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Text Sermons : Greek Word Studies : Acceptance (594) apodoche

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Acceptance (594) (apodoche from apodéchomai = take fully, welcome) defines that which receives a favorable reception and includes a sense of approval and appreciation. The idea is "to come to believe something to be true and to respond accordingly, with some emphasis upon the source." (Louw & Nida)

Here is the only other Scriptural use (none in the Septuagint) of apodoche...

1Ti 1:15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

TDNT comments that...

In the NT two sayings which sum up the gospel are said to be sure and worthy of full acceptance or approval, namely, that Christ came into the world to save sinners (1Ti 1:15), and that godliness has promise both for this life and for the life to come, since it builds on the living God and Savior (1Ti 4:8ff.).

Every saint should meditate on this trustworthy statement which promises that a "daily investment" (of your time) in exercising yourself for godliness (whatever the cost in self-discipline and self-denial, both of course enabled by the Spirit, not the flesh, for the latter leads to legalism not freedom!) will yield profits not only in the present but for all eternity!

Jim Elliot the martyred missionary said it best...

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

Spurgeon has a devotional comment on Paul's "trustworthy statements"...

Paul has four of these “faithful sayings.” The first occurs in 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” The next is in 1 Timothy 4:8, “Godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation.” The third is in 2 Timothy 2:12, “It is a faithful saying—If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him”; and the fourth is in Titus 3:8, “This is a faithful saying, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.”

We may trace a connection between these faithful sayings.

The first one lays the foundation of our eternal salvation in the free grace of God, as shown to us in the mission of the great Redeemer.

The next affirms the double blessedness which we obtain through this salvation—the blessings of the upper and nether springs—of time and of eternity.

The third shows one of the duties to which the chosen people are called; we are ordained to suffer for Christ with the promise that “if we suffer, we shall also reign with him.”

The last sets forth the active form of Christian service, bidding us diligently to maintain good works.

Thus we have the root of salvation in free grace; next, the privileges of that salvation in the life which now is, and in that which is to come; and we have also the two great branches of suffering with Christ and serving with Christ, loaded with the fruits of the Spirit. Treasure up these faithful sayings. Let them be the guides of our life, our comfort, and our instruction. The apostle of the Gentiles proved them to be faithful, they are faithful still, not one word shall fall to the ground; they are worthy of all acceptation, let us accept them now, and prove their faithfulness. Let these four faithful sayings be written on the four corners of my house. (Morning and evening : Daily readings October 27 AM).


1Timothy 4:10: For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. (NASB: Lockman)

Greek: eis touto gar kopiomen (1PPAI) kai agonizometha, (1PPMI) hoti elpikamen (1PRAI) epi theo zonti, (PAPMSD) os estin (3SPAI) soter panton anthropon, malista piston.
Amplified: With a view to this we toil and strive, [yes and] suffer reproach, because we have [fixed our] hope on the living God, Who is the Savior (Preserver, Maintainer, Deliverer) of all men, especially of those who believe (trust in, rely on, and adhere to Him). (Amplified Bible - Lockman)
NLT: We work hard and suffer much in order that people will believe the truth, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and particularly of those who believe. (NLT - Tyndale House)
Phillips: It is because we realise the paramount importance of the spiritual that we labour and struggle. We place our whole confidence in the living God, the Saviour of all men, and particularly of those who believe in him. (Phillips: Touchstone)
Wuest: for with a view to this we are laboring to the point of exhaustion; yes, we are putting forth great efforts against opposition, because we have set our hope permanently upon the living God who is the Saviour of all men, especially of believers. (Eerdmans)
Young's Literal: for this we both labour and are reproached, because we hope on the living God, who is Saviour of all men -- especially of those believing.

FOR IT IS FOR THIS WE LABOR AND STRIVE: eis touto gar kopiomen (1PPAI) kai agonizometha, (1PPMI): (1Corinthians 4:9, 10, 11, 12, 13; 2Corinthians 4:8, 9, 10; 6:3-10; 11:23, 24, 25, 26, 27; 2Timothy 2:9,10; 3:10, 11, 12; Hebrews 11:26; 13:13; 1Peter 4:14,15)

WHY LABOR
AND STRIVE?

Note that KJV has "suffer reproach" in place of "strive" because a different Greek verb is used in the Textus Receptus, the manuscript from which the KJV is translated. The Nestle-Aland which is the source of the NAS and NIV has agonizomai and is accepted by most scholars as the more reliable manuscript.

For is a term of explanation and is always a profitable place to pause and ponder the passage by interrogating the text with the 5W/H'S in context. You will be amazed and excited at the insights your Teacher, the Spirit (Spirit as Teacher/Helper/Comforter- Jn 14:16 Jn 14:26 Jn 15:26 Jn 16:7 1Jn 2:20, 2:27), will illuminate as you stop and in effect meditate on the living and active Word! And if all you did was interrogate every "for" you encountered, you would end up with a treasure trove of truth, for (See! There's another "for"!) there are more than 7000 occurrences of "for" in the Bible! However, keep in mind that not every use of "for" is as a term of explanation, but most of the occurrences at the beginning of a verse are used to explain some truth, the study of which can be quite fruitful! As an aside, if you study Scripture on the computer, it is advantageous to select the verse mode rather than the paragraph mode, as the former makes it very easy to quick identify the potentially enlightening uses of "for."

For it is for this - Wuest renders it "for with a view to this". The question a view toward what? Why do we labor and strive? It is so that the promise (in this present life and throughout eternity) which godliness holds forth may actually be fulfilled in us (1Ti 4:8-note). This prize and goal provides motivation for dedication to discipline ourselves for godliness.

Note that Paul now joins Timothy using the first person plural "we labor...we strive". Note also that he chooses two very strong Greek verbs to convey the import and the challenge inherent in spiritual exercising. He is saying that spiritual exercise is not easy, no matter who you are. Spiritual discipline calls for intense toil and agonizing effort. Believers who desire to excel in godliness must really work at it, by the grace of God and the Spirit of God for the glory of God.





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