Exploring the invitation to Follow Jesus - to ‘Pursue Holiness’
General Introduction
In this series we are building what we will refer to as the ‘One Page New Testament’ - #onepagenewtestament. Our approach is building a pictorial summary of the main messages for disciples of Jesus in a systematically derived, structured form. We aim to keep the descriptive text to a minimum and share with you the different Themes that are being created. We will consider the scriptures on their own merit, Theme by Theme, without introducing much in the way of theology. Within each Theme, we will let the scriptures speak for themselves - hopefully in a way that demonstrates the validity of the analysis.
Introduction to this Faith Article
This article is the twelfth in a series that is unpacking some of the analysis work currently being undertaken to draw out the main teachings from the New Testament from a personal discipleship perspective. The previous articles can be found in the reference at Note [1] and they focus upon the New Testament’s teaching that corresponds to the challenges of what we have so far called ‘Kingdom Fundamental 1 [KF1]’ - ‘Love God’, and ‘Kingdom Fundamental 2 [KF2]’ - ‘Follow Jesus’.
We have previously introduced that we consider there are four Kingdom Practices under the invitation to Follow Jesus [KF2]:
Submit to Jesus’ Lordship - [KP3] (explored previously in Systematic Discipleship Parts 3 to 9)
Pursue Holiness - [KP4]
Live out kingdom values - [KP5]
Exercise discernment - [KP6].
In the previous article (Systematic Discipleship - Part 11) we were exploring the Kingdom Practice to ‘Pursue Holiness’ - [KP4] in more detail, building upon Part 10. We have derived seven Kingdom Actions (sub-Themes) that sit below this heading which come from our ongoing analysis of the New Testament:
Control / guard our eyes (what we look at / watch / read) - [KA13]
Control / guard our tongues (what we say / write) - [KA14]
Control / guard our ears (what we hear / listen to) - [KA15]
Control / guard our hands and feet (what we touch / where we go) - [KA16]
Control / guard our responses / emotions to kingdom events / situations - [KA17]
Control / guard our hearts / thoughts / minds (our focus) / knowledge - [KA18]
Control / guard our character (act with integrity) - [KA19].
The elements we will cover in this article are shown in light blue (encouragements) and pink (warnings) in Figure 1.
If readers take away nothing else from these articles than the sense, logic, and directive actions in the Figures - for disciples to put into practice in the strength God gives - we will hopefully have achieved our initial objective.
Figure 1 - Investigating the Kingdom Practice to ‘Pursue Holiness’ - [KP4]
As we highlighted above, there are seven areas that we can consider as aspects of trying to live in a holy way (KA13-KA19). These Kingdom Actions describe how we should try to manage and control our senses, our emotional and thought responses to the external stimuli we experience, and ultimately how we present ourselves to others through our character. We will address our behavioural responses in more detail as we explore Kingdom Practice 5 - Live out kingdom values in future articles. Whilst we will never live up to a standard of perfect holiness, as the Holy Spirit enables us, we can continue to try!
We need to be aware that working towards holy living is separate and distinct from being made holy by God - through the forgiveness we receive as we repent from our sins and accept Jesus as our personal Saviour and Lord. We considered this aspect of holiness in Systematic Discipleship Part 7 [1].
Moving forward, let’s continue to explore what holy living might require by considering some of the Greek words and scriptures that point us towards this.
Kingdom Action 15 - Control / guard our ears (what we hear / listen to)
We are constantly bombarded by news and the views and opinions of others through the media, and dialogues with family, friends, and colleagues. We need to test and compare what we are listening to with God’s word where these have a potential impact on our world view perspective. Often these ideas are subtle in the way in which they might moulding us - without us even realising it. Therefore, we need to watch over what we are listening to.
As we will see, there will be several Greek words that we can consider within this Theme. At this top level we will draw out one specific scripture related to the Greek word relating to see / perceive [2] and [3]:
Blepó (Strong’s 991) defined as ‘to look (at)’ and is used in the context of ‘(primarily physical), I look, see, perceive, discern’. There are 132 instances of this in the New Testament [4] and [5]. In the context below we are looking at this word in terms of perceptions (in the mind’s eye) rather than physically looking at things.
An illustrative scripture [6] (not a proof!) is:
Mark 4:24 - “Consider carefully (991) what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.”
We will investigate this further below through two sub-Themes:
Listen to the right things [KA15.1]
Do not listen to the wrong things [KA15.2].
Kingdom Action 15.1 - Listen to the right things
We have identified 6 Greek words that fit under this sub-Theme heading, which we outline below:
Akouó (191) defined as ‘to hear, listen’ and translated as ‘I hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported’. There are 430 occurrences.
Ous (3375) meaning ‘the ear’ having two interpretations ‘(a) the ear, (b) met: the faculty of perception’. There are 37 instances.
Akoé (189) is used to describe ‘hearing, the sense of hearing’ and used in translation to convey ‘hearing, faculty of hearing, ear; report, rumor’. It appears 24 times.
Epakroaoma (1874) which is understood to mean ‘to listen attentively’. Translators use this to set out places that describe ‘I listen to, hear, hearken to’. It is only found once.
Akroatés (202) means ‘a hearer’ and is translated as ‘a hearer of, a listener to’. There are 4 places where this is found.
Idiom meaning to ‘hear into the ear’ (191 (hear - above) & 1519 (in) & 3588 (the) & 3775 (ear - above). This appears once.
Example scriptures that include these words to illustrate this include the following:
Matthew 7:24 - “Therefore everyone who hears (191) these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Matthew 10:27 - What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear (Idiom), proclaim from the roofs.
Matthew 17:5 - While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen (191) to him!”
Mark 4:23 - “If anyone has ears (3775) to hear (191), let them hear (191).”
Acts 4:4 - But many who heard (191) the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
Acts 16:25 - About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening (1874) to them.
Romans 10:17 - Consequently, faith comes from hearing (189) the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
James 1:25 - But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard (202), but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
Revelation 2:7 - Whoever has ears (3775), let them hear (191) what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
There are over 150 verse references where these words appear supporting this subject.
Kingdom Action 15.2 - Do not listen to the wrong things / reject sound teaching etc
There are 7 Greek words that link with this sub-Theme heading. Ones not covered in KA15 and KA15.1 above are presented here:
Eisakouó (1522) is defined as ‘to listen, to obey’ and is used in the New Testament to describe 'I hear, listen to, heed’. There are 5 places where it is seen.
Bebélos (952) which means ‘permitted to be trodden, by implication unhallowed’. Translations convey the sense ‘permitted to be trodden, accessible’. It is also seen 5 times.
Looking at supporting scriptures we can consider the following:
Matthew 7:26 - But everyone who hears (191) these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
Mark 4:24 - “Consider carefully (991) what you hear (191),” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.”
Mark 11:18 - The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard (191) this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
Luke 16:14 - The Pharisees, who loved money, heard (191) all this and were sneering at Jesus.
Acts 28:26 - “ ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing (189 & 191) but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
Romans 11:8 - as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears (3775) that could not hear (191), to this very day.”
2 Timothy 2:16 - But avoid irreverent (952), empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness (Berean Study Bible).
James 1:22 - Do not merely listen (202) to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
We have identified in the region of 80 verse references, where these words appear, to support this sub-Theme.
Kingdom Action 16 - Control / guard our hands and feet (what touch / where we go)
The most tangible way we interact with the world is through the actions we undertake (which we will consider in later articles). To do this, most often this involves using our hands and feet - our potential to do good or to do evil. Most of us have active control over our hands and feet and the choice of where to travel and what we do in terms of work and good deeds.
There is one Greek word which describes limbs of the body:
Melos (3196) which is ‘a member or limb (of the body)’. Translators use this to describe ‘a bodily organ, limb, member’. There are 34 references where this is seen.
Scriptures that relate to controlling our actions include:
Matthew 5:30 - And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part (3196) of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Romans 6:19 - I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members (3196) servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members (3196) servants to righteousness unto holiness (King James Version).
Romans 7:5 - For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members (3196) to bear fruit to death (New King James Version).
Colossians 3:5 - Therefore, treat the parts (3196) of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry (New American Standard Bible).
There are 8 verses where this word appears that are relevant to this main Theme.
From our work to look at this in more detail, we have separated aspects of keeping our hands and feet in check by creating two summarising sub-categories:
Be careful what we do with our hands [KA16.1]
Be careful what we do with our feet [KA16.2].
These are outlined below.
Kingdom Action 16.1 - Be careful what we do with our hands
There are three Greek words that we can consider that have relevance to what we do with our hands:
Cheir (5495) is defined as ‘the hand’ and used to describe ‘a hand’. This word appears 179 times.
Dexios (1188) means ‘the right hand or side’ and conveys the sense ‘on the right hand, right hand, right'. 54 verse references exist for this word.
Haptomai (680) describes ‘touch’ and is used in translations as ‘I fasten to; I lay hold of, touch, know carnally’. There are 36 instances.
Example scriptures that highlight these warnings include:
Matthew 5:30 - And if your right (1188) hand (5495) causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Luke 9:62 - Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand (5495) to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
Acts 20:34 - You yourselves know that these hands (5495) of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.
2 Corinthians 6:17 - Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch (680) no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
1 Timothy 5:22 - Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands (5495), and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
Revelation 13:16 - It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right (1188) hands (5495) or on their foreheads,
The analysis work has revealed over 25 verse references where these words appear to support this sub-Theme.
Kingdom Action 16.2 - Be careful what we do with out feet
There is one Greek word for foot set out below:
Pous (4228) defined as 'a foot’ and translated as ‘the foot’. It is seen 93 times in the New Testament.
The relevant example scriptures that have been found for his Theme include:
Matthew 18:8 - If your hand (5495) or your foot (4228) causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands (5495) or two feet (4228) and be thrown into eternal fire.
Luke 1:79 - “to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet (4228) into the path of peace.”
Luke 9:5 - “If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet (4228) as a testimony against them.”
Romans 3:15 - “Their feet (4228) are swift to shed blood”.
Ephesians 6:15 - and with your feet (4228) fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
There are 10 verses that are relevant to this Theme.
Summary
In this twelfth Faith Article, we have explored some of the Greek words and idioms (presented in Louw and Nida’s [2] and Mounce’s [3] reference materials), and scriptures that can be used to support our analysis which expand the Theme that we have called ‘Kingdom Practice 3 - Pursue Holiness’. We have looked at verse that encourage us to try to take care with what we listen to and what we do with our hands and feet.
Just as with many English words, Greek words can have more than one meaning and consequently when translated into Biblical texts they can be used to convey several different sentiments. Which is used is dependent upon the context.
Ultimately, this analysis and these groupings are subjective, as will be the inclusion (or exclusion) of many verses within each Theme and sub-Theme. We should note that some verses have a much stronger relevance to the derived Themes than others.
During this analysis, the aim has been to restrict the number of Themes that can be associated with any specific Greek word to eight or less - as any more implies poor analysis technique and the wrong heading choice / naming process.
In the next Faith Article, we shall begin to explore Kingdom Practice 4 in more detail by considering KP17 (Control / guard our responses / emotions to issues / circumstances / events). That analysis represents the most complex investigation in this analysis encompassing the need to review and consider more than 300 Greek words and idioms that appear in more than 6000 verse references. As ever, the aim will be to try and make it informative, but manageable, in terms of the time and effort needed to look at and understand each area.
Any constructive thoughts on this Article, the process being undertaken, and related constructive feedback are welcome.
Notes:
[1] - All previous Faith Articles focusing on the One Page New Testament can be found at this page: www.teachthemtoobey.co.uk/blog/
[2] - “Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, based upon Semantic Domains” Volumes 1 and 2 - Louw and Nida - Published by and © United Bible Societies - 1988
[3] - “Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words” - © William D Mounce, 2006 - Published by Zondervan
[4] - biblehub - https://biblehub.com/greek/
[5] - The number of instances of specific Greek words can vary considerably depending upon the Greek manuscript(s) that is / are referenced by the data underpinning a particular program or website. For example, there can be differences in the number of instances of a Greek word depending upon whether your information source is, say: biblehub.com, blueletterbible.org, or Accordance Bible software. For example: the word Kurios (Lord) appears:
722 times according to biblehub
748 times in the Textus Receptus (TR) Greek for the blueletterbible
717 in the Morphological Greek New Testament (MGNT) in the blueletterbible
717 times for the Legacy Standard Version in Accordance
711 times for the ESV in Accordance.
In general, we have used the biblehub.com counts for the number of instances of the Greek words we are presenting. If there are major discrepancies with the other resources we are using we will try to highlight these explicitly.
[6] - Unless otherwise stated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.TM used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.TM.
The Bible references presented are illustrative rather than aiming to be ‘proof texts’. They are examples only as there are, generally, many more we could look at. Please note that when looking at any Bible verse references, you should ideally consider more than one translation / respected version to get a more rounded view, and look at the wider context for each verse too. When Greek words are translated, Bible scholars do not always use the same English word every time it appears in the Greek. This is why it is useful to look at more than one Bible version.
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