Language Studies

Greek Thoughts

TAPEINOS* - Part 3 - εχηγεομαι (Strong's #1834)
Humble, lowly, poor

Please note that all Biblical quotes are presented from the Literal Translation.

This week continues our study of the adjective ταπεινὸς (Strong's #5011), which describes the condition or state of one who is humble or lowly. Last week we considered the principle of humbleness from the perspective of James 4:1-17. In James 4:1-3, James presents the indictment against the believers by telling them that the wars and fighting's among them come from the hedonistic desires that are warring in the physical members of their bodies. In James 4:4-6, James presents the infractions that the believers have committed. James says they have committed adultery against God by placing themselves in a position to be the friends of the world. He states that to be a friend of the world, one becomes an enemy of God. Because the spirit of man desires the things of the world, James presents the principle of humbleness in James 4:6 by quoting Proverbs 3:34: "But He gives greater grace; on account of which it says, 'God is setting Himself against proud ones, but He gives grace to humble (ταπεινὸς) ones.'" In James 4:10, he gives the tenth and final command in this section: "Be humbled before the Lord, and He will exalt you." The Greek word translated "Be humbled" is the verb form ταπεινὸω (Strong's #5011) of our study word, ταπεινὸς. Again, this command is presented in the passive voice, which means the believer is to submit to God's humbling process, not to create it himself.

Today we are going to study the same principle of humbleness taken from Proverbs 3:34 in 1 Peter 5:1-9.

1)

Elders who are among you I encourage, the one who is a fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, the one who also is a partaker of the glory which is^F1 about to be revealed,

Peter opens this chapter by encouraging the elders, or spiritual leaders, that are among them. Peter presents himself as a fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ. He also says he is "a partaker of the glory which is about to be revealed".

2)

Shepherd the flock of God among you, overseeing not by force, but willingly; not in greediness for gain, but in readiness;

Peter gives the command "Shepherd the flock of God among you." He then presents how they are to shepherd the flock, by "overseeing" the flock. The Greek word for "overseeing" is ἐπισκοπὲω (Strong's #1983), which means "to oversee, to watch over, to care for." In this text, ἐπισκοπὲω is in the present participial form, which designates a continuous activity. The meaning of the verse would be something like this: "Shepherd the flock of God among you by overseeing the flock." The word "overseeing" is presenting a description of what he means by "Shepherd the flock of God." Peter then presents three sets of contrasts to tell the elders how they are to oversee and how they are not to oversee.

First he says that they should oversee or care for the flock, not out of being forced to do so, but should do it willingly. Second, he says their care over the flock should not be motivated by greediness for gain, but rather should concentrate on preparing themselves to feed the flock. This means that elders, or leaders of the flock, should not approach the flock with an attitude of what they can get out of the flock, but what they can put into the flock. The third contrast is in verse 3.

3)

nor as lording over the ones allotted to you, but as becoming examples of the flock.

This last contrast is made up of two participles. The leaders are not to be lording or dictating to the flock but should rather be continuously becoming examples or models of the flock. In summary, Peter is saying that the care over the flock of God should be done in willing sacrifice, coupled with much preparation, having an approach that leads to living their life in Christ as an example to the flock.

4)

And when the Chief Shepherd should appear, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Peter then gives the promise of the reward waiting for those who serve the Lord faithfully.

5)

Likewise, younger ones, be submitted to your elders; and everyone be clothed in humble mindedness while being submitted to one another; because, "God sets Himself against proud ones, but gives grace to humble (ταπεινὸς) ones."

In Verse 5, Peter instructs the younger ones to be submitted to their elders or older believers. The word for elder is πρεσβὺτερος (Strong's #4245) and can mean either an elder or officer of the church or an elder or older person in age. The text dictates that Peter is making reference to elder or older people in age. The contrast is between "younger" which is a comparative adjective of νὲος (Strong's #3501), which means "young," or "youthful." This tells us that Peter is telling younger men to be submitted to older men in the fellowship. The Greek word for "submitted" is the aorist passive imperative of ὑποτὰσσω (Strong's #5293), which is a military term for "to be in an orderly relationship." Again the use of the passive voice is designating that the young men are to submit to God's process of putting them in submission to the older men.

In the last part of verse 5, Peter gives a directive that all believers, both young and old, be clothed in a humble mindedness characterized by continually being submitted to one another. Here the word "submitted" (ὑποτὰσσω, Strong's #5293) is in the present passive participial form that describes a continuous process. The passive voice again emphasizes that God is developing the submission process among believers whereby believers are not called upon to produce the orderly relationship from out of themselves, but to submit to the Lord's plan to bring the believers into an orderly relationship with one another.

Peter then presents the principle of humbleness, taken from Proverbs 3:34, that we are to be continuously submitting to God's humbling process because, "God sets Himself against proud ones, but gives grace to humble (ταπεινὸς) ones." Just as James states in James 4:6, Peter also states here that God sets Himself against those who approach life with a self-sufficient attitude of handling everything themselves in whatever way they want.

6)

Be humbled therefore under the mighty hand of God, in order that He may exalt you in time;

7)

having cast all your anxiety upon Him, because it is a concern to Him concerning you.

Peter concludes this section by giving the command: "Be humbled..." The Greek word translated "Be humbled" is the verb form ταπεινὸω (Strong's #5011) of our study word, ταπεινὸς. Again this command is presented in the passive voice, which means the believer is to submit to God's humbling process, not to create it himself. Peter then presents that the believer is being humbled "under the mighty hand of God," with the purpose, "in order that He may exalt you in time;"

In verse seven, Peter describes what it means to submit to God's humbling process: he says, "having cast all your anxiety upon Him." When the Lord brings His mighty hand upon us, we are to cast all of our anxieties and concerns upon Him, because it is a concern to Him concerning us. He then issues two more commands and the reason why we need to cast all of our anxieties upon the Lord.

8)

Be sober, be watchful, because your adversary the devil, is walking around as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour;

9)

whom resist, firm in the faith, having known the same sufferings are to be accomplished by your brotherhood which is^F2 in the world.

Peter commands believers to be sober and watchful because the devil, who is our adversary, is in the process of walking around looking for believers to devour. The devil is presented as one looking for believers who approach life with a self-sufficient attitude of taking care of things for themselves and not surrendering and submitting everything to the Lord. Peter says we are to resist the devil by remaining firm in our trust in the Lord. According to this text, our faith or trust in the Lord is based on something that we are to know: "having known the same sufferings are to be accomplished by your brotherhood which is in the world." Peter now reveals that God's mighty hand humbles us through suffering, which is presented as being the universal plan of God for His people.

10)

Now the God of all grace, the One who has called us into His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, may He Himself mend, establish, strengthen, and put a foundation under you.

Peter concludes his teaching on the subject of being submitted to the humbling process by stating that after a believer suffers for a short time, the Lord Himself will come and mend, establish, strengthen and put a foundation under him.

11)

To Him is the glory and might, unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

Peter ends this section with a doxology that to the Lord is ascribed all glory and might for His divine plan, which is under His control to bring us to a functional relationship with one another.

Proverbs 3:34 establishes for us that the only condition or position in which a person can be in to receive God's grace is to be humble or lowly. The Scriptures teach that man, in his natural condition without the Lord, is not able to humble himself. Peter commands believers to be sober in their thinking and watchful with their attention because our adversary, the devil, walks around looking for believers who are living life according to their own self-sufficiency. Because of man's propensity toward fulfilling his fleshly desires, both James and Peter establish that God Himself opposes us in order to humble us or bring us low. Peter establishes that God's mighty hand brings us low through sufferings. After we have suffered for a short time, He comes to us and uses the brokenness of suffering to mend us, establish us, strengthen us, and to put a foundation under us. Through suffering and mending, the Lord is establishing a foundation of lowliness and humbleness in the lives of His people, because it is ordained by God that He should give His grace to those who are in a lowly condition.

Next week we will conclude our study of humbleness from Paul's letters to Rome and Corinth as well as from James Chapter One.

* TAPEINOS is the English font spelling of the Greek word ταπεινὸς.

Technical Notes:

F1: The article with the participle τῆς͂μελλοὺσης, "the being about" is translated ἥτις͂μὲλλει, "which is about."

F2: The article τῇ, "the" is translated ποῦ͂εἶναι, "which is."

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