Here is a good word for us to consider, the Greek prothesis. Now think about that. You know what a “thesis” is: it’s an idea or perhaps a scholarly presentation of that idea. And “pro” is a prefix meaning “forward.” Prothesis refers to a setting forth or presentation of a something, especially a plan or purpose.
· Mt. 12:4 (Mk. 2:26; Lk. 6:4): For starters, the “showbread” in the tabernacle is this word. Makes sense. It was set out, not to eat but to make a statement.
· Ac. 11:23: Barnabas encouraged the new believers at Antioch with purpose of heart to cling to the Lord. Was this Barnabas’ heart or the Antiochans? Either way it tells us that clinging to the Lord is an important issue and it is central to the born-again persons’ new nature and life.
· Ac. 27:13: The ship captain thought they had achieved their purpose when the south wind blew and so left port. His purpose was to get to Rome of course.
· Rom. 8:28: All things work for good to those called according to God’s purpose. Yes, God has set forth a purpose for those He has called, and it is set forth in the following verses: to be conformed to the image of His Son!
· Rom. 9:11: God’s purpose in election, the choosing of Israel, at the time of Isaac and Rebekah, was that “the elder (Esau) would serve the younger (Jacob).” The purpose has to do with salvation, the coming of the redeemer.
· Eph. 1:11: Again, in a context of predestination, what God did in eternity past was according to His purpose, the One who works all things after the council of His will. Are you seeing this? There are some mundane purposes (getting to Rome) and then there is the purpose, the reason, why God does all that He does.
· Eph. 3:11: The Church, Body of Christ, the Bride of His Son, was intended by God’s purpose to display His glory for ages to come. It was God’s purpose involving His Son, that He (the Father) would give Him (the Son) a people of His own. That is why we exist!
· 2 Tim. 1:9: Here it is again, profoundly! God saved us, called us according to His purpose and grace, not according to our works.
· 2 Tim. 3:10: Paul had a life-purpose from God, and Timothy knew all about Paul’s calling. Thus they worked well together, like father and son.
· Heb. 9:2: And here we are again, back to the “loaves of presentation. What if we translated that “loaves of purpose?” What would that purpose be? Those loaves are tied into God’s eternal purpose in Christ, the “Bread come down from Heaven.” The menorah stood opposite the bread, facing the bread, so the light shown brightly on God’s presentation (Num. 8:1-4)! Makes sense to me.
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