Breathingbook

Archive for January, 2010

Here’s a little Word Study on 1 Cor 13:4-13 – the most popular set of verses on Love (agape). I’ve devoted a section here on the blog to love and it seemed good to me to redo a bit of the old post. I’ve included the agape definition, along with the original Greek emphasis and additional eligible words, to help unmask the full impact of the verses.

Most of the time, there is no one English word equivalent for one Greek word. This presents a lot of challenges for translators as they wrestle with just what word to pick. A lot of the time, full meanings get lost for the sake of readability and the patience of the general public.

That’s all gone here! (lol) So, I hope you’ll meditate and chew as you go over this, because there’s a lot here that’s usually not revealed for general public. 

Btw, the gold text is there to help you follow the original text and please check out more of my postings on Love for more insights. Thank you!

1 Cor 13:4-13

⁴ This love (concern, interest, sacred meal) in God and Christ is patient (waits patiently, can be slow to help or delay to help) and is absolutely kind.

This love (concern, interest, sacred meal) in God and Christ is not jealous (it does not set it’s heart or become deeply concerned or show a great interest in what God and Christ are doing with other people).

It does not covet or make comparisons with what one does not have.

This love in God and Christ does not brag (is not conceited and nor does it influence others to be conceited). This love is not arrogant.

Love in God and Christ absolutely never behaves improperly (towards anybody/in any situation).

It absolutely never seeks, searches, looks, tries, attempts, or strives for it’s own interest or advantages over somebody else’s needs or to others hurt. Read the rest of this entry »

Greetings. I am still preparing for the Heb 1:5 Bible study by laying down preliminary concepts. One of the immediate topics which need to be addressed, before entering into the study, is what is meant by the term “Gentile?”

Those of us who are not Jewish and yet are believers in Jesus Christ, come initially to Christ from the group known as the Gentiles (we did not know God before Jesus Christ came into our hearts). Through the power Jesus’ blood, He makes us One with Him:

Eph 2:11-14 …being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, …ye were without Christ, …having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye… …are made (near)… …For He… …made both One… .

Even though saved Christians who formerly were Gentiles are not Jewish through bloodline, we become One through Jesus Christ with them and are transformed into fellow citizens of the household of God (Eph 2:15-19).

Eph 2:15-19 Having abolished in His flesh the (hostility), …to make in himself of twain one new man, …that he might reconcile both unto God… …by the cross… …For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are … …fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.

Now, there is great biblical distinction between those “Gentiles” that truly know God and walk in His sanctification process, and those “Gentiles” who do not know God (Eph 4:17-21; 1Th 4:4-5) and subsequently, act against Him.

1Th 4:4-5 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God.

Even Israel has been referred to before as gowy. In Deut 32:28, Moses writes referring to Israel,

Deu 32:28 For they are a nation (gowy) void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.

We know that Israel is God’s chosen people. Through Israel we have received knowledge of God through the scriptures, and most important, we received Jesus Christ our Savior, who was, is and will always be a Jew, and of Israel.

Understandably, this scripture is OBVIOUSLY NOT REFERRING to those who DO receive counsel and obtained understanding from God, because Jesus IS God. Read the rest of this entry »

As I prepare to go into deeper study of Hebrews 1:5, it’s been a challenge to find ways to explain things simply. I’m going to try to lay down some basic principles in hopes it will make it easier for me to refer to them later.

“Key Words or Phrases” are used throughout the Bible.

In Heb 1:5, it says,

Heb 1:5 For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou are my Son, this day have I begotten thee And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to me a Son?

Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee? This is a “Key Phrase” referring to Psa 2:7. When this phrase is mentioned in a text, the meaning behind what Psalms 2:7 says should be brought to remembrance.

Psa 2:7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Key Words or Phrases are intended to trigger remembrance to verses we need to be familiar with in order to understand what’s being presented in the text.   Read the rest of this entry »

Much of the desires that we have are God given desires, but what happens when the enemy counterfeits those desires to deceive us? Unfortunately, mankind often chooses that which is easy and quick.

Have you ever picked a piece of fruit that wasn’t ripe? It may have appeared to the eyes from a distance to be ripe, but once you held it or bit into it, you knew that it just wasn’t. If you’ve ever picked unripe fruit, you know that you still have to place it in the window and wait for it to ripen. The truth is, if you wait for fruit to grow ripe while it’s still on the tree, it’s sweeter and It will be just right. Just as God intended.

Anyone can pick green fruit. Anyone can do what is easy.

Mat 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Grace: there’s two kinds of attitudes out there right now. There’s the do whatever you want “attitude” and then there’s the obeying and be obedient ”doctrine.”

The Lord will never take choice from a person. Never.
Far be it from us to try to take it from them.

We can love others and by that love and a spirit of gentleness simply speak the truth. The truth is laid out in God’s Word. People may not like what God’s Word says, but that’s their “choice” to decide. Read the rest of this entry »

Striving is trying to achieve something you think God wants you to achieve under your own timetable (Mat 6:25-34).

But what if it’s not something God wants you to achieve?

There once was a man and God came up to him. Soon they were standing in front a a very tall building. God hands the man a ball and pointing to a window up very high, tells him, “I want you to throw this ball up and aim at that window right there.” The man eagerly replies, “Yes, Lord! I’ll get right on it!” And so the man starts throwing the ball up towards the window. After some time has passed, God went back and stood before the man who now was looking very depressed. “What’s wrong?” God asked. “Oh, Lord! I threw the ball just as you told me – over and over, up towards that window – but try as I might, I was never able to strike the window! I’m so sorry, Lord. I let you down,” and the man hung his head in sorrow. ”Son,” said the Lord, “you have not let me down. I instructed you to throw the ball and aim at that window, and you did just that – I never once gave you instructions to strike it. I just wanted to see if you would be faithful to my instructions and not strike out on your own accord.”

Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

What else is striving? How about thinking if you achieve something, you’ll make God “happy.”

In the first place, it’s not us achieving anythingthat God does. Jesus did it ALL, and that means that He gets ALL the credit too! A bondslave might be commended by his Masterfor something he achieves, but the Master OWNS the bondslave and DESERVES every bit of the accolades for providing the bondslave with ability to do anything at all! The bondslave works the Master’s ministryand never presumes to claim the accolades of any venture as his own. No. The good bondslave gives glory to his Master.

Jn 16:13-14 Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall he speak: and He will show you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.

In the second place, God doesn’t need us to be happy. God is Joy, Peace, Patience, Faith, etc. (those fruits of the Spirit are fruits of HIS Holy Spirit – they describe HIM!). Read the rest of this entry »