Quote #8

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The following is a partially summarized story originally told by Alistair Begg:

Many who claim to be Christians fail to see the uniqueness of the gospel of the Scriptures! The death, burial and resurrection of Christ, is not central to their belief system.

Alistair Begg illustrated this in a powerful way by relating a story about two guys on a ski lift. One guy, a professing Christian said to the other guy, ‘I believe in Jesus because I know that Jesus lives.’ The other guy, a Buddhist said, ‘How do you know Jesus lives?’ The Christian replied, ‘You ask me how I know He lives, He lives withing my heart!’ The Buddhist quickly responded, ‘I believe in Siddatha Gotama, the original Buddha and he lives within my heart!’ As Alistair Begg so eloquently put it, “The dimwitted Christian had no other answer!” He didn’t know the Christ of the Scriptures; he couldn’t articulate the gospel! Too many Christians are dull of hearing when it comes to the Scriptures, and so they live as though there is no difference between what Jesus claims and what other religious leaders claim!

Quote #7

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We know but little of true Christianity, if we do not feel a deep concern about the souls of unconverted people. A lazy indifference about the spiritual state of others, may doubtless, save as much trouble. To care nothing whether our neighbors are going to heaven or hell, is no doubt, the way of the world.”

J.C. Ryle

Greek Word: κοινωνος

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Today – koinonos

In the Greek: κοινωνος

Pronunciation (Erasmian): koy – no – nos

Definition/approximate English equivalent: companion, partner, sharer.

Example of its use:

  • 1 Corinthians 10:18 (Tischendorf): βλέπετε τὸν Ἰσραὴλ κατὰ σάρκα: οὐχ οἱ ἐσθίοντες τὰς θυσίας κοινωνοὶ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου εἰσίν;

Notes: Here, the word takes on the nominative plural form. Remember that nominative refers to a subject in the sentence.

Quote # 6

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Today’s quote comes from the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith. Specifically, it is from the section “The Holy Scriptures”, seventh paragraph (or 1.7 in some copies).

Some things in Scripture are clearer than others, and some people understand the teachings more clearly than others. However, the things that must be known, believed, and obeyed for salvation are so clearly set forth and explained in one part of Scripture or another that both the educated and uneducated may achieve a sufficient understanding of them by properly using ordinary measures.

(see above)

Greek Word: φως

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Today – foce

In the Greek: φως

Pronunciation (Erasmian): fohs

Definition/approximate English equivalent: light, the light, or anything emitting light. Also used metaphorically for light.

Example of its use:

  • John 1:8 οὐκ ἦν ἐκεῖνος τὸ φῶς, ἀλλʼ ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός.

Notes: In this example, there are two uses. The first is neuter and singular as well as the lexical form (the form of the word you’d look it up by in a lexicon). The second appearance is of course neuter (as it is a neuter word) and is singular to agree with the sentence but takes the genitive – or the often called “possessive”.

Quotes #5

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Today’s quote:

Christ made His confession before Pilate not in many words but in reality, that is, by His voluntary submission to death . . . For He ratified His own testimony with His own blood and with the sacrifice of His death better than with any words . . . Thus whenever our hearts waver, let us remember immediately to look to the death of Christ for strength. What cowardice it would be to desert such a leader who goes before us to show us the way.

John Calvin

Greek Word: φονος

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Today – phonos

In the Greek: φονος

Pronunciation (Erasmian): fon – ohs

Definition/approximate English equivalent: murder, slaughter, be slain.

Example of its use:

  • Acts 9:1 (Tischendorf): Ὁ δὲ Σαῦλος ἔτι ἐμπνέων ἀπειλῆς καὶ φόνου εἰς τοὺς μαθητὰς τοῦ κυρίου, προσελθὼν τῷ ἀρχιερεῖ

Note: In this example, our Greek word is taking on the masculine singular, genitive declension form.

Quotes #4

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Here’s today’s quote:

We are simply to run from evil as we run from danger, and to run after goodness as we run after success. That is, we have to give our mind, time, and energy to both flight and pursuit.

John Stott

Greek Word: θανατος

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Today – thanatos

In the Greek: θανατος

Pronunciation (Erasmian): than -aht -ohs (the a in than being like that in can)

Definition/approximate English equivalent: it means the death of the body; power of death; wicked dead in hell; etc. It is a masculine noun effectively meaning “death”.

Most people today are familiar with the word as it is the name of a key bad guy in the Marvel films (Avengers: Infinity War and then Endgame) – a fitting name as he brings death to countless lives. I would point out that Marvel pronounces the word with an English pronunciation however.

Example of its use:

  • Revelation 13:3 (Tischendorf): καὶ μίαν ἐκ τῶν κεφαλῶν αὐτοῦ ὡς ἐσφαγμένην εἰς θάνατον, καὶ ἡ πληγὴ τοῦ θανάτου αὐτοῦ ἐθεραπεύθη. καὶ ἐθαύμασεν ὅλη ἡ γῆ ὀπίσω τοῦ θηρίου,

Note: In this example, our Greek word is taking on the singular, genitive declension form.