Some Key Words (6/9/00-6/11/00)

Think lightly (kataphroneo [2706]):

to despise, disdain, think nothing of; to think against, not to esteem

Kindness (chrestotes [5544]):

kindness, goodness, gentleness, the grace which pervades the whole nature, the mellowing that comes with age; moral goodness, integrity; moral excellence in character or demeanor

Forbearance (anoche [463]):

to bear with, to hold up, temporary longsuffering, a temporary suspension of wrath; toleration; self-restraint, tolerance

Patience (makrothumia [3115]):

to suffer long, be long suffering, to forbear, endure patiently - rather than become despondent, to tarry, delay, to exercise understanding and patience towards persons - as opposed to things; endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance, forbearance, slowness in avenging wrongs; forbearance or fortitude

Kindness (chrestos [5543]):

to furnish what is needed, useful, profitable, good as opposed to bad, kind, obliging, gracious; fit, fit for use, virtuous, good, manageable, mild and pleasant, kind, benevolent; useful in manner or morals

Repentance (metanoia [3341]):

a change of mind, repentance, change from evil to good or from worse to better; a change of heart, as in one who repents of a former purpose; compunction for guilt, reversal of a decision

Stubbornness (sklerotes [4643]):

hardness, obstinacy; hardness, obstinacy; callousness, stubbornness

Righteous judgement (dikaiokrisia [1341]):

just judgement, a judgement which produces right; righteous judgement; a just sentence

Render (apodidomi [591]):

to deliver, give away for profit, sell; pay off, discharge what is due, pay a debt, wage, tribute or tax, to discharge an oath, a conjugal duty, to render an account, to give back or restore, to recompense either for good or for bad; to give away, give up, give over, give back

Deeds (ergon [2041]):

work, performance, the result of employment, making or working, an object to which one may have to attain, the result of doing work, something requiring continued effort, calling, what a man is and how he acts; business, employment, what one is occupied with, what one undertakes to do, an undertaking, a product, an accomplishment, art, industry, an act or deed, a thing done by effort; toil, act

Perseverance (hupomone [5281]):

patience, endurance as to things or circumstances, to abide under, the quality that does not surrender to circumstances; steadfastness, endurance, the characteristic of one who is not swerved from his deliberate loyalty to faith and piety even by great sufferings, a patient, steadfast waiting for, a patient enduring, sustaining; cheerful or hopeful endurance, constancy

Good (agathos [18]):

good and benevolent, profitable, useful; of good nature, salutary, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy, excellent, distinguished, upright, honorable; good in any sense

Seek (zeteo [2212]):

to seek in order to find, to seek a thing, to seek by thinking, meditating, reasoning, or enquiry, to seek after, to aim at, to strive after, to require, demand, crave; to seek literally or figuratively, to worship God, or plot against

Glory (doxa [1391]):

to recognize one for what one is, appearance, reputation, the recognition belonging to a person, honor, renown, appearance commanding recognition, all which is excellent in the divine nature; a judgement, opinion, view, an estimate concerning someone - resulting in praise and honor, splendor, brightness, magnificence, excellence, dignity, grace, majesty, the inward perfection of Christ, a most exalted state; very apparent glory

Honor (time [5092]):

a valuing, the price paid for or received for a thing, honor which belongs to or is shown to one, deference, reverence; a value, esteem in the highest degree, dignity

Immortality (aphtharsia [861]):

incorruption, perpetuity, purity, sincerity, incorrupt; unending existence, genuineness

Eternal (aionios [166]):

eternal, constant, abiding, without beginning or end; never to cease, everlasting; perpetual

Life (zoe [2222]):

life, life in the spirit and soul, as opposed to physical life; the absolute fulness of life - in essence and ethic; real and genuine life devoted to God; life

Selfishly ambitious (ek [1537]):

out of, from, of; by, away from; the point from which motion proceeds, from out

(eritheia [2052]):

one who works for hire, one who seeks only his own, susceptibility to bribery and corruption, selfishness, a self-willed positiveness; electioneering, intriguing for office, courting distinction, putting oneself forward, a fractious spirit, partisanship; intrigue, faction

Do not obey (apeitheo [544]):

without persuasion, to disbelieve, disobey, to disobey through unbelief, disobedience as the outward expression of inward attitude; not to allow oneself to be persuaded, to refuse belief and obedience, not to comply with; to willfully and perversely disbelieve

Obey (peitho [3982]):

to entice or persuade, to seek to persuade, to prevail by persuasion, to be persuaded, believe, to obey, comply with, assure, make confident, to free from doubt, to depend upon, trust in, have confidence in; persuade by words to belief, to make friends, win favor, tranquilize, induce to do something, be persuaded, to have faith, believe, to listen to, obey, comply with, to trust, be confident; to convince by argument, to pacify, assent, rely

Wrath (orge [3709]):

anger as a state of mind, anger, the effect of anger, punishment; temper, agitation of the soul, violent emotion, indignation, anger exhibited in punishment; desire, violent passion, ire, justifiable abhorrence

Indignation (thumos [2372]):

anger, wrath, to move impetuously, a passion of the mind, the more passionate and temporary anger, where orge is more a continued state; passion, anger boiling up and soon subsiding again, ardor, inflaming wine; passion, fierceness

Tribulation (thlipsis [2347]):

grievous affliction or distress, pressure upon the spirit, crushing; pressure, a pressing together, oppression, affliction, straits; anguish, persecution, trouble

Distress (stenochoria [4730]):

to press together in a narrow place, great distress, being pressed from the sides; dire calamity, extreme affliction; narrowness of room, calamity

Soul (psuche [5590]):

soul, the immaterial part of man or animal; breath of life, a living being, the soul, the seat of feelings, desires, affections and aversions, that part of us which death does not dissolve; breath, spirit, animal sentience

Peace (eirene [1515]):

peace, rest, opposite of strife; a state of national tranquility, harmony, concord, security, safety, Messiah's peace, that which leads to the peace of salvation, the tranquil state of a soul assured; peace and prosperity

Partiality (prosopolepsia [4382]):

respect of persons, partiality; partiality, the fault of one whose judgements take outward circumstances of the judged into account rather than their merit; favoritism

 

Paraphrase: (6/9/00)

4 Or is it that You take God's patience and mercy for granted? Don't you know that it's only by His kindness that you even think to repent? 5 Since in your stubbornness you refuse to repent, God's judgement waits for you on that final day, and He is right to do so, 6 just as He will be righteous in his judgements of every man's deeds. 7 Those who have done their utmost to do good as the way to glory and honor will be rewarded with an unending life. 8 Those who have followed their own ambitions and neglected the truth will receive only God's indignant wrath. 9 The judgement of wrath will come impartially on all who do evil, whether Jew or Greek, 10 likewise the judgement of honor will come impartially on all who do good, without regard for nationalities or creeds. 11 For God is impartial.

Key Verse: (6/9/00)

2:11 - God is impartial in all things. What He does accords with His will, and takes naught else into account.

People Mentioned: (6/11/00)

N/A

Some Parallel Verses (6/11/00)

2:4

Ro 9:23 - God's judgment upon the unrepentant is done to make the riches of His glory shine in the redeemed. Ro 11:33 - The extent of God's wisdom and knowledge is beyond our knowing. 2Co 8:2 - The Macedonians are praised for the abundance of their joy in the midst of affliction. Eph 1:7 - Our redemption and forgiveness are the result of God's abounding grace. Eph 1:18 - We ought to understand the richness of the glory of His inheritance in us. Eph 2:7 - God's desire is to show us the riches of His grace in the coming age. Php 4:19 - God supplies our needs according to His riches in glory. Col 1:27 - God made known the rich glory of the mystery of the salvation of the Gentiles. Col 2:2 - The goal is to attain to all the benefits that come of full assurance and understanding of God's mystery. Ro 11:22 - God's kindness shows in His grafting us into His body. Ro 3:25 - God's forbearance in judging our sins shows His righteousness. Ex 34:6 - God is compassionate, and slow to anger [as we are to be]. Ro 9:22 - God chooses to endure with patience those who reject Him, for now. 1Ti 1:16 - Christ's saving of Paul demonstrates His perfect patience. 1Pe 3:20 - God waited patiently in Noah's day until the ark was ready. 2Pe 3:9 - God is not slow to answer, He is patient to prevent our perishing. 2Pe 3:15 - His patience is our salvation.

2:5

Dt 32:34 - Vengeance is stored in His treasuries. Pr 1:18 - The violent lie in wait for themselves. Ps 110:5 - God will shatter the nations on His day. 2Co 5:10 - All will appear before Him for judgement, and receive the reward of their deeds for good or ill. 2Th 1:5 - Our present circumstances are designed to make us worthy of His righteous judgement. Jd 6 - Even angels who disobeyed are bound for judgement on His day.

2:6

Ps 62:12 - God's love shows in that He gives each the reward his work deserves. Pr 24:12 - God knows your heart, what you understand, and considers it in rendering His judgement of your work. Mt 16:27 - Jesus will be the instrument of judgement, the deliverer of the reward.

2:7

Lk 8:15 - The good seed represents those who bear fruit with perseverance. Heb10:36 - We need endurance so that we may receive the reward of obedience to His will. Heb 2:7 - Man is crowned with glory and honor. 1Pe 1:7 - It is to be hoped that our faith, being tested, will result in glory and honor at Christ's return. 1Co 15:42 - The resurrection changes our perishable body to an imperishable one. 1Co 15:50 - Perishable flesh cannot inherit God's imperishable kingdom, 1Co 15:53 - but must rather be changed to the imperishable first. Eph 6:24 - Our love for Christ is imperishable. 2Ti 1:10 - Christ brings to us life and immortality. Mt 25:46 - The righteous will be judged unto eternal life.

2:8

2Co 12:20 - Paul is concerned that he might find the Corinthians to be self-seeking, Gal 5:20 - which would indicate that they were still living by the flesh. Php 1:17 - Some preach for selfish ambition, rather than from purity of motive. Php 2:3 - We ought to do nothing for selfish reasons, but operate always from humility. Jas 3:14 - We mustn't lie about our selfishness, and thus add arrogance to the problem, Jas 3:16 - because selfishness is a sign that disorder reigns, and evil will be coming. 2Th 2:12 - God's judgement will come on all who did not believe and obey the truth, but rather chose to enjoy wickedness.

2:9

Ro 8:35 - Tribulation cannot take us from the love of Christ. Ac 3:26 - Christ was first sent to the Jews to bring them to repentance. Ro 1:16 - The Gospel is the power of salvation first to the Jew, then also to the Greek. 1Pe 4:17 - Judgement begins with the household of God first.

2:10

Heb 2:7 - Man has been crowned with glory and honor. 1Pe 1:7 - Our proven faith will bring glory and honor at Christ's return.

2:11

Dt 10:17 - God does not show partiality, nor accept bribes. Ac 10:34 - When Cornelius and family are converted, Peter finally understands God's impartiality in redemption.

 

New Thoughts (6/12/00)

There are a number of things in the parallel verses that are catching my attention. But first, I want to capture that thing that I saw in the definitions: that there are two distinct forms of patience we are called to have, or maybe three. We are called to have patience with people - to exercise understanding towards them, and to endure with long suffering. We are called to forbearance in our circumstances - to bear with temporary afflictions with self-restraint. But then, we are called to perseverance - 'a patient endurance'. Now we are to show that quality of character that does not surrender to circumstances, that does not swerve from the deliberate path of faith, that cheerfully endures with hope intact. Lord, help us to show that character even today. I arise this morning knowing that great challenges to my perseverance, and to Jan's perseverance lie ahead. I pray fervently, oh God, that You would fill us to overflowing with Your grace, that You would bolster us with Your strength, that You would walk with us through the trial ahead, that our perseverance might be to Your glory.

Now, to the verses: I'm still bowled over to realize that we are richness to God (Eph 1:18). Wow! It just sounds so arrogant to say "I'm God's gift to God", but then it's not so bad when it becomes God saying "You're My gift to Me." Thank You, Lord, for thinking of me as a gift to Yourself. The note from 1Pe 3:20 - which points out that God waited patiently, enduring the evil of the times, until Noah had the ark ready, is a great comfort in these days. For it suggests that we who live in days like unto Noah's will receive a similar patience from God, until the ark of His Church is ready. Then there are the verses from 1Co 15:50-53. Here is one of the issues I have with some of the modern "healing ministries". For, they try to intimate that the body of this life is the same we will take with us into eternity. But! Perishable flesh shall not see the kingdom of God, but must put on immortality. And Jesus, in talking to the Sadducees, notes that in heaven there is no marriage, or at least not the consummation of marriage. This would suggest a rather radical change to bodily function. I really do think that this form of ministry has a tendency to distract the body from its proper pursuits, turning our eyes from the glorious wonder that is our salvation and redemption, to the fleeting comfort of a healthy life that must come to an end despite all the efforts and miracles of healing.

Finally, and more personally, I need to bear in mind the notes from James (Jas 3:14-3:16), in which he points out that self-centered actions are an outward manifestation of a life ruled by disorder, and disorder is a work of the devil. Lord, help me! Jesus, change this wicked heart! Way too often, I'm guilty of operating in a selfish mode. Too often, pride and arrogance, which are just further manifestations of self-centeredness, cause me to be enraged at those about me. God, I don't want to be ruled by disorder, for You are a God of order, and I want Your Lordship in my life. Forgive me, Lord, that I allow too much of myself, when I ought to be striving to decrease. Lord God, please take Your rightful place in my life. Make all the changes You must, so that I might be a proper abode for Your presence. Help me to truly repent of this selfishness, oh Lord, to stop thinking wrongly of myself. I've so far to go, oh God, to attain to the standard You set. Help me, though, to press on even as Paul did, that I, too, might reach the goal.