The words of the New Testament come to life.Studies from renowned New Testament scholar W. E. Vine will enrich and deepen your understanding of God’s Word. Reflections on Words of the New Testament presents important concepts found throughout the New Testament in straightforward language with special focus on how these words deepen your understanding of the meaning of Scripture.

Features include:

• Brief explanations of the Greek words behind New Testament concepts
• Theological reflections on each New Testament word to help you see the everyday relevance of Scripture
• Short entries on each word for convenient reflection and study

Reflections on Words of the New Testament

Thomas Nelson

Contents

Introduction...........................................ixAbba (abba)............................................1Abomination (bdelygma).................................3Abundance (perisseia)..................................5Admonition (noutheteo).................................6Adversary (antidikos, antikeimai)......................8Amen (amen)............................................9Babbler (spermologos, kenophonia)......................15Baptism (baptizo)......................................16Bestow (didomi, etc.)..................................18Bondman (doulos).......................................20Burden (baros, phortion)...............................21Chaste, Chasten (hagnos, paideuo)......................27Clean (katharos).......................................28Comfort (paraklesis)...................................30Conformed (symmorphizo, etc.)..........................31Confound (akatastasia, sygchysis)......................33Corrupt (kapeleuo, etc.)...............................35Diligence (ergasia, etc.)..............................39Discern (anakrino, etc.)...............................40Earnest (arrabon)......................................45Edification (oikodome, oikodomeo)......................46Empty (kenoo, etc.)....................................48Faith (pistis).........................................53Forget (lanthano, lithe)...............................55Forgive (aphiimi, etc.)................................56Fruit (karpos).........................................58Glory (doxa)...........................................63Grief (lypeo, etc.)....................................64Hallow (hagiazo).......................................69Hard (skliros, etc.)...................................70Haughty (hyperiphanos).................................72Hinder (egkopto, koluo)................................74Holy (hagios)..........................................75Hope (elpis, elpizo)...................................77Hypocrisy (hypokrisis, hypokritis).....................79Idolatry (eidolon, eidololatria).......................85Imitate (mimitis, mimeomai)............................87Jesting (eutrapelia)...................................91Judgment Seat (bima)...................................93Justification (dikaiosis)..............................95Keep (tireo, phylasso).................................99Learn (manthano).......................................105Leaven (zymi)..........................................107Longsuffering (makrothymia)............................109Love (agapao)..........................................110Lust (epithymia, etc.).................................112Meek (prautis).........................................117Mercy Seat (hilastirion)...............................119Murmur (gongyzo).......................................121Nail (prosiloo)........................................125Neighbor (geiton, etc.)................................126Obey (peitho)..........................................131Occasion (aphormi).....................................132Offense (skandalon, proskomma).........................134Ointment (myron).......................................136Patience (hypomoni)....................................141Pilgrim (parepidimos)..................................142Quench (sbennymi)......................................147Quiet (iremos, hisychios)..............................149Rage (phruasso, klydon)................................153Reconcile (katallasso).................................155Renew (anakainoo)......................................157Reprobate (adokimos)...................................159Salt (halas)...........................................165Sanctification (hagiasmos).............................167Shame (aischyno, entrepo)..............................169Sin (hamartia).........................................171Thief (kleptis)........................................177Transgression (parabasis)..............................178Understand (syniimi, noeo).............................183Veil (katapetasma, kalymma)............................189Virtue (areti).........................................191Witness (martys).......................................195World (kosmos).........................................197Yoke (zygos, heterozygeo)..............................201Zealous (zilotis, ziloo)...............................207

Chapter One

Abba (abba)

Abba is an Aramaic word found in Mark 14:36; Romans 8:15; and Galatians 4:6. It is a more intimate name than Father, although both names are always used together in the New Testament as "Abba, Father." (This is probably due to the fact that Abba had effectively become a proper name in its own right, similar to the more formal use of Father, and Greek-speaking Jews had added the Greek pater [father] to their common use.) In the Gemara (a Rabbinical commentary on the Mishna, the traditional teaching of the Jews), it is stated that slaves were forbidden to address the head of the family by this title. The word Abba was the term used by little children to address their father, similar to our modern use of Daddy, and as such it was based upon a childlike, untested trust. The name Father, by contrast, expresses a more mature and well-reasoned expression of the parent-child relationship. The two together, however, express both a childlike love and an intelligent confidence.

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These distinctions between the terms Abba and Father underscore some important elements in a Christian's relationship to God. First, Abba expresses the absolute trust that a child instinctively places in his father, calling upon the Almighty God of Creation as Daddy. Such intimacy ought to take a believer by surprise; after all, we are mere sinners addressing a holy and righteous God—the same God who could only be approached by one man on special occasions under the law of Moses, and even that was done in the deepest humility. But Jesus ended those restrictions and provided free access into the presence of the holy God, even by the most common man. The believer does well, of course, to also remember that Daddy is God the Father, the omnipotent Creator of the universe. This is the element of spiritual maturity, when a believer can hold his Lord in deep awe and honor, while simultaneously rejoicing to run to His presence as a child races to meet his father, crying out "Daddy! Daddy!"

Finally, it is significant that the term abba was restricted to family members only. Slaves in Bible times were frequently given privileges and treated as "almost family" within godly homes, but they were never permitted to address their lord and master as abba. Jesus said to His disciples, "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you" (John 15:15). And Paul took us beyond being the friends of God to the point of adoption, for it is the privilege only of children to refer to the Father as Daddy. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit Himself...