Language Studies

Greek Thoughts

EUSEBEIA* - Part 8 - εχηγεομαι (Strong's #1834)
Reverence, piety, godliness

Please note that all Biblical quotes, in this and all other lessons posted to Greek Thoughts, are from The Literal English Translation of the Bible produced by BTE Ministries - The Bible Translation and Exegesis Institute of America.

This week we are taking our final study on the third essential of the Christian faith as presented in 2 Peter 1:8-11. Our Greek word of study is εὐσὲβεια (Strong's #2150), which expresses reverence or respect toward someone. We are also considering other Greek words that are used in context with it.

The first essential of the Christian faith — relationship — is presented in 2 Peter 1:2-4. In these verses, Peter describes a believer as a partaker of the divine nature, one who is empowered by the divine nature, which supplies him with all things pertaining to life and godliness. Peter uses the term "faith" as a designation for the one who has the divine nature of God living within.

The second essential of the Christian faith — growth — is presented in verses 5-7. Peter divides the Christian growth process into seven phases; the first five having to do with personal development in and toward the Lord, the last two addressing the believer's relationship to others. Peter conveys the understanding that each phase of the growth process lays the foundation of the next, as it also grows into the succeeding phase. Our word of study, εὐσὲβεια, is the fifth phase of the growth process. This phase, being developed out of endurance - ὑπομονὴ (Strong's #5281), develops in us a reverence and respect for the Lord in and through all of our circumstances.

The third essential of the Christian faith — the believer's eternal reward — our present topic of study, is found in verses 8-11. Peter first contrasts the difference between a believer who is involved in the growth process and the one who is not (verses 8-9). He says that one is fruitful in the full knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ while the other is shortsighted, having forgotten the cleansing of his old sins. In verse 10, because of the possibility that these growth processes might not be present in a believer, Peter states that a believer should be diligent to make his/her calling and election firm (or established). He gives two reasons for this: the first is so that the believer will never stumble at any time in his/her walk with the Lord; and the second is found in verse 11, which is our topic for this week.

2 Peter 1:11

11)

For in this way, the entrance will be richly supplied to you, into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In this verse, Peter encourages believers to stay involved in the growth process because "in this way," that is to say, in the condition of growth they are in, "the entrance will be richly supplied to you." The Greek word translated "in this way" is the adverb of manner οὕτως (Strong's #3779), which means "in this way" or "in this manner." Peter is stating that the believer's involvement in the phases of the growth process will give him/her a rich entrance "into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." This is not to say that a rich entrance into heaven is the result of works, but that a believer becomes who he/she is spiritually as a result of the growth process and enters into heaven in that enriched state of being. These three essentials are also taught, in greater detail, by the Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.

In context, verses 10-15 of I Corinthians present the unity existing between the one who preaches the Gospel for salvation and the one coming after, who helps believers to grow. Paul also states in verse 6 that both are instruments of God, but that growth comes only by God.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15

10)

According to the grace of God, which was given to me, as a wise architect I have laid a foundation; and another is building upon it. But let each one observe how he is building upon it.

11)

For another foundation no one is able to lay alongside of the one which has been laid, which is Jesus, the Christ.

In verses 10-11, Paul presents relationship. According to the grace given to him by God, he has laid a foundation as a wise architect would, but now another is building upon that foundation. After emphasizing that Jesus the Christ is the only foundation which can be laid, Paul then teaches, in verses 12,13, that growth can be of two kinds and uses different materials to represent them.

12)

And if anyone is building upon this foundation, gold, silver, valuable stones, wood, grass, hay;

13)

the work of each one will become manifest for the Day will make it clear; because it is being revealed in fire; and the fire will prove the work of each one, what kind it is.

Gold, silver, and valuable stones represent the first type of building material that can be used upon the foundation. The burnable elements of wood, grass, and hay represent the other type of material that can be used to build upon that same foundation. Paul then states, in verse 13, that the material used in the development of each believer will be proven in fire; for the fire will reveal what kind of material it is. Paul then moves into the third essential — the believer's eternal reward.

14)

If the work of anyone, which he built upon it, will remain, he will receive a reward;

15)

If the work of anyone will burn down, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, but in this way - as through fire.

Paul teaches that whatever endures through the fire, will be the believer's reward; but if the work of anyone is burned down, he will suffer the loss of that work (or building), but he himself will be saved as through fire.

Unfortunately, many believers are ignorant of this third essential of the Christian faith. They approach each church service, fellowship, Bible reading, and Bible study as a duty, not understanding that when they are involved in these activities, when they are under the influence of God's Spirit, a spiritual renewal to their minds (Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:23) is taking place through His Word. God's Spirit heals a person from the thoughts and practices of the old nature, from the effects of sin, through His word and through fellowship with other believers. The growth and resulting change that takes place is the actual reward of the believer, because the Bible teaches that the spiritual condition a believer is in when he/she is called before the Lord, is the condition he/she will remain in throughout eternity. For this reason, both Paul and Peter emphasize, "But let each one observe how he is building upon it" (1 Corinthians 3:10), and "be diligent to make your calling and election firm...for in this way, the entrance will be supplied to you richly into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" ( 2 Peter 1:10-11).

Since the growth process is second only in importance to salvation, it is no wonder that Satan attempts to divert the attention the Body of Christ away from the ministry of God's Word and Spirit, leading them instead into experiential and entertainment based activities. "But you grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" as Peter declares in 2 Peter 3:18.

* EUSEBEIA is the English font spelling of the Greek word εὐσὲβεια.

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