Language Studies

Greek Thoughts

MENO* - Part 2 - εχηγεομαι (Strong's #1834)
To remain, to remain, to abide, to stay

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.

We are continuing with our study of the word μὲνω (meno — Strong's #3306), which means to remain, to abide, or to stay. The use of this word in the Greek New Testament is important in describing the relationship between the believer and Christ. In our last study, we established its meaning through an examination of its many uses in Scripture. Although these verses constitute just a sampling of how the word me/nw is used in the New Testament, they help us to see that the word denotes a permanency of something or of someone remaining or abiding.

Luke 1:56: This is the normal use of μὲνω. It is used to express someone staying or abiding with someone.

John 12:46: We learn from this that μὲνω is used to describe the spiritual condition of people. Those who are not believing are said to abide in spiritual darkness.

John 6:56; 15:4-7: Μὲνω is used to describe the Lord and His relationship with believers.

1 Peter 1:23-25: Μὲνω here shows that the Word of God "is abiding forever."

In addition, throughout John's letters, μὲνω is used as he describes some things which abide or dwell in the life of the believer:

1 John 2:27 — the anointing
1 John 3:15-17 — eternal life
2 John 1-2 — the truth

Our focus this week continues to be on μὲνω, in order to describe the permanence of the believer in Christ, and of Christ in him. This study is of the utmost importance because of errant teachings being circulated today; teachings which state that a believer must practice certain mental principles in order to "remain" or to "continue to dwell" in Christ. Our texts this week are taken from the Gospel of John, Chapters 5,8, where Jesus emphasizes the importance of the relationship between a person and his or her relationship with God's Word.

John 5:36-38

36)

But I have the greater testimony than John, for the works which the Father gave to Me, in order that I should finish them, the works themselves which I am doing, are testifying concerning Me, that the Father has sent Me.

37)

And the Father, the One who has sent Me, He Himself testified concerning Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor have you seen His form.

38)

And His Word you do not have abiding (μὲνω) in you, because that One who sent this One, you are not believing.

This text records the Lord's description of those who reject Him. He first states that the Father has testified concerning His Son through the works which He, the Father, gave to Him, the Son, to do; in fact the works themselves are testifying concerning the Son. Jesus then makes the statement that they do not have God's Word abiding or remaining in them, because they are not believing in the One whom the Father sent. The word translated "abiding" is a participle form of me/nw, which expresses a continual condition. This text reveals that a person who does not believe and does not receive the Father's testimony concerning His Son, is a person who does not have the Word of God continually abiding in him.

John 8:31

31)

Therefore Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, "If you should remain (μὲνω) in My Word, you are truly My disciples."

In this text, Jesus was speaking to Jews who had believed Him. The term "had believed Him" is a perfect participle. The perfect tense denotes a present condition based upon a past action. The participial form expresses a condition. The Jews, in this instance, were believing Him (notice not "in Him") based upon what Jesus had said and what He had done prior to this teaching. In this verse, the Lord established that if they remained in the Lord's Word, this would be evidence that they were true and genuine disciples^F1 of Jesus.

The Holy Scriptures teach that a person is either abiding and remaining in God's Word or is not. This condition of abiding is also the difference between a genuine believer and one who might believe certain things about the Lord but does not have the Word of God continually abiding in him. The word μὲνω does not describe a believer who has the Word of God abiding in him at one moment and then does not have it abiding in him the next moment. To the contrary, the genuine believer is continuously abiding, continuously remaining, in the Word of God. It is not a qualification, but rather is evidence that one truly belongs to Christ. In other words, remaining in the Word of God is positional, not conditional. This position of abiding in God's Word does not entail the mental practice of thinking upon God's Word with the mind. A genuine believer does not slip into a condition of not abiding or of not remaining in God's Word, when he or she is not mentally thinking about God's Word at a certain time.

Next week we will continue our study of the evidences of those who are remaining or abiding in the Lord, as we study the abiding of God's Spirit from John, Chapters 14,15.

*MENO is the English font spelling of the Greek word μὲνω.

F1: Called Talmidim in Hebrew among the Jews.

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