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Text Sermons : Greek Word Studies : Adequate (739) artios

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Adequate (739) (artios from root ar- which indicates appropriateness, suitability, usefulness, aptitude) means to be fit, complete, qualified for a function, sufficient, completely qualified and thus proficient in the sense of being able to meet all demands and to perform some function. Artios has reference to special aptitude for given uses. The man of God who is taught, reproved, corrected and trained by the Word of God is capable of doing everything he (or she) is called to do (cf. notes on Colossians 2:10).

NIDNTT notes that...

artios and its derivatives come from the root ar- which indicates appropriateness, suitability, usefulness, aptitude (cf. artyo, to arrange, season; artyno, to put in order; Lat. aptare, adaptare, congruere). Artios accordingly means suitable, appropriate, fitting a situation or requirements; hence also respectively, normal, perfect, sound in physical, intellectual, moral and religious respects. In mathematics it is used to describe what is straight and to denote even numbers (as opposed to perissos, odd numbers).

Of particular importance are those passages in which artios and its derivatives are used in connexion with the preparation and equipment of the believer and the church, for the service of God and their fellow-men. The adj. artios occurs only at 2Ti 3:17, together with the perfect pass. participle exertismenos. In the OT scriptures the church of the New Testament has an indispensable, God-given guide to living, through which the man of God may achieve an appropriate state, viz. be equipped for every work of love: “so that the man who belongs to God may be efficient and equipped for good work of every kind” (NEB). Artios here does not imply perfection, as was originally thought, doubtless because of the variant reading teleios, perfect, in Codex D. Rather it refers to the state of being equipped for a delegated task... The terms artios and katartismos thus have not so much a qualitative meaning as a functional one. (Brown, Colin, Editor. New International Dictionary of NT Theology. 1986. Zondervan)

The TDNT adds that artios in secular Greek meant

Elsewhere it means a. “suitable” or “adapted” for something; b. “right,” “faultless,” “normal,” “meeting demands" c. “evenness” in mathematics"...At 2Ti 3:17 artios is used in sense b. to denote what is right or proper, and more particularly what is becoming to a Christian, obviously with a moral accent, as shown by what follows. At 2Ti 3:17 exartizo means to bring to a suitable state for Christian moral action. It is used in Acts 21:5 in the secular sense of “to end as prescribed. (Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Eerdmans)

Vincent adds that artios speaks of

a mutual, symmetrical adjustment of all that goes to make a man: a harmonious combination of different qualities and powers

Artios properly signifies an integer or whole number in arithmetic, to which nothing needs to be added to make it complete. This word describes those persons who are complete, capable and proficient in everything they are called to be or do. When you're packing to go on a trip you have everything you need for the journey and you're ready to go! You are ready for the WORK of God once you have been trained by WORD of God!

Trench adds that...

If we ask ourselves under what special aspects completeness is contemplated in artios, it would be safe to answer that it is not as the presence only of all the parts which are necessary for that completeness, but involves further the adaptation and aptitude of these parts for the ends which they were designed to serve. The man of God, St. Paul would say (2Ti 3:17), should be furnished and accomplished with all which is necessary for the carrying out of the work to which he is appointed. (Trench, R. C. Synonyms of the New Testament. Hendrickson Publishers. 2000)

Theological Lexicon of the New Testament...

The biblical hapax (single use) of artios, rather rare in the Koine Greek and unknown in the papyri, literally means “adapted” or “well equipped, in proportion, fitting together perfectly.” It is also used for intact faculties as well as for speech that is appropriate for a given situation. In medicine, artios is used for the newborn whose whole body is well put-together and for vertebrae that are well aligned. Ambidextrous athletes have equal force and aptitude to strike with each arm (Philostratus, Gym. 41). This adjective is also known to signify “even” (Epictetus 1.28.3); as Philo comments, “four is a number that is even, complete, full.” The ensemble of external goods, body, and soul constitutes “a good that is balanced and truly complete” (Philo, Worse Attacks Better 7; cf. Marcus Aurelius 1.16.31: artion kai aēttēton psychēn). So artios in 2Ti 3:17 means that the minister of the gospel has “all that is necessary,” an adequate equipping, after digesting the word of God—as the end of the verse makes clear. (Spicq, C., & Ernest, J. D. 1994. Theological lexicon of the New Testament Volume 2:18. Peabody, MA.: Hendrickson.)

Comment: Note that Spicq says the man of God is adequately equipped "after digesting the Word of God." Don't read over that statement too quickly! What is the verb Spicq uses? Is it "reads" the Word? No, it's digests the Word. What a great word picture for Webster says to digest means to " to convert (food) into absorbable form; to take into the mind or memory; especially : to assimilate mentally." Beloved, this begs the question applicable to all of us -- am I truly eating the Word or am I just snacking on it? Am I really "chewing" the Word (meditation) that I might be able to absorb (spiritually) the Word, so that the Holy Spirit might be enabled to use to to renew my mind, change my thinking, empower my decisions and choice, etc? Now take a moment and ponder Jesus' words in Mt 4:4.

How is it that the godly man or woman can be made full adequate and equipped? One answer is seen in 2Pe 1:3 - Do you really believe this statement by Peter? Even more practical -- does your life show it... in the time you devote to devouring the Word of Truth, the Word of Life?... in your Spirit controlled/empowered obedience to the Word?

EQUIPPED: exertismenos (RPPMSN): (2Ti 2:21; Neh 2:18; Acts 9:36; 2Cor 9:8; Ep 2:10; Titus 2:14; 3:1; Heb 10:24)

Other translations - furnished completely (ASV), trained and made ready (BBE), fully fitted (Darby), completely prepared (GWT), thoroughly furnished (KJV), perfectly equipped (WNT), thoroughly equipped (ISV), well fitted and thoroughly equipped (Amp).





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