G2749 κεῖμαι (keîmai)

Destined (appointed) (2749) (keimai) means literally to be in a recumbent position, to lie down, to be laid down. The root meaning refers to lying down or reclining and came to be used of an official appointment and sometimes of destiny. In the military keimai was used of a special assignment, such as guard duty or defense of a strategic position - the soldier was placed (set) on duty. Figuratively then, keimai means appointed (determined or decided upon) or destined as in this verse (and Lu 2:34 and Php 1:16-note where we see that Paul was divinely appointed for the defense of the gospel). Destined means intended or chosen for a particular purpose or end. The idea is that God “sets (lays down)” something for a particular purpose. In context this usage of keimai affirms God's sovereignty and ultimate control of all things. Note that destined is in the present tense which speaks of a continuing "appointment" (until we see Jesus face to face). The passive voice implies that God is the active agent (He certainly is the Agent in not destining believers for wrath in 1Thessalonians 5:9). Paul is not referring to the pagan idea of an impersonal fate nor to the Islamic idea of determinism. As discussed above, afflictions are the norm for believers in a fallen world. In 1Thessalonians 3:3, Paul is using keimai figuratively to say in essence that appointments with trouble are already on our Day-timers®. He tells the believers at Thessalonica that he had told them this would happen. It’s part of God's program. Believers are to expect troubles and difficulties because they "are appointed to this." The encouragement and comfort of a fellow Christian (like Timothy's visit to the Thessalonians) during such trials can be an especially welcome source of strength to one's faith (strengthen and encourage - in preceding verse). Vincent writes that keimai means... primarily to be laid, and so to lie: hence to be set forth or promulgated, as the law is said to be laid down, and so, appointed or destined Friberg adds that keimai... literally, spatially and predominately as the result of being placed or set (means to) (a) lie in or on something (Lk 2:12); (b) of things being situated somewhere - stand, set (Mt 5:14); (c) of storage of goods - be laid up, be in store (Lk 12:19); (2) figuratively; (a) of persons - be appointed, be set, be destined (Lk 2:34): (b) as a legal technical term - be laid down, exist, be valid (1Ti 1:9); (c) as being in a certain state or condition be, find oneself (in), lie (in the power of) (1John 5:19) (Friberg, T., Friberg, B., & Miller, N. F. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament. Baker Academic) Jesus Himself had prophesied about Paul's coming afflictions (plural) declaring that... he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel for I will show him how much he must suffer (why is he to suffer? read on...) for My name's sake. (Acts 9:15, 16) AW Tozer was right when he said, Before God can use a person greatly, He must allow that person to be hurt deeply. God is not being cruel, but He knows that we cannot comfort others unless we have been comforted ourselves. So beloved, no matter what you might be experiencing you must remember the truth about God, that He is "the Father of mercies and God of all comfort who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 2Cor 1:3, 4 Luke records that suffering is the destiny of all believers... And after they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening (episterizo - derived from sterizo) the souls (their innermost being, that vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing) of the disciples, encouraging (parakaleo) them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations (plural of thlipsis) we must enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:21,22) Comment: Observe how strengthening and encouraging saints going through spiritual battles is part of the SOP, standard operating procedure, for God's soldiers who would care of Christ's disciples. Note how Paul had sent Timothy to the Thessalonians prescribing this identical "antidote" for their afflictions in 1Thessalonians 3:2. We need to do likewise when we hear of a brother or sister in experiencing afflictions. Keimai is used 7 times in the Septuagint (LXX) (Joshua 4:6; 2Sa 13:32; Ezra 6:1; Esther 3:13; Isa. 9:4; 30:33; Jer. 24:1) and 24 times in the NT... Matthew 3:10 "And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Matthew 5:14 (note) "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." (Comment: Keimai means to be in a place frequently in sense of `being contained in' or `resting on' as in the present context of a city set on a hill) Matthew 28:6 "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. Luke 2:12 "And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger."..16 And they came in haste and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger...34 And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is appointed (set, destined) for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed-- Luke 3:9 "And also the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." Luke 12:19 'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."' Luke 23:53 And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain. John 2:6 Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. John 19:29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop, and brought it up to His mouth. John 20:5 and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. 6 Simon Peter therefore also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he beheld the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the face-cloth, which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself....12 and she beheld two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. John 21:9 And so when they got out upon the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid, and fish placed on it, and bread. 1 Corinthians 3:11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; Philippians 1:16 (note) the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed (I am put here or set here) for the defense of the gospel; 1Thessalonians 3:3 (note) so that no man may be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this (this is to be our lot). 1 Timothy 1:9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers 1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. (Vincent writes that in this verse keimai "is stronger than [esti] is, indicating the passive, unprogressive state in the sphere of Satan’s influence. “While we are, from God, implying a birth and a proceeding forth, and a change of state, the kosmos the world, all the rest of mankind, remains in the hand of the evil one” [Alford]) Revelation 4:2 (note) Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. Revelation 21:16 (note) And the city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. Richison sums up this section reminding all believers that... God ordains us to affliction. When people become Christians, they receive a new kind of trouble. Affliction is God’s appointment for us. God places affliction strategically in our lives for our personal growth. This is God’s destiny for us that comes by His divine design. Affliction is God’s appointment for us. Trial is no accident. We can clearly see the folly of trying to evade persecutions. This was the appointed path of the Thessalonians. The word “appointed” here does not refer to past eternity but to present time. The Christian life being what it is and the godless world being what it is, makes afflictions and persecution certain. God says, “I have an appointment for you with affliction.” We make appointments regularly. This is an appointment that I would prefer not to keep!...Affliction is in the plan and will of God for the believer. Some of us might say, “What did I ever do to deserve this pain in my life. What did I do wrong?” It may be that you did not do anything wrong. This is just one of the by—products of being the child of the King. You say, “I don’t like these side—effects of Christianity.” A disciple is someone under discipline. God appoints trial into our lives so that we will become more disciplined in the things of God. (Ref) ><> ><> ><> In Our Daily Homily, F B Meyer writes the following note on 1Thessalonians 3:3... WE all love the sunshine, but the Arabs have a proverb that "all sunshine makes the desert"; and it is a matter for common observation that the graces of Christian living are more often apparent in the case of those who have passed through great tribulation. God desires to get as rich crops as possible from the soil of our natures· There are certain plants of the Christian life, such as meekness, gentleness, kindness, humility, which cannot come to perfection if the sun of prosperity always shines. We often shrank from the lessons set us at school, and looked out of the windows, longing for the hour of release. But now how thankful we are for the tutors and governors, appointed by our parents, who kept us steadily at our tasks. We feel almost kindly to the schoolmaster or mistress that we dreaded. And, similarly, one day we shall be glad for those hard lessons acquired from the horn-book of pain. "We have had fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, who chastens for our profit, and live?" The tears of those who suffer according to the will of God are spiritual lenses and windows of agate. As the weights of the clock or the ballast in the vessel are necessary for their right ordering, so is trouble in the soul-life. The sweetest scents are only obtained by tremendous pressure; the fairest flowers grow amid Alpine snow-solitudes; the rarest gems have suffered longest from the lapidary's wheel; the noblest statues have borne most blows of the chisel. All, however, is under law. Nothing happens that has not been appointed with consummate care and foresight.