Gal. 3:22-4:5, “Under” in Romans and Galatians (2)

We are continuing our study of the Greek preposition hupo.

·       Rom. 13:1: “the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”  “God” is genitive and there is a verb connection.  Thus, the idea of agency.

·       15:15: “because of the grace given to me by God.”  Again, a verb and genitive.  This was important for Paul, that God was the agent/source of his calling.

·       15:24: “to be helped on my way there by you.”  Paul desired the Church at Rome (plural “you”) to be the agency of his ministry when he went on to Spain.

·       16:20: “God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.”  Again, accusative.  Satan’s place will be under their feet.  If the Head of the Body has cast out Satan (Jn. 12:31), then the Body will experience his defeat as well.

·       Gal. 1:11: “the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.”  Genitive, Paul was the source of this message; thus hupo is agency, by.

·       3:10: “as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse.”  Those, whose “source” is the works of the law, are found in the place of the curse.  In Romans, the law and sin and grace were rulers over those “under” them.  So here then, the curse has authority over those who are trying to do the works of the law.

·       3:17: “the covenant that was confirmed by God.”  Genitive, of course.  This is the Abrahamic Covenant (cf. v16) that promised Christ.  Faith in Christ was always the means of salvation, even for Abraham (Rom. 4:1ff).  The later “covenant of law” could not annul this.

·       3:22: “Scripture has confined all under sin.” This builds on Rom. 3:9, saying that the result is that all who were under sin (all humanity) are saved only by faith.

·       3:23,25; 4:2,3: “kept under guard by the law;” “we are no longer under a tutor;” “under guardians and stewards until the time appointed;” “in bondage under the elements of the world.”  Paul speaks of the role of the law for Jews, in leading them to salvation.  All are accusative.

·       4:4,5: “God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under law;” “to redeem those who were under the law.”  Those under the law assumed that their righteousness was to found in keeping the law, which was not the case.  Jesus, born in the same context, under law, walked in the Spirit and by faith, etc.  He satisfied the righteous demands of the law (Rom. 8:1-4) but was righteous by His faith (Rom. 3:22; Gal. 2:20).

·       4:9: “known by God.”  Genitive, can be translated “known of God.”

·       4:21: “you who desire to be under the law.”  These are the Judaizers who afflicted the churches of Galatia. Accusative. We need to put off this attitude.

·       5:15: “beware lest you be consumed by one another.”  Genitive. Agency.

·       5:18: “if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”  Lastly, we need to put on this truth.  In so-doing we will put on Christ because this is how He lived.

Rom. 7:5-14, “Under” in Romans and Galatians (1)

One of the primary Greek prepositions is “hupo,” used 230X in 211 verses,  The “summary” definition from Strong is this:

ὑπό hupŏ, hoop-o'; a primary preposition; under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither (underneath) or where (below) or time (when (at)):—among, by, from, in, of, under, with.

It occurs in Rom. 3:9: What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.  I am interested in this because Romans (13x in 11 vs) also speaks of being “under” law and grace.  Galatians (14x in 14 vs) also speaks this way.  Thus, we are not interested today in the 230 uses but only those in the two letters of Paul.  According to the definition we will need to note other “Greeky” things.  I suspect we will need to look at slightly wider contexts (2-3 verses before or after) so this might take a couple posts.  Let’s see what we can learn.

·       Rom. 3:9: “they are all under sin.”  “They” (accusative) being Jews and Greeks, every person, as Paul states the depravity of humanity. If you look for humanity you will find them “under sin.”

·       3:13: “the poison of asps is under their lips.”  Also accusative. You might think this silly, of course “under their lips” is the location of the poison.   

·       3:21: “being witnessed by the law and the prophets.”  Used with a verb (witnessed) it speaks of agency, and thus “by.” “Law” and “prophets” are both genitives, meaning the testimony of God’s righteousness had it’s source in the OT.

·       6:14,15: “you are not under law but under grace.”  In both verses, “law” and “grace” are accusative.  The Christian (he is speaking of believers, after Rom. 5:1, those justified by faith) is not to be found in the context of law but of grace.  The problem with the law is explained further in Rom. 6:15-7:25, esp. 7:1-6.  In the life of a human, “under sin,” the law arouses sin through the sinful passions.  In the context, “grace” has the same purpose for believers that “law” used to have.  We were trying our best to keep the law and the law failed in that regard.  Now we are living by grace because we are under grace.

·       7:14: “the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.”  Again, accusative.  By “carnal” Paul is saying he is still in the flesh, meaning human.  Verse 13 indicates he is talking about a past event; “sin … was producing death.”  As a believing human Paul is no longer under law but under grace; yet the sin with which he was born is still problematic. 

·       12:21: “be not overcome by evil.”  “Evil” is accusative, but the preposition is tied to the verb nikè, overcome.  This encouragement is for believers, those who are walking in the Spirit.  Evil should not be victorious.  We are, after all, under grace.

Psalm 105

How I love this Psalm!  It is one of the grandest illustrations of the principle of Hermeneutics (how to interpret the Bible) that says the best interpreter of Scripture is Scripture.  When studying Genesis 12-50 I found this Psalm to be of inestimable value.  Consider this as you read and study this historical Hymn.

·         105:1-6: Call to the people of Abraham to praise God for His works/deeds.

·         105:7-8: The theme: God remembers His covenant forever.

·         105:9-15: The covenant in mind is the one God made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  It is the Abrahamic Covenant, and especially the promise of the land of Canaan to Abraham’s descendants. To emphasize God’s faithfulness we are reminded this covenant was made when they were few in number and were strangers in the land (Gen. 12:1-3; 13:14-18; 15:7-21; 17:1-8).  But even at that time God was protecting His anointed ones. You may remember God called Abraham a prophet (Gen. 20:7).

·         105:16-25: God’s covenant faithfulness was on-going in the days of Joseph, including His allowing Jacob to take the family to Egypt. Notice that God called for a famine in the land (v16).  That amazing story of Joseph was part of what God was doing in forming His people Israel.

·         105:26-41: God’s faithfulness was certainly evident in the time of Moses, in the plagues and in the major provisions in the wilderness.  It was God’s promise that the Israelites, without an army, would nevertheless plunder Egypt.

·         105:42-45:  All this was done as God faithfully kept His covenant with Abraham.  They eventually made it to the land and joy and gladness, inheriting the labor of the nations that had occupied Canaan.

For us there is tremendous application.  The New Testament says, For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Psalm 105 is about Israel.  But it declares the faithfulness of God, who is our God as well, and who has established His covenant with believers. 

This is how we use the Old Testament.  We interpret it properly; in this case it is about God's work in Israel.  But we also apply it energetically!  It was written for us that we might have hope.  And this is an amazing message of hope.  We are reminded that as with Israel, so God is using the events of our lives to bring us into the likeness of Christ.  We are reminded that God never fails to keep His word.  Even if we are small or few in number we can trust God! 

Let us also give thanks to the Lord!  Let us call upon His name!

2 Ki. 21:1-12, What is an abomination to the LORD? (3)

·       Job 15:16: Eliphaz called sinful men an abomination.  Maybe, maybe not.  I am always careful when Job’s “friends” speak.  God did not call all men “abominations” or all sins “abominations.”  Having said that, we now come to the Psalms and Proverbs where our understanding might be different.

·       Ps. 5:6: The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.  v5 says: You hate all workers of iniquity.  That makes sense.  God hates those who encourage others to sin.  Jesus said those who “cause one of these little ones to stumble” were more egregious in sinning.  “Offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes” (Mt. 18:6-7).  In Psalms the “workers of iniquity” fit that category.

·       Ps. 14:1: Paul applies this to all humanity (Rom. 3).  But note: every human has done “abominable” (abhorrent) works.  This is not saying all humans are abhorred.

·       Ps. 119:163: The Psalmist abhors lying.

·       Prov. 3:32 (11:20): The “perverse person” is an abomination.  1 Ki. 14:24 might be a good cross-reference for this. There were “perverted persons” in the land.  In other words, it’s a particular evil person, not every sinner.

·       Prov. 6:16-19: Here are 7 things that are an abomination to the LORD: a proud look, lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness and one who sows discord among brethren.  That gets to the heart of things, doesn’t it!

·       Prov. 15:8-9: We began the first post with these but now we call attention to them.  The “sacrifice of the wicked” (i.e. the offering he brings with an evil heart) and the “way of the wicked” (the general lifestyle) are an abomination to the LORD.

·       Prov. 15:26: And also, “the thoughts of the wicked” are an abomination.

·       Prov. 16:12: The king who commits wickedness is an abomination because that makes him a “worker of iniquity,” his sins justify the sins of his citizens.

·       Prov. 17:15: He who justifies the wicked or condemns the just is an abomination. (Mic. 3:9.)

·       Prov. 28:9: The prayer of the one who turns away his ear from hearing the law.

·       Jer. 6:15; 8:12: Involvement in things that are an abomination to the LORD should make us ashamed, make us blush.  This was not the case among God’s OT people.

·       Ezek. 6:11: The prophet of the LORD needs to be adamant and clear about the “evil abominations” committed by the people.  Pound your fist! Stamp your feet!

·       Ezek. 8-11 has the word “abominations” 13X as God justifies the departure of His Glory from Israel and the temple.  Again, 8X in Ezek. 16 in the explanation for God’s judgment.  It begins in 16:2, Son of Man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations.  In total, Ezekiel refers to abominations in 43 passages.  He does not tell what they are necessarily; that was done in the Law.  But Ezekiel ties Israel’s judgment to the abominations.  Abominations have consequences!

Deut. 18:9-14, What is an abomination to the LORD? (2)

·       Deut. 18:9-14: Again, copying the forms of worship of the nations that were in the land before Israel is abominable.  This passage has a more developed list that includes sacrificing your children in the fire, witchcraft, soothsaying, interpreting omens, sorcery, conjuring up spells, being a medium or spiritist or in any other way trying to call up the dead.  My Sirius radio has been advertising “California Psychics” a lot.  Interesting.  They turn down like 90% of those who apply.  They promise to help you with your love life or your money back.  ABOMINABLE!  I should not laugh; I should abhor!! (Cf. Isa. 1:13 on abominable forms of worship.)

·       Deut. 20:17-18: If you wonder who was in the land before Israel, v17 has a list.

·       Deut. 22:5: What we call “cross-dressing” is an abomination to the LORD.

·       Deut. 23:7: By the way: an Edomite and an Egyptian are not to be abhorred.  Perhaps we can say, a Democrat nor a Republican or even the Green Party are not to be abhorred.  Maybe. 

·       Deut. 23:18: Giving to the LORD from the earnings of a harlot or the price of selling your dog is an abomination.  Some have tried to argue that this is just Mosaic Law and not relevant to Christians.  I remember “back in the day” when there was a big turmoil when some guy who made his money off dog-racing in Florida, made a major contribution to the Oral Roberts organization.  It was part of Roberts’ campaign to raise $8 million or God would call him home.  It’s possible there were a lot of abominations involved in that story.  These days, I’m not sure any church does due diligence on this matter.  We are too quick to put out the offering baskets for all who want to give or pay or whatever.

·       Deut. 24:4: For a man, who divorced his wife, for her to marry another, then have a second divorce, for the first husband to take her back as his wife.  This brings sin on the land, i.e. creates a bad situation for the society.  Interesting that divorce by itself was not an abomination.  The LORD knows our hard hearts, as Jesus said.

·       Deut. 25:16: You need to consider how far back in the passage this applies.  It is another statement about a variety of things that are abominations.  The immediate preceding issue is having differing weights in your bag, cheating people by putting your finger on the scales, etc (Prov. 11:1).  Before that is a wife who comes to the aid of her husband in a fight by grabbing the testicles of the other man in the fight.  Before that is refusing to carry out the marital duties of the older brother who dies.

·       2 Kings 23:13: On the issue of idolatry, this passage is strong.  They are not called “gods,” but are called “abominations.”

·       Ezra 9:1,11,14: Intermarriage with the heathen nations was an abomination in the time of Ezra.  Interesting this term was not applied to Solomon, although clearly it led to his connection with idolatry.  Ezra, after 70 years in Babylon, was willing to “call a spade a spade,” or better, to “call an abomination an abomination.”

Lev. 18:19-30, What is an abomination to the LORD? (1)

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
But the prayer of the upright is His delight.

The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
But He loves him who follows righteousness. (Prov. 15:8-9)

This is a study I should have done many years ago, in the process of developing a healthy “fear of the LORD.”  What is an abomination to Him?  This will not be an exhaustive word study because the Hebrew terms involved are too many.  The noun in these passages from Proverbs is used 118x in 112 verses (17x in Deut. and 22x in Proverbs).  The root word, a verb, occurs 22x in 20 verses.  Let’s first consider the first use of the verb because the verse includes both terms:

Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be doomed to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest it and utterly abhor it, for it is an accursed thing. (Deut. 7:26).

The abomination in this passage is an “idol,” which we know from v25:

You shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire; you shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it; for it is an abomination to the LORD your God.

We won’t quote all the verses, but this one helps us see the extent of “abhorring” necessary when something is an “abomination.”  “Don’t even coven the silver or gold that was put on these wooden carved images, lest you be snared by it.”  It’s not the metal but the possibility of being ensnared in the sin connected with it.

So now, for the most part, let’s just consider/meditate on the question: “What is an abomination to the LORD?”  And along the way, what is not an abomination?

·       Gen. 43:32: “Shepherds” were an abomination to the Egyptians, but not to God!  I.e. everything the world abhors is not necessarily to be abhorred by God’s people.

·       Lev. 18:22 (20:13): To “lie with a male as with a woman” is an abomination.  This is from today’s passage which deals with abominations that were part of the cultures of those who lived in the land before Israel.

·       Deut. 12:29-32: The way worshiped God is the issue here.  The previous nations in the land did abominable things, two of which are mentioned: inquiring of (dumb) idols and sacrificing your children to idols.  Israel’s approach to the “how” of worship was not to be: how did/does the world do it?

·       Deut. 14:3: Just so you know, Israel’s dietary laws involved “detestable” (i.e. abominable, same word) things.  I’m not spending time on this as Jesus dealt with the dietary laws in my view.

·       Deut. 17:1-4: Bringing an offering that was blemished to the LORD.  This was an issue in Malachi 1.  This dishonors God, of course.  Also, it denigrates the Lamb of God who would come to take away the sin of the world!!!

Matt. 4:18-22, You Need To Have Your Nets Mended

Let’s do a study of katartizō (verb, to perfect, mend, make perfect), a special term related to the maturing of believers.  The key to unlock the study is in Matt. 4:21: James and John were “mending” their nets.  They didn’t need new nets.  They only needed to mend the nets they had.  And why did they need mending?  Because they had been used in fishing.  The pressure of an amazing catch of fish might create larger spaces in the net whereby fish would fall out and never make it to the boat.  It means the nets were restored so that they could accomplish the purpose they were intended to fulfill.  Keep that in mind as you meditate on the other uses of this term.

·       Matt. 21:16: God has perfected (prepared) praise out of the mouths of babes.  An infant might not know exactly how best to praise the Savior, but God could fix their words, so to speak, to praise Him perfectly.

·       Lk. 6:40: Everyone who is perfect (prepared, fully trained) shall be as his teacher.

·       Rom. 9:22: God endured the vessels of wrath that were fitted for destruction.

·       1 Cor. 1:10: We need to be made complete in the same mind, judgment.

·       2 Cor. 13:11: In his farewell Paul says to be perfected.

·       Gal. 6:1: We are called to restore the fallen brother, in meekness.

·       1 Th. 3:10: Paul wanted to perfect what was lacking in their faith.

·       Heb. 10:5: Christ’s body was prepared as a sacrifice for sin. 

·       Heb. 11:3: By faith we understand worlds were framed by the word of God.

·       Heb. 13:21: Prayer: “May the God of peace make you perfect in all good works.”

·       1 Pt. 5:10: Prayer: “May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle (you).”  It appears that the last 3 terms tell us what is involved in the “mending:” make you stand, give you strength, give you a solid foundation.

·       katartisis (fem noun) 2 Cor. 13:9: Prayer: for their perfection.

·       katartismos (masc. noun) Eph. 4:12: Christ’s gifts to the church (apostles, prophets, etc.) given for the equipping of the saints.

Vincent: to adjust, “put it right.”  Vine: to make fit, equip, prepare.  Bruce: to equip, adjust.  Jesus called fishermen to become fishers of men.  As with their fishing for fish, so in fishing for men, we must give Him access to mend our nets.