Exploring the invitation to Follow Jesus - taking steps to ‘Exercise discernment’
General Introduction
In this series we are building what we will refer to as the ‘One Page New Testament’ - #onepagenewtestament. Our approach is building a pictorial summary of the main messages for disciples of Jesus in a systematically derived, structured form. We aim to keep the descriptive text to a minimum and share with you the different Themes that are being created. We will consider the scriptures on their own merit, Theme by Theme, without introducing much in the way of theology. Within each Theme, we will let the scriptures speak for themselves - hopefully in a way that demonstrates the validity of the analysis.
Introduction to this Faith Article
This article is the eighteenth in a series that is unpacking some of the analysis work currently being undertaken to draw out the main teachings from the New Testament from a personal discipleship perspective. The previous articles can be found in the reference at Note [1] and they focus upon the New Testament’s teaching that corresponds to the challenges of what we have so far called ‘Kingdom Fundamental 1 [KF1]’ - ‘Love God’, and ‘Kingdom Fundamental 2 [KF2]’ - ‘Follow Jesus’.
We have previously introduced that we consider there are four Kingdom Practices under the invitation to Follow Jesus [KF2]:
Submit to Jesus’ Lordship - [KP3] (explored previously in Systematic Discipleship Parts 3 to 9)
Pursue Holiness - [KP4]
Live out kingdom values - [KP5]
Exercise discernment - [KP6].
In the previous article (Systematic Discipleship - Part 17) we were exploring the second part of the Kingdom Practice to ‘Live out kingdom values’ - [KP5]. In particular, we looked at - Kingdom Action 21 - which we have defined to be ‘Control our actions / behaviours’. In this article we are exploring Jesus’ and other New Testament teaching around what we have called ‘Exercise discernment - [KP6]. These elements are shown in light blue (encouragements) and pink (warnings) in Figure 1.
If readers take away nothing else from these articles than the sense, logic, and directive actions in the Figures - for disciples to put into practice in the strength God gives - we will hopefully have achieved our initial objective.
Figure 1 - Investigating the Kingdom Practice to ‘Exercise discernment’ - [KP6]
Kingdom Practice 6 - Exercise Discernment
In drawing together the teaching around discernment our analysis has drawn out five Kingdom Actions that sit within this as follows:
Put on the full armour of God - [KA22]
Beware false teachers / false prophets / false teaching - [KA23]
Avoid / beware of evil / wickedness / temptation - [KA24]
Engage in spiritual warfare (as soldiers of Christ) - [KA25]
Do not practice sorcery / magic / witchcraft - [KA26].
The first two of these are explored in the following Sections.
Kingdom Action 22 - Put on the full armour of God
We have identified 9 Greek words [2] and [3] that relate to wearing the armour of God. Verses where they appear include the following:
Romans 13:12 - The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor (Strong’s 3696) of light [4].
2 Corinthians 10:4 - The weapons (3696) we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
Ephesians 6:11-17 - Put on (1746) the full armor (3833) of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor (3833) of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate (2382) of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield (2375) of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet (4030) of salvation and the sword (3162) of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
1 Thessalonians 5:8 - But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate (2382), and the hope of salvation as a helmet (4030).
There are 16 verses where these Greek words are relevant to this Theme.
Kingdom Action 23 - Beware false teachers / false prophets / false teaching
We have defined four sub-Themes that fit under this topic as follows
Beware of false teachers / false prophets / imposters / deceivers [KA23.1]
Discern between false teaching (error) and the Truth [KA23.2]
Beware of human traditions [KA23.3]
Avoid Godless myths / discussions [KA23.4].
These are discussed in the sub-sections below.
Kingdom Action 23.1 - Beware of false teachers / false prophets / imposters / deceivers
There have identified 52 specific Greek words that are relevant to this topic. Examples where some of these Greek words appear are shown here:
Matthew 7:15 - Watch out (4337) for false prophets (5578). They come (2064) to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly (2081) they are ferocious wolves (3074).
Matthew 21:23 - Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching (1321), the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”
Mark 13:22 - for false christs and false prophets (5578) will arise, and will provide signs and wonders, in order to mislead (635), if possible, the elect (NASB).
2 Corinthians 11:15 - It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness (1343). Their end will be what their actions deserve.
Philippians 3:2 - Beware (991) of dogs (2965), beware (991) of evil workers, beware (991) of the mutilation (NKJV)!
2 Timothy 4:3 - For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers (1320) to say what their itching ears want to hear.
2 John 1:7 - I say this because many deceivers (4108), who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver (4108) and the antichrist.
2 John 1:10 - If anyone comes (2064) to you and does not bring this teaching (1322), do not take them into your house or welcome them.
We have identified more than 220 verse instances where these Greek words appear that support this Theme.
Kingdom Action 23.2 - Discern between false teaching (error) and the Truth
We have identified 20 Greek words of relevance to the context of false teaching. Here are some of those verses:
Matthew 15:9 - And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines (1319) the commandments of men (NKJV).
Matthew 16:12 - Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching (1322) of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Matthew 24:4 - Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives (4105) you.”
2 Corinthians 11:4 - For if someone comes to you and preaches (2784) a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached (2784), or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
Ephesians 4:14 - Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful (4106) scheming (3180).
1 Timothy 6:3 - If anyone advocates a different doctrine (2085) and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine (1319) conforming to godliness (NASB).
1 Timothy 6:11 - But you, man of God, flee (5343) from all this [False teachers and the love of money], and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
James 3:15 - Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic (1141).
2 Peter 2:2 - Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way (3598) of truth into disrepute.
2 Peter 2:15 - They have left the straight way (3598) and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness.
There are some 60 verses where these Greek words related to this need for discernment.
Kingdom Action 23.3 - Beware of human traditions
Using references [2] and [3] we have identified and considered 8 relevant Greek words. Example verses are:
Matthew 15:2 - “Why do your disciples break the tradition (3862) of the elders (4245)? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”
Matthew 15:9 - “They worship me in vain; their teachings (1321) are merely human rules.”
Mark 7:8 - “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding (2902) on to human traditions (3862).”
Ephesians 4:14 - so that we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine (1319), by the trickery (2940) of men, by craftiness in deceitful (4106) scheming (3180) (LSB).
Colossians 2:8 - See to it that no one takes you captive (4812) through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
Colossians 2:22 - These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings (1319).
Titus 1:14 - and will pay no attention (4337) to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth.
1 Peter 1:18 - knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers (3970) (NKJV).
We have identified 29 verse instances where the words we have considered have a link with this sub-Theme.
Kingdom Action 23.4 - Avoid Godless myths / discussions
There are 5 Greek words we have considered in the context of godless myths and related words. Some verses where these appear include:
1 Timothy 1:4 - or to devote themselves to myths (3454) and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith.
1 Timothy 4:7 - Have nothing to do with godless (952) myths (3454) and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
1 Timothy 6:20 - Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter (2757) and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge.
2 Timothy 2:16 - Avoid (4026) godless (952) chatter (2757), because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
2 Timothy 2:23 - But refuse (3868) foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels (NASB).
2 Timothy 4:4 - They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside (1624) to myths.
There are 17 verse instances where the words we have considered appear which link to this topic.
Kingdom Action 24 - Avoid / beware of evil / wickedness / temptation
There are 25 Greek words that relate to this Theme, and we present some relevant verses where they appear below:
Romans 12:2 - Do not conform to the pattern of this world (165), but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:17 - Do not repay anyone evil (2556) for evil (2556). Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
1 Corinthians 2:15 - But he who is spiritual (4152) judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one (NKJV).
1 Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation (3986) has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted (3985) beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Corinthians 14:20 - Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil (2549) be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
1 Timothy 5:15 - for some have already turned aside after Satan (4567) (LSB).
1 Timothy 6:11 - But you, man of God, flee (5343) from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 - Abstain (568) from every form of evil (4190) (NKJV).
2 Peter 3:17 - Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard (5442) so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (93).
In total there are 171 verse instances that support this Theme where these words appear.
Summary
In this eighteenth Faith Article, we have explored some of the Greek words and idioms (presented in Louw and Nida’s [2] and Mounce’s [3] reference materials), that we grouped under the heading of ‘Exercise discernment’ - [KP6]. We have set out verses that relate to the need to ‘Put on the full armour of God’ - [KA22], to ‘Beware false teachers / false prophets / false teaching’ - [KA23], and ‘Avoid / beware of evil / wickedness / temptation’ - [KA24].
In the next article we will move forward to consider the other components of our work under the ‘Exercise discernment’ - [KP6].
Just as with many English words, Greek words can have more than one meaning and consequently when translated into Biblical texts can be used to convey several different sentiments. Which is used is dependent upon the context.
Ultimately, this analysis and these groupings are subjective, as will be the inclusion (or exclusion) of many verses within each Theme and sub-Theme. We should note that some verses have a much stronger relevance to the derived Themes than others.
During this analysis, the aim has been to restrict the number of Themes that can be associated with any specific Greek word to eight or less - as any more implies poor analysis technique and the wrong heading choice / naming process.
In the next Faith Article, we shall look at the rest of KP6 (Exercise discernment), by considering KP25 (Engage in spiritual warfare (as soldiers of Christ)) and KP26 (Do not practise sorcery / magic / witchcraft). As ever, the aim will be to try and make it informative, but manageable, in terms of the time and effort needed to look at and understand each area.
Any thoughts on this Article, the process being undertaken, and related constructive feedback are welcome.
Notes:
[1] - All previous Faith Articles focusing on the One Page New Testament can be found at this page: www.teachthemtoobey.co.uk/blog/
[2] - “Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, based upon Semantic Domains” Volumes 1 and 2 - Louw and Nida - Published by and © United Bible Societies - 1988
[3] - “Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words” - © William D Mounce, 2006 - Published by Zondervan
[4] - Unless otherwise stated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.TM used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.TM.
The Bible references presented are illustrative rather than aiming to be ‘proof texts’. They are examples only as there are, generally, many more we could look at. Please note that when looking at any Bible verse references, you should ideally consider more than one translation / respected version to get a more rounded view, and look at the wider context for each verse too. When Greek words are translated, Bible scholars do not always use the same English word every time it appears in the Greek. This is why it is useful to look at more than one Bible version.
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