WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE... (Issue 2)
I. Digging Deeper:
Recently, one of my students asked me about the use of the Greek Tense. Since I have been contacted concerning this new blog, I thought I would take a moment and simplify some information about the New Testament Koine Greek "Tense." After the conquest of Alexander the Great thru the Middle East there came the Greek-Macedonian Era.(336-323 B.C.). After this period in Biblical History we come to the Egyptian Era of the Greco-Macedonian Era-(323-198 B.C.). Others that follow will be the Syrian-(Seleucid) Era-(198-165 B.C.), the Maccabean Era- (165-63 B.C.), the Roman Era (63 B.C. to A.D. 70.-(this will extend into the Byzantine era) This last era would include the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Church and the destruction of Jerusalem in the Great Jewish War. (We will look at these historic eras in later editions and events within them.)
One of the primary focuses of these eras will be the widespread use of the Koine or "common" language of this form of Greek. Examples of this could be the Septuagint(the Greek Translation of the Hebrew Scriptures) the original work of the New Testament referenced by Jesus and the Apostles, and the earlier works of the Jewish writer Philo from Egypt. It was a specific language with specific uses of tense and translation. It was the universal language of the first century of the Roman Empire and most of the Near East.
Tense: In Koine Greek, tense denotes primarily a kind of action, and time only in the indicative mode. There are various tenses in the Greek:
1.) Present tense-- shows linear or durative action, action in progress. This in present time only in the indicative mode.
2.) Imperfect tense-- Shows linear or durative action, and past time in the indicative mode.
3.) Aorist tense-- Shows punctiliar or point action. (.) Also note, past time in the indicative mode.
4.) Perfect tense-- Shows perfect action, which is a combination of the linear and punctiliar action in that it shows an action in a given point in the past with continuous results, or a continuous action coming to a point. In the indicative mode this continuous action is going on in the present.
5.) Plu-perfect tense-- Shows perfective action, in which the action completed at a designated point in the past is in the indicative mode.
6.) Future tense-- Shows any of the top three types of action and future time in the indicative mode.
DID YOU KNOW?
Jesus is in every book of the Bible:
In Genesis, He is the Promised Seed that is going to come and bruise the head of the serpent.
In Exodus, He is the Passover Lamb.
In Leviticus, He is the Scapegoat.
In Numbers, He is the Brazen Serpent.
In Deuteronomy, He is the Great Law Giver.
In Joshua, He is the great Deliverer of Israel.
In Judges, He is the coming Judge to Judge the world.
In Ruth, He is the Kinsman Redeemer.
In I,II Samuel, He is a Prophet, Priest, and King.
In I,II Kings, He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
In I,II Chronicles, He is the Great Historian.
In Ezra, He is the great re-builder of the temple.
In Nehemiah, He is the great re-builder of the wall.
In Esther, He is the Savior and Deliverer of Israel.
In Job, He is the Friend that sticks closer than a brother.
In the Psalms, He is the greatest song of the ages.
In Proverbs, He is the Wisdom of God and truth.
In Ecclesiastes, He is the preacher.
In the Song of Solomon, He is the great lover.
In Isaiah, He is Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father.
In Jeremiah, He is the Weeping Prophet.
In Lamentations, He is outside the city saying, "Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?"
In Ezekiel, He is the prophetic voice of a New City and New Temple.
In Daniel, He is the stone cut out without hands to come and break in pieces the stones of this world and kingdoms of this world and establish a kingdom that shall cover the earth as the water covers the sea.
In Hosea, He is the great spurned lover.
In the Minor Prophets, He is the One coming in Bethlehem of Judea.
Then in the New Testament He has come and is everywhere to be seen in the flesh.
In Matthew, He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
In Mark, He is the Suffering Servant.
In Luke, He is the Son of Man.
In John, He is Son of God.
In Acts, He is the power of the church through the Holy Spirit.
In the Epistles, He is the root of Church and encourager of His body on the earth.
In Jude, He is the one who is able to keep you from falling and present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding great joy.
In Revelation, He is the great cavalry leader who will saddle a white horse an lead all the host of heaven back to establish a "glorified" kingdom on this earth for ever and ever.
NUGGETS FOR NOURISHMENT: (A sermon outline)
Title: How Did We Get Here? A Biblical Formula for Marriage-
Scripture: Genesis 2: 19-25
Introduction: Our God is a master and genius. His masterful simplicity is seen in the world all around us. The seasons are ever before us to teach us to observer and learn His meanings of change and stability. Likewise, His formula for marriage is a masterful piece of handiwork as we will see in this simple but profound outline. If we are led as a man or women to marry, here is what I believe is His formula from the above text.
I. A Man or Women must LEAVE...
This may seem a bit strange, but in our families we will eventually be called to leave, or move away from our parents. This does not mean we "abandon" our parents, but we now "become one" in a more mature and sophisticated relationship. Many cultures have "temporary" separation periods from parents to help them understand the change that will come in life. In our western culture, seeking to emulate a Biblical standard has been noted, as a time comes when we "say goodbye" to those cherished parents who brought us into the world. Advice: If you cannot "leave" your parents, you are not ready for marriage, don't take that step until you mature to "leave." Note: Adam had a job(tending the garden) before he married.
II. A Man or Women must CLEAVE...
This cleaving has a whole range of meanings from the Hebrew and Greek words. It is a public display of saying "this person will now, before the community, become my spouse." I am letting myself and my spouse be assured that I have been willing to discipline myself to wait for him or her and declare it before the community. Oneness is one man and one women for one lifetime... "until death separates us." Historically, the community from which we came was very interested in "stability" of the family and marriage specifically. This is a universal truth. In Hebrews 13 it says, "...Marriage is to be honorable among all..." Cleaving was a commitment in a covenant. It is iterating "I am committed to this person no matter what..." Again, if you cannot commit... do not marry.
III. A Man or Women must BECOME ONE FLESH...
On the surface, this is the gift of the "sexual act." It is surprising to many people that sex was developed and given by God. It is a blessing to be enjoyed both by men and women, but within the marriage covenant. Paul in the New Testament declares, "...the two shall be one flesh"... (I Cor. 6:16). In another sense this "becoming one flesh" is a life time process. In a deeper sense, if you have been married more than ten years, you know as a Christian your husband or wife is "becoming" a better spouse than the day of your wedding. Earthly marriage though sanctioned and blessed by God is only temporary. Jesus noted this in the New Testament.(Matt.22:30) Children are a natural outcome of our shared love and devotion. Obligation of parents to children and children to parents is a part of a healthy propagation of the earthly family and heritage. We live today in a permissive society that encourages promiscuity. We must be different if we look at the Biblical models of the Old and New Testaments. Jesus quotes the above text in part and so does the Apostle Paul. To repeat myself... for the Christian "self-control" is a spiritual discipline.
Quotes:
From Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States. (1872-1933): "Prosperity is only an instrument to be used; not a deity to be worshiped."
"...Sing to the Lord with Thanksgiving;...(Psalm 147:7)
Some Good Thoughts:
As of today, we are the only nation which, by proclamation of civil authority, observes a universal Thanksgiving Day. This is a distinction for which we can be rightfully proud. But if we are to be worthy of that privilege, we as individuals must give sincere meaning and "pause" to our thanksgiving.
Here in America we live in a free land were, as free citizens, we can worship as we choose, elect whom we see fit to fill our public offices, criticize our laws and policies of our government to our heart's content, conduct our affairs, and go and come as we please-- all of this with in most part without fear or intimidation.
It is true that we, and our for-fathers before us, have worked hard and fought valiantly for these freedoms and the pursuit of happiness. But it is also true, which none of us who are informed can deny, that without God's grace and favor none of the above freedoms and blessings would be possible. So as we approach Thanksgiving, let us remember to "pause and reflect" these and many other blessings of our land and give thanks to a living God who has made it all possible.(see Psalm 100)
Sincerely Blessed,
Dr. Keith J. Wise
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