Language Studies

Greek Thoughts

EUSEBEIA* - Part 7 - 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 continue our study by taking 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 will also consider other Greek words that are used in context with it.

We have already studied, in 2 Peter 1:2-4, Peter's presentation of the first essential of the Christian faith — relationship. In these verses, he 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.

We have also considered, in verses 5-7, the second essential of the Christian faith — growth. Peter divides the Christian growth process into seven phases. The first five phases have to do with the development of a believer's personal relationship with and response to the Lord; while the final two phases have to do with his/her relationship to others.

In verses 8-11, we find our present topic of study, the third essential of the Christian faith — the believer's eternal reward.

2 Peter 1:8-11

8)

For these things existing and abounding in you are not establishing you as unproductive nor unfruitful toward the full-knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9)

For in whom these things are not present, he is blind being myopic, having received forgetfulness of the cleansing of his old sins.

10)

On account of which brothers, you rather be diligent to make your calling and election firm; for while doing these things, you should never at any time stumble.

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 verses 8-9, Peter contrasts two types of believers saying that the one who is involved in the growth process (verses 5-7) is being established as productive and fruitful; while the one who is uninvolved is blind "being myopic" (μυωπὰζω, Strong's #3467), "to be near or shortsighted." Peter explains that the Christian who is not involved in the growth process is shortsighted and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

In verse 10, Peter commands all believers to be diligent (which means to "make haste," or "make priority) to make your calling and election firm." The Greek word translated "firm" is βὲβαιος (Strong's #949) and has to do with establishing something. Peter is emphasizing that making the growth process a priority is to establish or make one's calling and election firm. He then expresses the end result of being involved in the growth process: "for while doing these things, you should never at any time stumble." The believer who is maturing through the stages of the growth process, who makes his/her calling and election a priority, will never at any time stumble in their walk with the Lord. All of these statements lay the groundwork of understanding for Peter's culminating point in verse 11.

He introduces verse 11 with the word "for," the Greek conjunction γὰρ (Strong's #1063), to indicate that the reason for his previous statement in verse 10 is expressed in this verse. He is encouraging believers to stay involved in the growth process because "in this way, 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 growth processes will give him 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 is spiritually as a result of his growth process and enters into heaven in that enriched state of being.

The New Testament teaches that all believers will be like the Lord (1 John 3:2) and that all believers will have the same spiritual bodies (1 Corinthians 15:42-52). However, it also teaches that believers will not all be the same in development and function once they are in heaven. So it is important that we understand from 2 Peter 1:11, that Peter is emphasizing the development process because the culminating state of that process will be the reward that one enters into heaven with. This is also why Peter emphasizes that a believer should not allow himself to be involved in activities and experiences that are not part of the growth process, but rather should "grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:18).

Next week we will study Paul's in-depth teaching on this subject found in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.

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

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