Word Studies

Contents

Baptism

The word ‘baptism’ is derived from the Greek word, bapto, or baptizo, to wash or to immerse. It signifies, therefore, that washing is of the essential idea of the sacrament.

This is a long overview on baptism. I’ve written it to give my readers a good understanding of the many issues to do with baptism and its practice.

In it I give a brief overview of different denominational positions on baptism including some elements from the new perspective on Paul. Then I give an overview of the most of the scriptural data in a semi chronological order. Afterwards I discuss covenantal membership and salvation with respect to baptism. Then I discuss households, children and baptism. Finally I give my own summary position.

Faith

This is a brief and by no means comprehensive word study on ‘faith’ in the New Testament. Faith has a noun, a verb and an adjective. The noun pistis can be rendered in English as ‘faith’, ‘belief’ or ‘faithfulness’. The verb pisteuo rendered as ‘believes’ or ‘to believe’ and the adjective pistos which is often rendered ‘faithful’ or ‘trustworthy’.

How we understand the word is critical to our understanding of the gospel and salvation. So it would be good to familiarise ourselves with the various passages and concepts associated with the word…

Flesh

Did you know the noun ‘sarcasm’ literally means to ‘rip the flesh off a person’? This word study is on the Greek noun σάρξ which is transliterated as sarx. In the ESV translation it is rendered ‘flesh’. It has various cognates sarki, sarka, sarkinos, etc, which likewise are rendered ‘flesh’ in the ESV. I’ll refer to this noun and its cognates with their transliterations throughout.

My study initially categorised the results by source: 1) Gospels and Acts, 2) Paul and 3) the Pastoral Epistles. On the whole however there is considerable overlap (common understanding and application), so I will generally focus on Pauline usage, but throw in some from the other sources as required.

Good

Are some people good? Do some people do good things? Do good people go to heaven? What does Jesus say? Does Jesus say he is good? What does Paul say? Should God’s people do good? Why?

This word study has been created by looking at all instances of the words ‘good’ and ‘goodness’ in the ESV translation of the New Testament…

Gospel (Series)

Heart

What does scripture say about the human heart? Is it good, evil or something else? What has God promised to do with peoples hearts? Can hearts be influenced, changed, transformed and softened? What are the key characteristics that distinguish a Christians heart from others? Does Jesus want our hearts? Can God see our hearts?

I’ll run us through some of the more prominent passages to do with the human heart. Focusing more on its moral associations. There are good and bad passages. But in the end I point to the work Jesus and the Spirit can do in peoples hearts – so bear with me…

Keep

Can people keep the law? What does it mean to keep the law? Does the bible ever say people keep the law? This word study considers the topic of keeping the law, the commands of God…

Law (Series)

Now that I’ve have worked through the Pentateuch, the first five books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) in our daily posts of the Old Testament I can make some observations on the Torah – the Jewish Law. I will post another brief series on the law.

  1. Torah, the Jewish Law
  2. The Story of Israel and Covenant
  3. Paul and the Law
  4. The Commands in the Law of Moses

Logizomai

This post will argue ‘counted’ is a better translation than ‘credited’ considering the original scripture Paul was quoting from and the context of Romans 3 and 4…

Nature

Google says nature is ‘the basic or inherent features, character, or qualities of something’. What do the scriptures say about ‘nature’? I found that in the scriptures the noun ‘nature’ is clearly associated with creation. The nature of a living being denotes its created ontology. The normal and everyday events and God’s intended purpose.

In this short study I review what the scriptures say about ‘nature’…

Pleasing

This word study on ‘please’ will highlight the scriptures teaching on the concept of pleasing God and show the desire to please God in our actions is a reflection of a believing heart in right relationship with Him.

Repay

This post is about repayment. The concept is associated with the repayment of deeds – good or evil – in this life or when Jesus returns to judge. The concept is associated with accounting language. Some sort of invisible ledger is tallied up, for good or bad and dished out to people by the Lord.

The concept is interrelated with repentance and reward. When people do good, they will be rewarded. When people sin and do wrong, they should be punished. For that reason, those who have sinned should repent or suffer the consequences…

Repent

Repentance is about avoiding God’s coming wrath for sin and wrongdoing. It assumes God judges all people by the way they live and rewards or punishes accordingly.

Repentance involves recognising

  • a lifestyle and/or behaviour that is wrong,
  • the right lifestyle and behaviour God desires, and
  • turning around from wrong to right.

Reward

Do you think God gives rewards? Are there rewards for God’s people now or in the future? What does Jesus say about rewards? What about Paul?

The following word study should be an eye opener for most…

Righteous (Series)

This series of posts is on the concept of righteousness and justification in the scriptures. I’ve worked through most (here they are) references to right, righteous, righteousness and just, justified and justification in the scriptures to do my own study on what the scriptures say about the concept…

Saved

Does the New Testament teach people are saved by grace? Yes? No? In what sense? What does salvation mean? What are people saved from? Who or what does the saving?

This word study has been created by looking at all instances of the words ‘save’ and ‘salvation’ in the New Testament. I realise concepts related to salvation can also exist where the word is not used…

Sinner

What is a ‘Sinner’? Is it just a pejorative term? A put down to induce guilt and fear? It certainly can be. How do the scriptures refer to ‘Sinners’? In varied ways. Does the term refer to anyone who is not sinless and perfect? No. Are God’s people ‘Sinners’? No – Sinners make a practice of sinning. They have no good fruit or works giving evidence they know God and are right with him. Can ‘Sinners’ be saved? Yes. Jesus came to save Sinners.

Let’s see how the New Testament uses the noun…

Steadfast Love

The Hebrew verb חֶ֫סֶד (Translit. Hesed/Chesed/Heced) is rendered ‘steadfast love’ in the ESV. Together with his faithfulness, God’s steadfast love is probably the most celebrated of God’s characteristics in the Old Testament. First and foremost it represents God’s ongoing love and kindness to his covenant people.

The aim of this post is to walk you through the significant concepts associated with the term…

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