:20
Warned against a timid profession of Christ -Mt 10:27, 28, 29, 30, 31,
32, 33
The Holy Spirit given to -John 20:22;
Acts 2:1, 2, 3,4; 9:17
Guided by the Spirit into all truth -Jn 14:26; 15:26; 16:13
Instructed by the Spirit to answer adversaries -Mt 10:19,20; Lk 12:11,12
Specially devoted to the office of the ministry -Acts 6:4; 20:27
Humility urged upon -Mt 20:26,27; Mk 9:33, 34, 35, 36, 37; Lk 22:24, 25,
26, 27, 28, 29, 30
Self-denial urged upon -Matthew 10:37, 38, 39
Mutual love urged upon -John 15:17
Equal authority given to each of -Mt 16:19; 18:18; 2Co 11:5
Were not of the world -Jn 15:19; 17:16
Were hated by the world -Mt 10:22; 24:9; Jn 15:18
Persecutions and sufferings of -Mt 10:16,18; Lk 21:16; Jn 15:20; 16:2
Saw Christ in the flesh -Luke 1:2; Ac 1:22; 1Co 9:1; 1Jn 1:1
Witnesses of the resurrection and ascension of Christ -Lk 24:33-41,51;
Ac 1:2-9; 10:40,41; 1Co 15:8
Empowered to work miracles -Matthew 10:1,8; Mark 16:20; Luke 9:1; Acts
2:43
ACCORDING TO
THE PROMISE: kat epaggelian: (2Pe1:3,4-see
notes-v1:3;
1:4)
(Jn 5:24,39,40; 6:40,54; 10:28; 17:3; Ro 5:21; 6:23; 2Co 1:20; Ep 3:6;
Titus 1:2; He 9:15; 2Pe 1:3,4; 1Jn 2:25; 5:11, 12, 13) According to
is "kata" which conveys the idea
"With a view to the fulfillment of the promise."
The preposition kata defines the
aim and purpose of Paul's apostleship which is to further
"the
promise of life which is in Christ Jesus."
In the context of this book "the
promise of life in Christ Jesus"
is nothing less than the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ,
the good news that those who are "dead in their trespasses and
sins" (Eph 2:1-note)
can find life in Christ Jesus.
Even though Paul
is being poured out as a drink offering (death is imminent), it did not
affect God’s “promise of life” (Jn 11:25, 26). Paul expands on this "promise" in Titus
writing that it is a promise of "eternal life" from God "Who
cannot lie promised long ages ago"
(Titus 1:2-note)
(Compare "His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity"
- 2Ti 1:9-note)
Promise (1860)
(epaggelia from epí = intensifier +
aggéllo = tell, declare) in secular Greek was primarily a legal
term denoting a summons and then coming to mean a promise to do or give
something.
Here are the 52 uses of epaggelia
in the NT - Lk 24:49; Ac 1:4; 2:33, 39; 7:17; 13:23, 32; 23:21; 26:6; Ro
4:13, 14, 16, 20; 9:4, 8, 9; 15:8; 2Co. 1:20; 7:1; Ga 3:14, 16, 17, 18,
21, 22, 29; 4:23, 28; Ep 1:13; 2:12; 3:6; 6:2; 1Ti 4:8; 2Ti 1:1; He 4:1;
6:12, 15, 17; 7:6; 8:6; 9:15; 10:36; 11:9, 13, 17, 33, 39; 2Pe 3:4, 9;
1Jn 2:25
Guzik comments that...
The words according to the promise of
life are unique in Paul's greetings; since Paul is imprisoned again in
Rome, and facing execution (2 Timothy 4:6), this promise is all the more
precious to him.
After Paul was released from the Roman imprisonment mentioned at the end
of the book of Acts, he enjoyed a few more years of liberty until he was
re-arrested, and imprisoned in Rome again. You can go to Rome today and
see the place where they say Paul was imprisoned. It is really just a
cold dungeon, a cave in the ground, with bare walls and a little hole in
the ceiling where food was dropped down. No windows, just a cold, little
cell that would have been especially uncomfortable in winter.
Paul writes this letter from his
second Roman imprisonment, and he will be condemned and executed in Rome
at the command of Nero shortly. Paul senses this ahead of time;
therefore 2 Timothy is not only the last letter we have from Paul, there
is a note of urgency and passion we might expect from a man who knows he
is on death row!
Jamieson writes that...
Paul's apostleship is in order to
carry into effect this promise. Compare "according to the faith . . . in
hope of eternal life . . . promise," &c. (Titus 1:1, 2). This "promise
of life in Christ" (compare 2Ti 1:10; 2Ti 2:8) was needed to nerve
Timothy to fortitude amidst trials, and to boldness in undertaking the
journey to Rome, which would be attended with much risk (2Ti 1:8).
Dwight Edwards adds
God desires all believers to see themselves in this light, as "set apart
to the gospel of God." May we cultivate the spirit of David Brainerd,
the earliest missionary to the American Indians of New England. He wrote
in his journal, "I cared not where or how I lived, or what hardships I
endured so that I could but gain souls for Christ. While I was asleep I
dreamt of such things and when I woke the first thing I thought of was
winning souls to Christ. The phrase "the promise of life which is in
Christ Jesus" is synonymous with the gospel. We ought to note a few
things about this significant phrase. First, it is a promise from God to
man. Therefore, it can be counted upon with absolute certainty. Promises
from men to men are often broken, but not so with the living God" (Nu
23:19,
Titus 1:2-note)
Thus, we can present the gospel with absolute certainty and conviction,
for it is the "good news" of God's unchanging love and faithfulness for
mankind. This promise is one which contains "life." The term "life" in
Scripture speaks not of mere existence but of the QUALITY of our
existence. [Jn 1:4;10:10, Ro 8:6-note,
etc.] God promises man a quality of life
which is superior to anything this temporal world can offer. This life
can only be found "in Christ Jesus" for He alone offers the living water
which eternally quenches our spiritual thirst. John 4. John emphasizes
this in the prologue of his gospel, "In Him was life and the life was
the light of men." (Jn 1:4).So
we have seen in this first verse the intense single-mindedness of Paul.
He was consumed with a holy fire which brought the light and warmth of
the gospel to all he came in contact with. And it is this same fire
which he desires to see blazing brightly in the life of Timothy, his
disciple. And it is this same fire God desires to ignite within our
lives so that we too bring the light and warmth of the gospel to all God
brings our way.
Spurgeon has the following
illustration on the promise of life (and abundant life) in Christ Jesus
...
I met with a story which seemed to me
rather a pretty one. There was a young woman, fair to look upon, who was
seen by a very wealthy gentleman, who determined to make her his wife.
She had been brought up to habits of rigid economy, for the family was
straitened in circumstances. Her father was not one of the poorest, but
still, poor enough; and on her marriage day he gave her all he could,
namely, put five pounds to her banking account; on the same day, her
husband also put a sum, namely, for ,£1,000, into the same bank, and
handed her a check book that she might draw what she liked. Well, having
been properly brought up, she spent her money very, very carefully. She
soon found it gone, however, because of the new circle into which she
had been taken. Then she went and drew £10, in great fear lest they
would not give her the ten sovereigns all at once, and when she had
received them, she was surprised and overjoyed ; she soon ran through
this, and drew again till she had drawn £50. One day her husband said,
"You little goose, I thought you did not know how to manage a check
book." She said, "Why, have I been too extravagant?" "No," he said,
"most women would have drawn and spent a thousand pounds. But instead of
that, you have only spent fifty pounds, and you cannot behave yourself
as my wife on such a pittance. Remember, you may be a poor man's
daughter, but you are a rich man's wife; so just begin to spend
according to my riches, and not your father's economy." This is our case
in reference to our Lord Jesus. We know we are a poor man's children.
Our original father "broke" long ago. There was nothing left of all the
family estate. When father Adam was in business, he became a bankrupt,
and left us nothing but a sea of debt. But then we are married to King
Jesus, Who is Heir of all things, and He puts the check book of promises
into our hands, that we may draw from the riches of divine grace.
><>><>><>
A promise is like a check. If I have
a check what do I do with it? Suppose I carried it about in my pocket,
and said, "I do not see the use of this bit of paper, I cannot buy
anything with it," a person would say, "Have you been to the bank with
it?" "No, I did not think of that." "But it is payable to your order.
Have you written your name on the back of it?" "No, I have not done
that." "And yet you are blaming the person who gave you the check? The
whole blame lies with yourself. Put your name at the back of the check,
go with it to the bank, and you will get what is promised to you." A
prayer should be the presentation of God's promise endorsed by your
personal faith. I hear of people praying for an hour together. I am very
pleased that they can; but it is seldom that I can do so, and I see no
need for it. It is like a person going into a bank with a check, and
stopping an hour. The clerks would wonder. The common-sense way is to go
to the counter and show your check, and take your money, and go about
your business. There is a style of prayer which is of this fine,
practical character. You so believe in God that you present the promise,
obtain the blessing, and go about your Master's business.
><>><>><>
If you had in your house a number of
checks which you believed to be good, I do not suppose that you would
long be unaware of their nature and value. No merchant here would say "I
have a number of bills, and drafts, and checks at home somewhere: I have
no doubt that they are all good, and that they are my lawful property;
but I do not know much about them. Their value is quite unknown to me."
Such ignorance would argue insanity. Will you know your earthly wealth,
and never consider your heavenly riches? (Ed: the promise of life
in Christ Jesus). In the Bible there are "exceeding great and precious
promises"; shall it be said that some of God's children do not know what
those promises contain? They have read them, perhaps, but they have
never really searched into their meaning to see what God has promised.
><>><>><>
When a man sees a garment. left at
his door which fits him exactly, and is evidently cut to suit certain
peculiarities of his form, he concludes that the garment was meant for
him Even so, in many a promise, I see certain private marks which are
the exact counterparts of the secrets of my soul, and these show that
God meant me when thus and thus He spoke.
><>><>><>
If you go into the market and are
likely to do a ready money business, you always take a check book with
you; so carry precious promises with you, that may plead the word which
suits your case. I have turned to promises for the sick, when I have
been of that number, or to promises for the poor, the despondent, the
weary, and such like, according to my own condition, and I have always
found a Scripture fitted to my own case. I do not want a promise made to
the sick when I am perfectly well; I do not want balm for a broken heart
when my soul is rejoicing in the Lord; but it is very handy to know
where to lay your hand upon suitable words of cheer when necessity
arises. Thus the eternal comfort of the Christian is the Word of God.
><>><>><>
Dost thou think God makes shams like
some who have made belts for swimming, which were good to exhibit in a
shop, but of no use in the sea? We have all heard of swords which were
useless in war; and even of shoes which were made to sell, but were
never made to walk in. God's shoes are of iron and brass, and you can
walk to heaven in them without their ever wearing out: and His life
belts, you may swim a thousand Atlantics upon them, and there will be no
fear of your sinking. His word of promise is meant to be tried and
proved.
><>><>><>
The other day a poor woman had a
little help sent to her, by a friend, in a letter. She was in great
distress, and she went to that very friend begging for a few shillings.
"Why," said the other, "I sent you money yesterday, by an order in a
letter!" "Dear, dear!" said the poor woman, "that must be the letter
which I put behind the looking glass!" Just so; and there are lots of
people who put God's letters behind the looking-glass, and fail to make
use of the promise which is meant for them.
><>><>><>
I fear that many of God's promises
are seldom used. They are like the whitesmith's bunch of keys. Why are
they so rusty? Because they are not in constant use They have not been
turned in the lock, day by day, or they would be bright enough. — Barbed
Arrows from the Quiver of C. H. Spurgeon
Torrey's Topic
The Promises of God
Contained in the Scriptures -Romans
1:2
Made in Christ -Ephesians 3:6; 2 Timothy 1:1
MADE TO -
Christ -Galatians 3:16,19
Abraham -Genesis 12:3,7; Galatians 3:16
Isaac -Genesis 26:3,4
Jacob -Genesis 28:14
David -2 Samuel 7:12; Psalms 89:3,4,35,36
The Israelites -Romans 9:4
The Fathers -Acts 13:32; 26:6,7
All who are called of God -Acts 2:39
Those who love him -James 1:12; 2:5
Confirmed by an oath -Psalms 89:3,4; Hebrews 8:6
Covenant established upon -Hebrews 8:6
God is faithful to -Titus 1:2; Hebrews 10:23
God remembers -Psalms 105:42; Luke 1:54,55
ARE
Good -1 Kings 8:56
Holy -Psalms 105:42
Exceeding great and precious -2 Peter 1:4
Confirmed in Christ -Romans 15:8
Yea and amen in Christ -2 Corinthians 1:20
Fulfilled in Christ -Acts 13:23; Luke 1:69-73
Through the righteousness of faith -Romans 4:13,16
Obtained through faith -Hebrews 11:33
Given to those who believe -Galatians 3:22
Inherited through faith and patience -Hebrews 6:12,15; 10:36
Performed in due season -Jeremiah 33:14; Acts 7:17; Galatians 4:4
Not one shall fail -Joshua 23:14; 1 Kings 8:56
The law not against -Galatians 3:21
The law could not disannul -Galatians 3:17
SUBJECTS OF
Christ -2 Samuel 7:12,13; Acts 13:22,23
The Holy Spirit -Acts 2:33; Ephesians 1:13
The gospel -Romans 1:1,2
Life in Christ -2 Timothy 1:1
A crown of life -James 1:12
Eternal life -Titus 1:2; 1 John 2:25
The life that now is -1 Timothy 4:8
Adoption -2 Corinthians 6:18; 7:1
Preservation in affliction -Isaiah 43:2
Blessing -Deuteronomy 1:11
Forgiveness of sins -Isaiah 1:18; Hebrews 8:12
Putting the law into the heart -Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10
Second coming of Christ -2 Peter 3:4
New heavens and earth -2 Peter 3:13
Entering into rest -Joshua 22:4; Hebrews 4:1
Should lead to perfecting holiness -2 Corinthians 7:1
The inheritance of the saints is of
Romans 4:13; Galatians 3:18
SAINTS
Children of -Romans 9:8; Galatians 4:28
Heirs of -Galatians 3:29; Hebrews 6:17; 11:9
Stagger not at -Romans 4:20
Have implicit confidence in -Hebrews 11:11
Expect the performance of -Luke 1:38,45; 2 Peter 3:13
Sometimes, through infirmity, tempted to doubt -Psalms 77:8,10
Plead in prayer -Genesis 32:9,12; 1 Chronicles 17:23,26; Isaiah 43:26
Should wait for the performance of -Acts 1:4
Gentiles shall be partakers of -Ephesians 3:6
Man, by nature, has no interest in -Ephesians 2:12
Scoffers despise -2 Peter 3:3,4
Fear, lest ye come short of -Hebrews 4:1
OF (THE) LIFE IN
CHRIST JESUS: zoes tes en Christo Iesou: (See Torrey's
Topic "Eternal
Life") (Jn 5:24,39,40; 6:40,54; 10:28; 17:3; Ro 5:21; 6:23;
2Cor 1:20; Ep 3:6; Titus 1:2; Heb 9:15; 1Jn 2:25; 5:11, 12, 13)
Click and enjoy a fruitful study of the 23 uses of the two
words "life" and
"Christ" which should shed some light on the meaning
Paul intends to convey in the phrase "promise of life in Christ Jesus".
Life
(2222)
(zoe) in Scripture is used (1) to refer to physical life
(Ro 8:38-note,
1Co 3:22, Php 1:20-note,
James 4:14, etc) but more often to (2) to supernatural life
in contrast to a life subject to eternal death (Jn 3:36, see all 43 uses
of "eternal life" below). This quality of life speaks of fullness of
life which alone belongs to God the Giver of life and is available to
His children now (Ro 6:4-note,
Ep 4:18) as well as in eternity future (Mk 10:30, Titus 1:2-note
on Eternal
Life).
Richards writes that..
Zoe in classical Greek refers to
natural life--the principle that enables living things to move and to
grow. In the NT, zoe focuses on the theological meaning rather than on
the biological. From the perspective of the NT, in every respect life is
the counterpart of death. Each book of the NT speaks of zoe. In each,
the principle of life lifts our vision beyond our earthly existence to
reveal a unique quality of life that spans time and eternity and that
has its roots in God. It is the biblical use and meaning of zoe that
most concerns us as we examine what the NT says about life.
(Richards,
L O: Expository Dictionary of Bible Words: Regency)
Wuest (in comments on 2Pe 1:3-note)
writes that zoe...
speaks of life in the sense of one
who is possessed of vitality and animation. It is used of the absolute
fulness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God. It is
used to designate the life which God gives to the believing sinner, a
vital, animating, spiritual, ethical dynamic which transforms his inner
being and as a result, his behavior.
(In comments on 1Jn 1:2 Wuest adds)
here used as Thayer indicates, as “the absolute fulness of life, both
essential and ethical, which belongs to God.” Thus, this life that God
is, is not to be defined as merely animation, but as definitely ethical
in its content. God is not the mere reason for the universe, as the
Greeks thought, but a Person with the characteristics and qualities of a
divine Person. The ethical and spiritual qualities of this life which
God is, are communicated to the sinner when the latter places his faith
in the Lord Jesus as Saviour, and this becomes the new, animating,
energizing, motivating principle which transforms the experience of that
individual, and the saint thus lives a Christian life. The message of
John is that since the believer is a partaker of this life, it is an
absolute necessity that he show the ethical and spiritual qualities that
are part of the essential nature of God, in his own life. If these are
entirely absent, John says, that person is devoid of the life of God,
and is unsaved. The ethical and spiritual qualities of this life were
exhibited to the human race in the earthly life of the Lord Jesus. His
life thus becomes the pattern of what our lives should be in holiness,
self-sacrifice, humility, and love.
(Wuest,
K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans
or
Logos)
As Paul reminded the saints at Colossae,
Christ...is our life
(Col 3:4-note)
Comment: Wuest writes
that in Col 3:4 "the resurrection life which the saint enjoys. It is the
eternal life given him as the motivating energy and directive agent of
the new kind of life he lives, together with that life lived out. It is
hidden with Christ in the sense that as Vincent says; “Your new
spiritual life is no longer in the sphere of the earthly and sensual,
but is with the life of the risen Christ, who is unseen with God.”
Expositors says: “In God asserts Christ’s own union with God, and
emphasizes our union with God in Him.”
Truly meaningful life, life on the
"highest plane", life that really is worthwhile is found only in "the
promise of life in Christ Jesus" (2 Ti 1:1, cp 1Jn 5:11, 26, Jn 1:4,
6:35, Ac 3:15) Who came so that we might have life and might have it
abundantly (Jn 10:10). This life is in Christ Jesus and therefore is a
supernatural life that is
eternal, for Christ is
eternal and our union with Him conveys eternality (right now...in
this present evil age!).
There are 126 uses of zoe in
the NT - Mt 7:14; 18:8, 9; 19:16, 17, 29; 25:46; Mk. 9:43, 45; 10:17,
30; Lk. 10:25; 12:15; 16:25; 18:18, 30; Jn. 1:4; 3:15, 16, 36; 4:14, 36;
5:24, 26, 29, 39,40; 6:27, 33, 35, 40, 47, 48, 51, 53, 54, 63, 68; 8:12;
10:10, 28; 11:25; 12:25, 50; 14:6; 17:2, 3; 20:31; Acts 2:28; 3:15;
5:20; 8:33; 11:18; 13:46, 48; 17:25; Ro 2:7; 5:10, 17, 18, 21; 6:4, 22,
23; 7:10; 8:2, 6, 10, 38; 11:15; 1Co. 3:22; 15:19; 2Co. 2:16; 4:10, 11,
12; 5:4; Gal. 6:8; Eph. 4:18; Phil. 1:20; 2:16; 4:3; Col. 3:3, 4; 1Ti
1:16; 4:8; 6:12, 19; 2Ti 1:1, 10; Titus 1:2; 3:7; Heb. 7:3, 16; Jas.
1:12; 4:14; 1Pe 3:7, 10; 2Pe 1:3; 1 Jn. 1:1, 2; 2:25; 3:14, 15;
5:11, 12, 13, 16, 20; Jude 1:21; Rev. 2:7, 10; 3:5; 7:17; 11:11; 13:8;
16:3; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:6, 27; 22:1, 2, 14, 17, 19.
Here are the 43 uses of the phrase
eternal life in the ESV - Mt. 19:16, 29; 25:46; Mk. 10:17,
30; Lk. 10:25; 18:18, 30; Jn. 3:15, 16, 36; 4:14, 36; 5:24, 39; 6:27,
40, 47, 54, 68; 10:28; 12:25, 50; 17:2, 3; Acts 13:46, 48; Ro 2:7; 5:21;
6:22, 23; Gal. 6:8; 1Ti 1:16; 6:12; Titus 1:2; 3:7; 1Jn 1:2; 2:25; 3:15;
5:11, 13, 20; Jude 1:21
There are uses of zoe in the
Septuagint (LXX)
- Ge 1:30; 2:7, 9;
3:14, 17, 20, 22, 24; 6:17; 7:11, 15, 22; 8:13; 23:1; 25:7, 17; 27:46;
45:5; 47:8f, 28; Exod. 1:14; 6:16, 18, 20; Dt 4:9; 6:2; 16:3; 17:19;
28:66; 30:15, 19f; 32:47; Jos. 1:5; 10:40; Jdg. 6:4; 16:30; 17:10; 1Sa
7:15; 25:29; 2Sa 1:23; 15:21; 19:34; 1 K |