Language Studies

Greek Thoughts

NOEMA* - Part 5 - ὑπὸστασις (Strong's #5287)
Mind, thoughts, perceptions, device, purpose

This week we continue our study of νὸημα from Paul's second letter to the Corinthians. Νὸημα (Strong's #3540) represents the thoughts and perceptions of a person's mind. Last week we began our study in 2Corinthians Chapters 10-12 with Paul answering his critics by presenting the fruit of genuine ministry and service of Christ in contrast to the principles motivating false teachers and their false representation of the Lord.

In Chapter 10, Paul answers the criticisms leveled against him by the false teachers. They have been telling the Corinthians that his ministry is of the flesh. Paul responds by writing that even though he walks in the flesh, he does not war according to flesh. He represents himself as mighty with God to the pulling down of every philosophy and attitude of man that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Paul says that he is also leading captive every perception (νὸημα) into the obedience of Christ. He is as a soldier fighting for the believers to bring their perceptions into the obedience of Christ so that they may not be carried away, following a different gospel. In addition, Paul indicates that his ministry is also to avenge all disobedience. Disobedience (παρακοὴ, Strong's #3876) in this context means to put one's hearing along side of that which is not the true Spirit of Christ.

In 2 Corinthians 11:1-4, Paul states his concern for the Corinthian believers, saying that it is the same as a father would have for his child. Later in the chapter, Paul challenges the false teachers to be like he is in order to prove their ministry. We begin our study of 2 Corinthians 11:1-6 (Literal Translation).

1)

I wish that^F1 you were tolerating me a little^F2 in my foolishness; but indeed you are tolerating me.

Paul is preparing his readers for his punch line (located in verse 4) by asking that they apply to his presentation the same tolerance they have had for false teachers and their doctrines.

2)

For I am jealous toward you^F3 according to a jealousy of God;^F4 for I engaged you to one husband in order that I might present^F5 you a pure virgin to Christ.

Paul's reason for desiring their tolerance is because his jealousy is not his own, but is the jealousy of God. It is the same jealousy spoken of in Exodus 20:5. Paul is jealous toward them because he has joined or engaged them to one husband with the purpose of presenting them to Christ as a pure virgin. He is concerned about them committing spiritual adultery by joining themselves to a different Jesus, spirit and gospel.

3)

But I am fearing that somehow according as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, in this way your perceptions (the plural of νὸημα) should be corrupted from the simplicity which is^F6 toward Christ.

Paul expresses his concern as a father would for his daughter-bride who is having her perceptions (νὸημα) deceived as the to the truth about her fiancé. A loving father desires that his daughter know the man she is to marry and that she not be deceived about his character. Paul is concerned for the Corinthian believers that they not be deceived into following a Jesus different from the one to whom they were originally engaged.

Paul gives an example for his concern: "as Eve was deceived by Satan and his craftiness, so they would be taken away from the simplicity toward Christ." His main concern for the Corinthians is that their opinions and perceptions of the Lord and of himself are being corrupted from the simplicity in Christ.

4)

For if indeed the one coming is preaching another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or another gospel, which you did not accept, you were tolerating him well.

Paul is revealing principles underlying the approach taken by the false teachers in the Corinthian church. First, they preach another Jesus. The word for another in Greek is ἄλλος (Strong's #243) which is an adjective meaning, "another of the same kind." The false teachers preach a Jesus who is the Son of God, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords; but he is not the same Jesus who came as God in the flesh. They preach another Jesus of the same kind, but not the same One. Second, the Corinthians are receiving another spirit that they did not receive when they were saved. The word for "another" is the Greek word ἕτερος (Strong's #2087) which is an adjective meaning, "another of a different kind." Paul is presenting that there is a spiritual movement and ministry behind the presentation of the false teachers, which is not of the same Spirit that saved them. Third, the believers in Corinth are being receptive to another gospel which is not the gospel accepted by them in the beginning. Here again, the Greek word for "another" is ἕτερος (Strong's #2087) which means "another of a different kind." The Greek word for "accept" is δὲχομαι (Strong's #1209), which has to do with mental agreement. The Corinthian believers are in the process of receiving a different gospel than the one they agreed with when they were first saved.

Paul's desire is to stop the influence of those who are persuading the Corinthians away from the truth of Christ. He says in 2 Corinthians 11:13-14, "For such ones are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ; and no marvel, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light;" The principle Paul presents here is that Satan can appear to be "another Jesus," deceiving people into following after him and his false gospel while leading them away from the true Jesus and His gospel. The key to discerning between the Lord and Satan is found in the word "transform." The Greek word used in both verses 13,14 is μετασχηματὶζω (Strong's #3345). This word is composed of the preposition denoting change μετὰ (Strong's #3326) and σχῆμα (Strong's #4876) which has to do with the outward change and form. The inward change or transformation is the word μεταμορφὸω (Strong's #3339). Therefore, Paul is emphasizing here that Satan changes himself into an angel of light and his apostles are the ones who are disciplining themselves with an outward, human discipline to act and talk like Christians. They have no inward transformation brought about by the Spirit of God. Paul is warning believers to be careful of teachings and belief systems that urge them to become Christ-like through their own efforts.

Next, Paul points out that the Corinthians are easily tolerating these false teachers and their lies. One of the greatest principles in all of Paul's writings is his statement in Galatians 1:8-9: "but even if we ourselves or an angel from out of heaven should announce to you contrary to what we announced to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, now also I say again, if anyone announces a gospel to you contrary to what you received, let him be accursed." Paul says the gospel that he announces is the true gospel. If anyone presents a gospel contrary or opposite to that which Paul presents, let him be accursed. As believers we have a tremendous safeguard in that the Lord raised up Paul and revealed to him the "mysteries of Christ" (See Ephesians 3). Because of this and for our profit, Paul's letters are located at the beginning of the teaching section of the New Testament, beginning with the "Constitution of the Christian Faith" — the Book of Romans. All teaching and revelation must line up with Paul's presentation of the gospel for it to be correct and from the Lord.

5)

For I do consider^F7 that I am not even one thing inferior^F8 of the super apostles.

6)

But even if I am untrained according to speech^F9, but not according to knowledge (F10); but in every way having become manifest in all things toward you.

Paul gives another reason for his fear over the Corinthian church. The false teachers have presented him as an inferior apostle. They have attempted to persuade the Corinthian believers against him by pointing to the physical conditions of his life. They say God could not be with Paul because he is in poverty and suffering, weak and unable to speak well. Paul defends himself saying that he is not inferior to these false apostles whom he refers to as "super" apostles. This is in response to their claim that if Paul is an apostle, they are super apostles. Paul states that even though he is not a professional orator, he is not deficient in knowledge.

In the rest of this chapter, Paul shows that the false teachers promote their success in the physical realm while Paul promotes his in sacrifice. The false teachers point to what they have gained from the people; Paul points to what he gives to the people. The false teachers boast in the flesh to persuade and influence the Corinthians into believing in them as super apostles while Paul exhorts these same believers to look at what he sacrifices and suffers for them. Paul challenges the false teachers to become as he is. He knows that genuine Christian faith is proven and honed in suffering (see 1 Peter 1:6-7). He also knows that false apostles will not submit to suffering, not for God's people, not even for God Himself.

This important chapter teaches that a person can legitimately be born from the Spirit of God, can belong to Christ, and yet still be deceived in his perceptions of the truth of Christ. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul says that he is fighting, not to gain from the Corinthians, but to "bring every perception into the obedience of Christ." After a person is saved, Satan is unable to penetrate the Spirit of God and take that person away from Christ. But Satan can attack the believer's mind, his perceptions of Christ and the gospel. Paul teaches that believers can be deceived by someone presenting another Jesus, that they can experience a different spirit ministering a different gospel. That is why so many believers today are trying, are making an effort, to follow Jesus but are frustrated and discouraged because they sense in their spirit that something is wrong; they just do not know what it is. Paul is teaching that human effort undertaken by believers (not prompted by the Spirit of God) for spiritual gain is not aligned with the Spirit Who saved them and Who resides within them. As Paul said in Galatians 3:3: "In this way are you senseless? After having begun in Spirit, are you now being perfected in flesh?" Believers begin in faith by trusting the Lord to save them; but after a while, they are persuaded to work at their faith. Consequently, their "faith" does not produce the things promised by those who persuaded them away from faith and into works. Paul teaches that believers are to trust the Lord to work in their lives and to sustain them after salvation in the same way that they trusted the Lord to save them in the first place, and that is by faith.

Next week we will continue our study of νὸημα from Philippians Chapter 4.

* Noema is the English font spelling of the Greek word νὸημα.

Technical Notes:

F1: The particle used as an interjection, ̓́Οφελον, "I wish," is translated by the particle Εἴθε with νὰ, "I wish that."

F2: The adjective μικρὸν, "small," is translated by the adjective ὀλὶγον, "little."

F3: The direct object ὑμᾶς, "you," is translated πρὸς͂ἐσᾶς, "toward you."

F4: The Instrumental Dative with the genitive Θεοῦ͂ζὴλῳ, "zeal of God," is translated by the prepositional phrase κατὰ͂ζηλοτυπὶαν͂θεοῦ, "according to zeal of God."

F5: The infinitive of purpose παραστῆσαι, "to present," is translated by διὰ͂νὰ͂σᾶς͂παραστὴσω, "in order that I might present you."

F6: The second article in the attributive position τῆς, "the one," is translated ποῦεἶναι, "which is."

F7: The verb λογὶζομαι, "I calculate" or "I reason," is translated by στοχὰζομαι, "I consider."

F8: The infinitive ὐστερηκὲναι, "to be lacking," is translated ὅτῖδὲν͂εἶμαῖκατὼτερος, "that I am not inferior."

F9: The dative of respect τῷ͂λὸγῳ, "with respect to the speech," is translated by the prepositional phrase κατὰ͂τὸν͂λὸγον, "according to speech."

F10: The dative of respect τῇ͂γνὼσει, "with respect to the knowledge," is translated by the prepositional phrase κατὰ͂τὴν͂γνῶσιν, "according to knowledge."

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