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Discussion Forum : General Topics : Fruitfulness through grasping and enduring

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makrothumia
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Joined: 2005/5/19
Posts: 724
Texas

 Fruitfulness through grasping and enduring

Luke's account of the Parable of the Sower had to come to him through believers who had heard it first hand or had been taught its meaning. Consequently, his account of the parable contains words unique to his own understanding.

Luke understood the good soil to represent a "noble and good heart". He also interjected the words κατέχουσιν - "to hold fast" and υπομονή - "endurance" because he perceived that these were key elements necessary to understand the reason for bearing fruit. His account reflects the general understanding that the early church had formed regarding this parable.

It is worth noting that Luke accompanied Paul and would have had many opportunities to hear Paul teach on the hearing and obedience of faith. Luke's experience with Paul and the understanding he developed are key reasons for his choice of words.


Luke wanted to insure that the readers of his carefully investigated gospel account would realize that "fully grasping" the word and "endurance" in that word are dynamic components in the process of bearing fruit.

Luke also grasped the importance of the illustration our Lord gave to the disciples to clarify His answer to their initial question. The illustration clarifies this answer - "It has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to them it has not been given."

Without the accompanying illustration, the disciples may have misunderstood our Lord's answer. Do you remember the illustration? Those who related the parable to Luke remembered it and faithfully related it to Luke.


The illustration is - "No one lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel or puts it underneath a bed, but places it upon a stand that those entering may see the light. For nothing is hidden that shall not become manifest nor concealed that shall not become known and should come into the open. Watch carefully therefore how you hear, for whoever has shall be given more and whoever does not have, even what he thinks to have shall be taken from him."

Luke grasped the significance of κατέχουσιν - "to take hold of" and this in all likelihood because he had traveled with Paul and heard the apostle stress this whenever he taught.

One example of this, seen from Paul's writing, - "Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast (κατέχουσιν) that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain."

Whether we believe that "holding fast" the word is a result proving our unconditional election or a requirement for obtaining salvation through the hearing of faith, we can be certain that the writers of the New Testament understood the spiritual dynamic of holding fast the word and endurance in that word.

Whether result or requirement - no fruit will be born without the dynamic of holding fast the word and enduring in it.

mak












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