This is Greek week here at Ironstrikes. This week we will be looking at the Fruit of the Spirit. How does an understanding of this Fruit improve when we examine how the Greek words are explained? Hopefully, you will come to a deeper and more informed understanding this week.
The word "goodness" is the Greek word agathusune, which come from the word agathos, meaning good. But when agathos becomes the word agathusune, it means goodness in the sense of being good to someone. This word was used to portray a person who is generous, big-hearted, liberal, and charitable with his finances. We would call this person a giver.
The words "doing good" are from the word euergeteo, which is an old word that denoted a benefactor, a philanthropist, or one who financially supported charitable works. This word would only be used to to describe a person who possessed great financial substance and who used it to assist those who were less fortunate.
So, when the Bible tells us that one of the Fruit of the Spirit is "goodness," God is letting us know that He wants us to be selfless, using our resources to help change people's living conditions for the better. When the Spirit is working mightily in us, He shifts our focus from ourselves to the needs of those who are around us.
Thus, the Fruit of the Spirit called "goodness" is that supernatural urge in a person to reach beyond himself to meet the natural needs of those around him. When a believer is walking in the Spirit, his eyes are supernaturally opened to see the needs of humanity, and his heart is moved to meet those needs. This is why there is no greater benefactor or philanthropist than a person who is filled with the Spirit and who is producing the Fruit of the Spirit in his or her life!
The word "faith" is the Greed word pistis, which is the common New Testament word for faith. However, in Galatians 5:22, it conveys the idea of a person who is faithful, reliable, loyal, and steadfast. It pictures a person who is devoted, trustworthy dependable, dedicated, constant, and unwavering.
This unchanging, constant, stable, unwavering behavior is the nature of God Himself. Hence, when God is working in our lives, He makes us faithful and steadfast, just like Him. God is faithful; therefore, we should expect faithfulness to grow in our lives as one of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Does the Holy Spirit have enough freedom to produce "goodness" and "faithfulness" in your life today? Are you selfish and self-seeking, consuming every spare dollar on yourself and never showing concern for the needs of this around you?
Do others know you as as someone who is unstable, undependable, and unreliable? If the answer is yes to either of these latter questions, doesn't this indicate that you aren't allowing the Holy Spirit to do His work in you? If He truly had the freedom to operate in your life, the Fruit of the "goodness" and "faithfulness" would be evident in you.
Don't you agree?
Stay tuned for more description of the fruit of the Spirit this week, Greek week, here on Ironstrikes.
This post was adapted from the writings of Rick Renner as found in his book: Sparkling Gems from the Greek
The word "goodness" is the Greek word agathusune, which come from the word agathos, meaning good. But when agathos becomes the word agathusune, it means goodness in the sense of being good to someone. This word was used to portray a person who is generous, big-hearted, liberal, and charitable with his finances. We would call this person a giver.
The words "doing good" are from the word euergeteo, which is an old word that denoted a benefactor, a philanthropist, or one who financially supported charitable works. This word would only be used to to describe a person who possessed great financial substance and who used it to assist those who were less fortunate.
So, when the Bible tells us that one of the Fruit of the Spirit is "goodness," God is letting us know that He wants us to be selfless, using our resources to help change people's living conditions for the better. When the Spirit is working mightily in us, He shifts our focus from ourselves to the needs of those who are around us.
Thus, the Fruit of the Spirit called "goodness" is that supernatural urge in a person to reach beyond himself to meet the natural needs of those around him. When a believer is walking in the Spirit, his eyes are supernaturally opened to see the needs of humanity, and his heart is moved to meet those needs. This is why there is no greater benefactor or philanthropist than a person who is filled with the Spirit and who is producing the Fruit of the Spirit in his or her life!
The word "faith" is the Greed word pistis, which is the common New Testament word for faith. However, in Galatians 5:22, it conveys the idea of a person who is faithful, reliable, loyal, and steadfast. It pictures a person who is devoted, trustworthy dependable, dedicated, constant, and unwavering.
This unchanging, constant, stable, unwavering behavior is the nature of God Himself. Hence, when God is working in our lives, He makes us faithful and steadfast, just like Him. God is faithful; therefore, we should expect faithfulness to grow in our lives as one of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Does the Holy Spirit have enough freedom to produce "goodness" and "faithfulness" in your life today? Are you selfish and self-seeking, consuming every spare dollar on yourself and never showing concern for the needs of this around you?
Do others know you as as someone who is unstable, undependable, and unreliable? If the answer is yes to either of these latter questions, doesn't this indicate that you aren't allowing the Holy Spirit to do His work in you? If He truly had the freedom to operate in your life, the Fruit of the "goodness" and "faithfulness" would be evident in you.
Don't you agree?
Stay tuned for more description of the fruit of the Spirit this week, Greek week, here on Ironstrikes.
This post was adapted from the writings of Rick Renner as found in his book: Sparkling Gems from the Greek
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