Please note that all Biblical quotes are presented from the Literal Translation.
This week we are studying our final segment of the word ταπεινὸω (Strong's #5013), a verb expressing the action of the humbling process. We are continuing our look at how the humbling process was worked out in the life of the apostle Paul.
To date, we have studied the primary meaning of the verb ταπεινὸω as found in Luke 3:5; wherein we learned that to be humbled means to "be brought low" or "level" to the ground. We have also studied the two primary commands given to believers concerning this humbling process in James 4:10 and 1 Peter 5:6. In both texts, believers are commanded to "Be humbled." Most English translations express these commands as, "Humble yourselves..." However, the passive voice is used in both verses and by that we understand these verses do not give command for people to carry out the humbling of themselves; instead, people are to submit themselves to God's humbling process.
Last week we began our study of the humbling process that was worked out in the life of the Apostle Paul as expressed in Philippians 4:10-13. In this text, Paul teaches that he had learned to know how to be humbled. He calls this learning process "initiation." He is able to "be humbled" on the outside because he says, "I am strong for all things in the Christ Who is empowering me." (Philippians 4:13). Paul is able to say that he knows how to be humbled, because he has learned and now exists in the condition of having been initiated into the mysteries of Christ concerning life. As a result, Paul is able to separate his outward circumstance from his inward spiritual condition. As his external circumstances change, Paul's spiritual condition does not change — the Lord's power within him constantly flows, supplying his every need.
This week our study is in 1 Corinthians 11,12 where Paul is using ταπεινὸω to express his approach in ministry to others. In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul is giving his response to the false apostles (whom he calls super apostles) who had come into Corinth and promoted the philosophy that the success of outward circumstances was an indication of the blessing of God's Spirit. They were focusing on Paul's circumstances of hardship and suffering as an indication that Paul's ministry was inferior to theirs. Paul responds to this philosophy in 2 Corinthians 11:7-10.
Paul brings up the fact that while he was with them, he chose, as was his custom, to take the low road and choose to go without rather than burden believers with supplying for his need. He preached the gospel to them freely, that is — without the requirement that they support him or minister back to him to supply his need. He now considers the question, in hindsight, "did I commit sin..." in ministering freely to them. He sacrificed himself and his needs so that the believers in Corinth could receive the gospel without being offended. Now they were more than willing to support the false apostles. Paul's approach to ministry was that he would be the one that suffered the lack of supply so that those who he ministered to would be exalted to the place of receiving the gospel, all so that they would not be offended to the point that they would not be receptive to the gospel.
Paul received for his need from other churches, which he called robbery. The other churches were not receiving his ministry at this time, the believer's in Corinth were, but they were not helping with the need.
Paul now relates to the specific event when the brothers from Macedonia filled his need. Paul mentions that this took place while he was with them ministering. He explains that he purposely kept himself from being a burden to them and, even now, he will continue to keep himself from being a burden to them. He is choosing to continue to take the humble, or lowly approach, to his ministry to others.
In continuing with Paul's humble approach to ministry, in 2 Corinthians 12:19-21 Paul expresses the condition with which he prefers to be found among them when he comes. He says:
Paul emphasizes that his ministry is for their development, not for his gain. But he expresses his concern about what he might find when he comes.
The language in Verse 21 is interesting. In the Greek text, the negative particle μὴ (Strong's #3361), translated "not," goes with "my God should humble me..." Paul is expressing that if he should come and find the strife, jealousy, rages of anger, the ambition of selfish gain, defaming, secret slandering, and disorderly conduct among them, that there is a possibility that God would "not humble me toward you..." The word for humble in this sentence is our word of study, ταπεινὸω. He is saying that there is a chance, based on their spiritual condition, that when he comes, God would not humble him but rather he would come in mourning of their sinful condition and lack of repentance and would have to deal with many in this condition.
These verses tells us that Paul's normal approach to ministry to others is the humble process that God brings about in his life. He was constantly in physical circumstances of suffering a lack of necessities and the normal needs of life. The normal human logical world around him dictated that if he is not prospering in the physical realm that is an indication that God was not blessing him and his ministry. This philosophy was also believed by the people in the days when Jesus came. In Matthew 19: 23-25, Jesus stated that it was hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. When the disciples heard it they said, "Who then is able to be saved?" The philosophy of the day, as it is today, was the logic that people who are prospering in the physical realm have the blessing of the Lord and those who suffer need, are doing so because they are living in sin and do not have God's blessing. Paul demonstrates for us, both in his teaching and in his life, that in order to effectively serve the Lord, one must have gone through the initiation process of life where the Lord teaches one to live under the humbling hand of God in order to be able to minister the gospel freely to others without being a burden. When one chooses the humble or low road, one sacrifices his pride as well as the conveniences of life in order for others to be able to hear the gospel, even if it means suffering unjustly.
* TAPEINOO is the English font spelling of the Greek word ταπεινὸω.
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Bill Klein has been a pastor, counselor, and educator for the past 41 years. He has had extensive training and education in biblical languages, and has authored a Biblical Greek course.
He is currently serving as Professor of Biblical Greek at Master's Graduate School of Divinity, and president of BTE Ministries - The Bible Translation and Exegesis Institute of America, a non-profit organization located in California that provides Bible study tapes and Greek study materials through their website BTEMinistries.org.