NOT PILFERING:
me nosphizomenous (PMPMPA): (2 Ki 5:20-24;
Lu 16:6-8;
Jn 12:6;
Acts 5:2,3
5:3)
not purloining (KJV)
they are not...to be light fingered (Phillips)
Not taking what is not theirs (BBE)
Not defrauding (DRA)
and there must be no pilfering (NJB)
Nor to steal by taking things of small value (Amp)
Pilfering
(3557)
(nosphizo
from nósphi = apart, separated)
conveys the idea is stealing in small quantities or practicing petty
theft. KJV translates it as purloin (from Middle English,
to put away, misappropriate) which means to appropriate wrongfully and
often by a breach of trust. Whereas pilfer implies
stealing repeatedly in small amounts, whereas purloin
stresses removing or carrying off for one’s own use or purposes.
Nosphizo is used 3 times in the NT in the NASB (Acts
2x;
Titus)
and is translated as keep
back, 1; kept back, 1; pilfering (KJV = purloin), 1.
Nosphizo means to keep back
or misappropriate something for one's self that which should or does belong to
someone else.
This term was found in secular Greek writings in reference to embezzlement of public treasures.
It speaks of secretly appropriating and setting apart for one’s self the
property of another.
Nosphizo is used
twice in Acts 5 when Peter confronted Ananias who had
kept back (nosphizo - Amplified adds "and wrongfully appropriated") some of
the price for himself, with his wife's full knowledge, and bringing a
portion of it, he laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said,
"Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and
to keep back (nosphizo) some of the price of the land?"
(Acts 5:2-3)
A notorious OT use of
nosphizo is found in the Greek translation of the Hebrew (Lxx =
Septuagint) passages in Joshua 7 where we read that
"the sons
of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard to the things under the ban (a vow or pledge under which property or persons devoted to pagan
worship were destroyed), for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of
Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took some (Greek = nosphizo, Heb = laqah = grasped or seized) of
the things (the spoils of battle including here a mantle, silver and
gold) under the ban, therefore the anger of the Lord burned against
the sons of Israel.” (Joshua 7:1)
From observing what happened to
Ananias and his wife in Acts and to Achan and his family in Joshua,
pilfering from the Lord is neither prudent or profitable!
Vincent has the following note
regarding the meaning of nosphizo...
Purloining (nosphizomenous).
Only here and
Acts 5:2-3.
LXX (Septuagint), Josh. 7:1; 2 Macc. 4:32. Often in Classic
Greek. From nosphi apart. The fundamental idea of the word is to
put far away from another; to set apart for one’s self; hence to
purloin and appropriate to one’s own use. Purloin is akin to
prolong: prolongyn or purlongyn “to put fer awey.” Old French,
porloignier or purloignier." (Vincent, M. R. Word
Studies in the New Testament Vol. 4, Page 343)
Another source says nosphizo means to
"separate
surreptitiously or clandestinely for one's own use".
The verb is
present tense (continuous action) and in the
middle voice
which is reflexive ("yourself").
With the negative Paul is saying don't
(continually) keep setting
apart for yourself (reflexive) a part of that which has been entrusted to your care
by your master. Don't embezzle or appropriate wrongfully some of the
Master's good for your own use as did
"a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira" who after they had
"sold a piece of property...kept
back some of (nosphizo) the price for himself, with his wife's full knowledge (Acts 5:2,3
5:3
for the consequences of their actions read
Acts 5).
Vincent says that
The fundamental idea of the word is to put far away from another; to set
apart for one's self; hence to purloin (to take or carry away for one's
self)
and appropriate to one's own use.
BUT SHOWING
ALL GOOD FAITH: alla pistin pasan endeiknumenous (PMPMPA)
agathen: (Ge 31:37;31:38
39:8
39:9;
1Sa 22:14;
26:23;
Ps 101:6;
Mt 24:45;
Lu 16:10;
1Cor 4:2)
but to show
that they can be fully trusted (NIV)
but they must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good (NLT)
And they
should show their masters that they can be fully trusted (ICB)
Instead, tell
slaves to show their masters how good and completely loyal they can be"
(GWT)
but giving clear signs of their good faith (BBE)
but must show
themselves to be entirely trustworthy (TLB)
but to prove
themselves truly loyal and entirely reliable and faithful throughout
(Amp)
they must
show complete honesty at all times (NJB)
Showing
(1731)
(endeíknumi
from en = in, to + deíknumi = explain meaning or significance of something by
demonstration) means to indicate by word or act. The
present tense
indicates this should
be their habitual practice.
Regenerate, redeemed
slaves are to be continually (middle
voice) demonstrating, showing forth or manifesting
words and works that show they are loyal and can be fully trusted. They
were continually proving themselves to be faithful servants in
everything they are entrusted with. In a parallel teaching to the
Corinthians, Paul wrote that
"it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy." (1 Cor 4:2)
How might this spiritual dynamic work in everyday practice? Masters know
that the slaves could and would steal and God says our sin will find us
out so the masters surely knew who to trust with cleaning the expensive
silverware and dusting the bottles of fine wine. The point is that when the master saw such
integrity and fidelity in a slave, he would have been intrigued. What made this lowly man or woman tick different than the
average slave who thought little of cutting off for himself a small
portion of the fine rib eye steak the master & mistress were to dine on
that night! Ultimately these pagan masters would see through the
"beautiful lives" of these slaves, the beauty of the teaching about the
the One to Whom the slave belonged. Let us conduct
ourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel so that our lives would be
like attractive ornaments that draw attention to the "Tree" of Calvary's
love!
Matthew Henry writes that
"Faithfulness in a servant lies in the ready, punctual, and thorough
execution of his master's orders; keeping his secrets and counsels,
dispatching his affairs, and managing with frugality, and to as much
just advantage for his master as he is able; looking well to his trusts,
and preventing, as far as he can, all spoil, or loss, or damage."
THAT THEY MAY ADORN
THE DOCTRINE OF GOD OUR SAVIOR IN EVERY RESPECT: hina ten didaskalian tou soteros humon theou kosmosin (3PPAS) en pasin
:
(Mt 5:16;
Eph 4:1;
Php 1:27;
Phil 2:15,
16;
4:8;
1Pe 2:12;
3:16) (1Ti 5:17;
6:1
6:3;
2 Jn 1:9)
so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior
attractive" (NIV)
Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in
every way" (NLT)
so that in everything they may be an ornament to the doctrine of God our
Savior" (NRSV)
Then, in everything they do they will make the teaching of God our
Savior attractive" (ICB)
Then they will show the beauty of the teachings about God our Savior in
everything they do" (GWT)
in all things doing credit to the teaching of God our Saviour" (BBE)
In this way they will make people want to believe in our Savior and God"
(TLB)
so that in everything they may be an ornament and do credit to the
teaching [which is] from and about God our Savior" (Amp)
That
(2443) (hina)
is a purpose clause explaining the reason for or the purpose they are to
behave as he has prescribed. That they might, in their lives, “beautify
the Bible,” making it attractive to unbelievers.
Paul had similar instructions for
Timothy writing
"Let all who are under the yoke as slaves regard their own
masters as worthy of all honor so that (purpose clause)
the name of God and our doctrine may not be spoken
against.." (1Ti 6:1)
Adorn
(2885)
(kosmeo from kósmos = adorning or order,
ornament, decoration, adornment -- this root word gives us our English "cosmetic"
something most women use to "adorn" their face and
make themselves more physically attractive) speaks of that which is congruous, fitting, orderly and in keeping with
the simplicity, purity and beauty of our Lord Jesus, radiating from a
new heart in Christ and a transformed mind of Christ. Kosmeo in
this verse then refers to the behavior of bond
slaves which was to be such that it caused the truth about God to be
beautifully "decorated". Kosmeo conveys the idea
of arranging something in proper order so as to give it symmetry,
comeliness, and beauty. It was now in order and appeared neat, well
organized and tidy and so was attractive.
The
present tense
indicates this a
habitual practice, continually showing the beauty of Christ in them the
hope of glory, for the world is always looking for a flaw in the
professed Christian, be they an employee or employer.
Kosmeo is used 10 times in NT in
the NASB (3x Mt;
2x Lu;
1x 1Ti;
1x Titus;
1x Pe;
2x Rev)
and is translated as: adorn, 4; adorned, 3; put in order, 2; trimmed, 1.
In ancient times kosmeo was used of arranging jewels
in a brooch, necklace, ring, or crown in a way that best displayed the
beauty of the gems. So the idea is that the excellent behavior of the
bond slaves (God's "jewels") would be seen and would make the "doctrine of God"
"attractive"
or beautiful to unbelievers (see note
Matthew 5:16)
The noun kosmos reflects an ordered system where harmony prevails
which helps expand the picture of what effect the behavior of a bond slave
was to have on the doctrine of God. Pagans would see the
"harmony"
produced by this doctrine which would be in stark contrast to the disharmony and discord produced by the
"doctrine of Crete" which led to lying,
laziness, etc! This exhortation and purpose applies to all believers,
for we should all seek to
"prove (ourselves) to be blameless
and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked
and perverse generation, among whom (we) appear as lights in the
world holding fast the word of life...." (see notes
Philippians 2:15;
Philippians 2:16)
Spurgeon writes...
Is not that a wonderful passage? Here
is a slave able to be an ornament to the gospel of Christ! This blessed
gospel is not sent to kings and princes only; when Paul preached it, the
great mass of the population were in cruel bondage, treated like dogs,
or even worse; yet the gospel had a message even for them, it told them
that they might, by a godly character, adorn the doctrine of God their
Savior.
The life of the Christian, even if he
be a servant, is to be an ornament of Christianity. Christ does not look
for the ornament of his religion to the riches or the talents of his
followers, but to their holy lives “that they may adorn the doctrine of
God our Savior in all things.”
Our Daily Bread has a
devotional applying the truths of this verse -- During the Spanish
conquest of Mexico under Hernando Cortez in the early 1500s, a
resistance leader named Hatney was captured after a fierce battle and
sentenced to be burned alive. After tying him to the stake, his captors
urged him to become a Christian so that at his death his soul might be
given an entrance into heaven. He asked his tormentors if they expected
to go to this place. On being told that they did, he cried out, “Then I
will not be a Christian, for I would not again go to a place where I
would find men so cruel!” - H. V. Lugt
(Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
The positive motive, to make God’s
message attractive, and the negative motive, to keep God’s teaching from
being slandered, ought to control our lives.
J. H.
Jowett rightly said that
Fine living is not only a fine
argument, it is also an effective silencer of bad men.
Vine comments that a relationship
with Christ
which could produce such a change in
the character and life of slaves as to carry out the teaching here
given, would influence powerfully the minds of unbelievers and even
those who were hostile to Christianity. The comment of Chrysostom on
these verses is worth quoting: he says that “Greeks form their estimate
of doctrines, not from the doctrine itself but from actions and life.”
God often gets highest honor from the godly life and testimony of those
who are despised by men in general as being illiterate and even ignoble.
The meek and quiet spirit is in the sight of God of great price, even in
cases where a believer is little known or heard of. If slaves in those
olden days could bring glory to the name of Christ by the faithful
fulfillment of their work, so surely can those whose occupation is in
more favored circumstances." (Vine,
W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson
)
Wuest adds that
"The word
kosmos (”order”), is opposed to chaos (our
“chaos”) which latter word the Greek philosophers used to designate
what they thought was the original condition of the universe, one of
disorder. In passing, it might be well to note that when the NT writers
speak of the universe as it came into existence, they use kosmos
indicating that the original condition was that of order, perfection. By
the use of this word (in
1Ti 2:9 "Likewise, I want women to
adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with
braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments"), Paul
indicates that the adornment of the Christian woman should be one in
which order, not disorder, obtains. And this orderliness must not extend
merely to the relationship of the various articles of wearing apparel to
one another, but also to the relationship of that apparel to her
Christian character and testimony. In other words, the apparel must be
congruous with, fitting to, and consistent with what she is, a child of
God. The word “modest” is the translation of kosmios “well
arranged, seemly, modest.” ...He goes on to add that "an artificial
display (when our external appearance and behavior are worldly - one
which then confronting the lost with the world not the Savior) also
destroys the personal testimony of the soul winner. We may be
fundamental in our doctrine, and yet defeat the power of the Word we
give out by the modernism of our appearance. It is forbidden because
God seeks to glorify Himself in the personality and life of the
Christian. He made men in His own image. That image is the ideal medium
through which He can reveal Himself. But if that image is marred and
distorted by artificiality (or inappropriate disorderly behavior
slaves were prone to do -- how is your behavior and reputation in the
workplace, school, community beloved?), it becomes an imperfect
medium, and the beauty of the Lord Jesus is hidden beneath a veneer of
worldliness." Are you convicted? I am!
(Wuest,
K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans)
(Bolding added)
Peter uses kosmeo to describe
inner beauty of women in the Old Testament writing
"For in this way
(referring to the hidden person of the heart...precious in the sight of
God) in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to
adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands." (see
note
1 Peter 3:5).
Doctrine
(1319) (didaskalia) (Click
word study)
Believing slaves were to "embellish
with honor" the doctrines of Christianity. The genius of the word
picture of kosmeo is the fact that adornment should be
that which is fitting, congruous, not diverse from one’s character. That
is, the adornment of the Christian slave (or the Christian woman
1Ti 2:9) should be in keeping with what
they are as a Christian. They were not to be a Christian at heart and
manifest the adornment of a person of the world. They were to show by
their good behavior that Christian doctrine was a "system" where order
prevails. How are Christians doing in this regard in America as we enter
the 21st century?
Is our
"light (shining) before men in
such a way that they (can) see (our) good works (Click study of
"good deeds"), and glorify (give a
proper opinion of our) Father who is in heaven?" (see note
Matthew 5:16)
How is one transformed to be
enabled to
"walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been
called"? (see note
Ephesians 4:1)
Other NT passages that allude to the Christian's conduct as a vehicle
for making the gospel attractive include...
Philippians 1:27 (see note)
Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; so
that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that
you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for
the faith of the gospel;
Philippians 2:15 (see note)
that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of
God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
among whom you appear as lights in the world,
16—
holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have
cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
1 Peter 2:12 (note)
Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in
which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good
deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
1 Peter 3:16 (note)
and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are
slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to
shame.
The following verse (next)
begins with "for"
(always stop when reading a text and you encounter a "for" and ask
"What's it there for?" You are training yourself to study inductively
and to meditate on the Scriptures!) which explains how such radical
behavior is now possible for all believers.
SOME
SIMPLE PRINCIPLES
REGARDING ADORNMENT
(In Behavior and
in Dress)
(1) If
a personality is to be seen at its best, it must be seen
alone, not merged with another personality. Either the
Lord Jesus is seen in all His beauty, or the personality
of the believer is seen and her adornment. The Holy Spirit
attracts sinners to the Lord Jesus, not by displaying the
world's behavior or the world's latest styles, but by
exhibiting the Lord Jesus.
(2) If a sinner is attracted by worldliness of a
believer’s adornment in physical dress or external
behavior, the fundamentalism of the believer’s Christian
doctrine will be neutralized.
(3) When a Christian depends upon the Lord Jesus for
adornment in external dress and behavior, both the dress
and the behavior will all be in keeping with the purity,
simplicity, and beauty of the Lord Jesus. All will be
attractive without attracting from the Lord Jesus. All
will be beautiful without detracting from Him. All will
have character without attracting one to the person
herself. Then the sinner will see the Lord Jesus in the
heart and life of the believer, and in their adornment as
well. Then will the Holy Spirit be able to work through
the soul winner, attracting sinners to the Saviour.
(Adapted and modified from
Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from
the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans)
In every respect
(3956)
(pas) means no exceptions.
G Campbell Morgan wrote that
in this section there
are two ideas which flash with a
surprising brilliance. The first is that the doctrine of God our
Saviour can be adorned; and the second is that those who are
spoken of as able to do it are slaves. Perhaps we shall understand the
first better, if we begin with the second. The word servants here is
distinctly the word for slaves, and it may well be conceived that the
conditions of slaves in Crete, where Titus was laboring, were of the
worst. Paul had already said that the testimony of one of their own
prophets was true that the Cretans were liars, evil beasts, gluttons.
Slavery in a society of such must have been a terrible thing. Among
these slaves there were some who were saints, and these were declared
able in the very life of slavery, to adorn the doctrine.
Moreover, the Apostle had declared how they would do it. It would be
done by subjection to their masters; by seeking to be well-pleasing, by
not gainsaying; by honesty, by faithfulness; in short, by such action in
difficult circumstances as to win from their very masters recognition of
their goodness.
Thus we see how the doctrine of God our Saviour
may be adorned. It is adorned when its effects on life and
character are expressed in conduct. To be true and gentle and faithful
in circumstances that are hard and unfair, and even unjust, is only
possible in the power of some great spiritual conviction; and the value
of such spiritual conviction is revealed in such conduct.
Vine writes that...
a religion which could produce such a
change in the character and life of slaves as to carry out the teaching
here given, would influence powerfully the minds of unbelievers and even
those who were hostile to Christianity. The comment of Chrysostom on
these verses is worth quoting: he says that
“Greeks form their estimate of
doctrines, not from the doctrine itself but from actions and life.”
God often gets highest honor from the
godly life and testimony of those who are despised by men in general as
being illiterate and even ignoble. The meek and quiet spirit is in the
sight of God of great price, even in cases where a believer is little
known or heard of. If slaves in those olden days could bring glory to
the name of Christ by the faithful fulfillment of their work, so surely
can those whose occupation is in more favored circumstances.
(Vine,
W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson
or
Logos)
><>><>><>
THE FROSTED BELL - Pastor
Raymond Biddle shared the following experience with me in a letter. He
wrote, "Our church has a good, clear-ringing bell. But yesterday we were
ashamed of it. The first dull sound sent me looking for the bell ringer,
who soon found out what was wrong. Nearly an inch of snow and sleet had
blown on it during a night storm, and it was thoroughly encased in ice.
What a poor call to worship it gave! Then the Lord impressed on me the
thought that Christians often become sheathed in the sound-deadening
things of the world. As a result, their witness becomes `ice-encased'.
The devil rejoices when Christians are drawn away from the Lord and
their testimony is dulled by an accumulation of worldly attitudes and
actions. Some of the "ices" that encase believers are price, jealously,
materialism, hatred, lying, gossip, envy, and all the other sins that
characterize our old nature. The best way to keep from becoming "iced
up" is to keep "fired up." This is accomplished through prayer, the
study of God's Word, and regular fellowship with other believers.
Do you need a good spiritual "thaw"? Let your testimony sound forth loud
and clear! Richard W. De Haan
(Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
Oh, may our lives ring loud and clear
With God's good news for all,
So people who are lost in sin
Will clearly hear His call. --Sper
A cold heart doesn't ring true.
><>><>><>
God
our Savior (Click
6 uses of phrase "God our Savior")
J A James writes...
"Make the teaching about God our
Savior attractive in every way." Titus 2:10
It is a solemn thing to profess to be a disciple of Christ.
It supposes you to be a new creature, that old things have passed away,
and that all things have become
new with you.
It supposes that you have . . .
new principles,
new motives,
new ends of life,
new tastes and new pleasures.
Now, your profession is to be
maintained with a due regard to this. Your conduct must correspond with
it.
You must be dissimilar in these things, to those who make no such
profession. They must see the difference as well as hear of it. You must
compel them to say,
"Well, we do not like her religion,
but it is quite in harmony with her profession."
Study your profession, and thoroughly understand what it implies and
enjoins. Consider well . . .
what holiness of conduct;
what spirituality of mind;
what separation from the world in spirit and taste;
what devotional feelings;
what faith, hope, love and humility;
what amiableness and kindness of disposition,
are included in that declaration you
have actually made—"I am a Christian!"
Savior
(4990) (soter from
sozo = rescue from
peril > from saos = safe; delivered)) (Click
detailed definition of "Savior") (1:3;
1Ti1:1;
Isa 12:2) is our "Rescuer
from peril and danger" (soter).
Soter
also describes One Who not only rescues and saves us but Who heals us,
protects us and preserves us. This truth is not restricted to the NT,
for Isaiah taught that
"God is my salvation, I will trust and
not be afraid, for the LORD GOD is my strength and song, and He has
become my salvation." (Isa 12:2)
The practical application of this grand
truth is that God in Christ Jesus came to save us out of
or from our sins, not "in" our sins. It
follows that if there has been no life change (from Cretan to Christian
so to speak), then there is no evidence of the life of the Spirit of God
and of Christ within, for as Paul teaches
"you are not in the flesh
but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if
anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to
Him...So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to
live according to the flesh--for if you are living according to the
flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the
deeds of the body, you will live." (see notes
Romans 8:9;
8:12;
8:13).
Are you by the Spirit putting to
death the deeds of the body?
