Set apart (873) (aphorizo from apó = off from, apart + horÃzo = mark out the limit) means to mark off the boundaries, to appoint, set one apart for some purpose. It is used of the final separation of the righteous from the wicked (Mt 13:49; 25:32); of the separation of the disciples from the world (Lk 6:22); and of the setting apart of apostles to special functions (Acts 13:2). Aphorizo - 10x in 10v -Mt. 13:49; 25:32; Lk 6:22; Acts 13:2; 19:9; Ro 1:1; 2Co. 6:17; Gal. 1:15; 2:12). NAS is translated: hold...aloof, 1; ostracize, 1; separate, 2; separates, 1; set apart, 2; set...apart, 1; take, 1; took away, 1. Set apart is in the perfect tense which speaks of a past completed action having present results, thus Wuest says that Paul was "permanently separated to God's good news." Are you? Am I? Good questions to ponder beloved. Aphorizo is used 63 times in the Septuagint (Lxx = Greek translation of Hebrew OT) Throughout the OT, God provided for the setting apart of His chosen people. To the entire nation He declared, Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy; and I have set you apart (Lxx = aphorizo) from the peoples to be Mine." (Lev 20:26). In the OT aphorizo (and the related word group) is used of setting apart to God the firstborn, of offering to God first fruits, of consecrating to God the Levites, and of separating Israel to God from other peoples. The basic instruction was that there was to be no intermingling of the chosen people with the Gentile nations or of the sacred with the profane and ordinary. Luke uses this verb in the sense of excommunication (synagogue, etc) quoting Jesus Who declared Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize (exclude, ban) you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man." (Lk 6:22) The Aramaic term Pharisee may share a common root with aphorizo and carries the same idea of separation. The Pharisees, however, were not set apart by God or according to God’s standards but had rather set themselves apart according to the standards of their own traditions (cf. Mt 23:1, 2). Paul by his own testimony was as to the Law a Pharisee (Php 3:5-note), "one separated" to the law, but after the dramatic Damascus Road encounter he became eternally separated unto the Gospel of His Lord. In the past, God had set (Paul) apart (aphorizo), even from (his) mother's womb (before he was born) and called (him) through His grace (Gal 1:15) Paul once the most ardent of the self-appointed Pharisees, was now set apart divinely, not humanly. God revealed to him that he had been set apart by God’s grace even from his mother’s womb. As A T Robertson put it The Pharisees were the separatists who held themselves off from others. Paul conceives himself as a spiritual Pharisee “separated unto the gospel of God ” (Word Pictures in the New Testament) When God "was pleased to reveal His Son in" Paul, he was forever dedicated fully to the ministry of God's gospel (1Cor 9:23). Shortly thereafter while the leaders of the church at Antioch "were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart (aphorizo) for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them" (Acts 13:2) This setting apart by the Holy Spirit's declaration resulted in Paul's "First Missionary Journey. In sum, setting apart indicates the separating of an individual for specific service. Paul admonishes the Corinthians to COME OUT (aorist imperative) FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE (aphorizo - aorist imperative)," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH (present imperative - with a negative = stop touching what is unclean) WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you." (2Co 6:17) C. I. Scofield summarizes this idea of being set apart by God writing that Separation...is...from whatever is contrary to the mind of God and unto God Himself. The underlying principle is that in a moral universe it is impossible for God fully to bless and use His children who are in compromise or complicity with evil. Separation from evil implies separation in desire, motive, and act, from the world...Separation is not from contact with evil... but from complicity with and conformity to it. And the reward of separation is the full manifestation of the divine fatherhood (2Co 6:17,18) unhindered communion and worship and fruitful service (2Ti 2:21-note) as world conformity involves the loss of these, though not of salvation. Christ is the model. He was "holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners" (Hebrews 7:28-note), and yet He was in such contact with them for their salvation that the Pharisees, who illustrate the mechanical and ascetic conception of separation judged Him as having lost His Nazirite character (Lk 7:39) The apostle Paul reminds us of the sign on the back of a u haul type truck... ANY LOAD ANY PLACE ANY TIME This motto was certainly true of Paul and should be true of all who claim the Name of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. None of us will ever achieve perfection in this area but with God's grace can redeem every breath of life God graciously gives us that we might see His kingdom enlarged and His Name glorified "any place, any time." THE GOSPEL OF GOD: euaggelion theou: (Ro 1:9,16; 15:16, 29; 16:25; Mark 16:15,16; Lk 2:10,11; Acts 20:24; Eph 1:13; 1Th 2:2; 2Th 2:13; 14, 1Ti 1:11) ( See Torrey's Topic Gospel) See More Discussion of the Gospel - Notes on Romans 1:16 "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/new_page_54.htm#Set%20apart%20(873)%20aphorizo