The Greeks Have A Word For It (Part 1)

Image credit

There are two kinds of Greek language, the Classical Greek and the Koine or Common Greek. The New Testament (NT) used the Koine, instead of the Classical.
In earlier years, scholars were confused over the difference between NT Greek and Classical Greek. Some even suggested that NT Greek was a special “Holy Ghost language” created by God just for the Bible. [1]
But archaeology prove them wrong. It turned out that “the Koine Greek of the NT is similar to that spoken by the average man on the street.” [2] That means, given the right tools and training, even a lay person can understand Greek. Also, since Koine Greek is already a “dead” language, (that is, no longer in use) it’s meaning is more or less fixed. Much unlike the English language that is still in use today and is very much dynamic or still changing in meaning.

Image credit

Now, talking about redemption, there are three Greek verbs that “emphasize different aspects of redemption.” [3] Putting all of the aspects together, we will have a big picture of what the Bible teaches about redemption.

"The Slave Market is a painting of about 1882 by the 19th century French artist Gustave Boulanger... It depicts an Ancient Roman slave auction." Image credit
The first verb is agorazo, “to purchase in the marketplace.” It is used thirty-one times in the New Testament. This verb was used of men in the Roman world purchasing slaves in the market (agora) The verb speaks of Christ paying the price to purchase those were are slaves of sin and Satan. [4]
According to our Lord Jesus, “I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave.” (John 8:34, Message) But we “were bought [from agorazo] with a price.” (1 Corinthians 6:20a)

Image credit

Our redemption did not come cheap. “God paid a high price for you” (7:23a) We were bought “with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” (1 Peter 1:19) So, the right response to our redemption is that we are to “glorify God in [our] body.” (1 Corinthians 6:20b). We are also commanded, “don’t be enslaved by the world.” (7:23, NLT) Our high-priced redemption should impact the way we live. 
Or didn’t you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don’t you see that you can’t live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, The Message)
Image credit

Significant Step

What was the most expensive thing you’ve bought? Think of how you felt when you bought it. Imagine how God must have felt when He paid the great price for our redemption. 

NOTE: This is Day Two of the devotional guide (Volume 1, Issue 3) of our church, Filinvest Community Christian Fellowship, for the message last Sunday, March 15, on “Know How Much You Are Worth Part 2” (“Significance” series, a verse-by-verse study of the book of Ephesians).

[1] James Huculak, A Manual for New Testament Greek: Zeta Edition Revised and Corrected (QC: ISOT, 2005), 1.  

[2] Ibid.

[3] Earl D. Radmacher, Salvation (TN: Word Publishing, 2000), 57.

[4] Ibid. Italics his. Emphasis added. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

God Knows Judas Not Pay

In the National Geographic Magazine (May 2006 issue), in its cover story, The Judas Gospel , Professor Eliane Pagels of Princeton University claimed that the so-called gospel of Judas “ changes the history of early Christianity. ” Even UP Professor Randy David took notice of the Judas Gospel: “Strictly from a sociological standpoint, I think the discovery of the Gospel of Judas makes Christianity a far more interesting religion than what centuries of metaphysical theology has made of it.” (A Gospel for the Postmodern, Phil. Daily Inquirer, April 16, 2006) That’s why I spoke in our Young Pro Fellowship a few days ago on God Knows Judas Not Pay (A Biblical Response on the Judas Gospel). I believe opportunities like this hype on the Judas Gospel or the Da Vinci Code opens a door for us to share the true Gospel. For those who did not attend last Thursday, let me share briefly why we reject the Judas gospel. I came up with the acronym J-U-D-A-S. J udas was portrayed as a traitor in the Bibl...
Read more

“Ubus-ubos Biyaya, Bukas Nakatunganga”

Image
That’s what my mother always told us when we were still kids. (Translation: “You spend everything today, you will have nothing tomorrow.” ) Image source: So, What's New ? Dionie did just that. Last April 2008, he won PHP14,125,032 in the Lotto 6/42 draw. Excitedly, he “lived the life of a millionaire, something he had been longing to experience. He lived in a P4-million house in a posh subdivision, drove around in a sports utility vehicle [which he bought the very same day he claimed his prize] , and gave goodwill money, ranging P1,000 to P 850,000, to relatives and friends. He also gambled daily, womanized, and went on regular drinking sprees.” (Source: Manila Bulletin ) He estimated that he squandered a minimum of P100,000 almost every day. He also lent money even to people he did not really know. “I just gave them and told them not to pay me back.” (Ibid) His bank had to issue him a special card so he can withdraw huge amounts of money quickly from the automated teller m...
Read more

Detour, Not A Dead End

Image
A dead end is “an end of a road or a passage from which no exit is possible.” Image credit A dead end, according to a dictionary, is “an end of a road or a passage from which no exit is possible.”  According to another dictionary , it is “a situation, plan, or way of doing something that leads to nothing further.” Screenshot from Merriam-Webster online dictionary There were times in my life when I thought I was in a dead end.  Impasse. No way out. Caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place. I was like Moses. There’s the Red Sea in front of me and the Egyptian army behind me. Only this time, I can’t part the sea.  I failed. Many times. My dreams became a nightmare. And my nightmare came to pass. (Of course, I can always blame others. The fact is, it’s not entirely my fault. But why waste time blaming? So, I’ll just take responsibility for where and why I failed.) I got burned out. I got myself into stress-related disorder when I pressure...
Read more