The word used for love in Galatians 5 is agape. The Lord Jesus said “Greater love (agape) has no man than this: that a man would lay down his life for his friends,” which tells us that this kind of love in its fullest, purest form is sacrificial in nature. (“Love is patient. Love is kind….”). Another word for love […]
» Read moreAs every mature Christian knows, sanctification is both from and toward. It is a very basic principle of life: one cannot both make progress and remain stationary. He must move forward from his current position that he might find another. So far in our look at Galatians 5 we have seen the “from” aspect of our profession, but where do […]
» Read morePaul ends his section on specific works of the flesh by saying “Of the which I tell you before (forewarn) as I have told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.” It is a solemn reminder that conversion is no light thing, but rather it is marked by total distinction […]
» Read moreAt the end of our list of deeds which the flesh produces, we find the phrase “and such like,” meaning there are many more deeds which could have been listed. And perhaps the reader comes to that phrase and asks himself “What more could there be?” The question is an important one, because we need to understand that though a […]
» Read moreBefore coming to the solemn and weighty subject of alcohol and its effects, we need to be aware of the fact that differing views exist as to its use. Yet there is no way to cater to all beliefs, and even if there was a way, we would betray Scripture to say that all views are equally valid. We need […]
» Read moreAs an introduction to our topic, we are going to define what Scripture means when it speaks of “divisions and heresies (sects).” When God condemns sect-mentality, does He means that all denominations should put aside differences and subscribe to the idea of Ecumenism so that Christianity has no more groups within itself? Though Scripture does not adhere to the idea […]
» Read moreWe have dealt with strife (“variance” in the KJV) as pertaining to contention and disunity between or among God’s people. Now we, in the King James at least, come to the word “strife,” which actually denotes rivalry in terms of prominence, preeminence, or position. The NIV translates the word “selfish ambition.” Young’s Literal translates it “rivalries.” The ASV translates it […]
» Read moreAnger could be defined as “The arousal of strongly negative emotion agitated from an offense that affects one in a personal way.” In Galatians 5, the word “wrath” is thumos. Mr. Vine is very helpful when he notes “that thumos indicates a more agitated condition of the feelings, an outburst of wrath from inward indignation…” If we are honest with […]
» Read moreThe words “emulations” and “envy” are strong words in the Greek. “Emulations” (that is, jealousy) is from the word zelos, denoting passionate desire or zeal toward the possession of something. The word for envy is phthonos, and it is used for instance in Matthew 27:18 – “For [Pilate] knew that for envy they had delivered Him.” Strongs in its definition […]
» Read moreWhen one considers a variable in the field of algebra, he is thinking about that part of the equation which can have multiple values, depending on the relationship of those values which are constant. Similarly, when we consider a variation, we understand that it denotes difference and distinction. The word before us is “variance,” which can really be replaced with […]
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