Some Key Words (1/3/01)

Strong (dunatos [1415]):

able, powerful, mighty in wealth and influence, strong in soul to bear trials with fortitude, able to do, excelling in something; capable

Bear (bastazo [941]):

to take up with the hands, to take up in order to carry, to put upon oneself, to bear the burdensome, to sustain, uphold, support, to carry off; to lift, endure, receive

Weaknesses (asthenema [771]):

the result of being weak; infirmity, error arising from weakness of mind; a scruple of conscience

Please (aresko [700]):

to make one inclined to, to be content with, soften one's heart toward, to be pleasing, satisfying or behaving properly towards one with whom one is related; to strive to please, to accommodate oneself to the opinions, desires, and interests of others; to be agreeable or seek to be so

Good (agathos [18]):

benevolent, profitable, useful; of good constitution or nature, pleasant, agreeable, excellent, distinguished, upright, honorable;

Edification (oikodome [3619]):

the act of building, building as a process, spiritual profit or advancement; the act of one who promotes another's growth in Christian wisdom, piety, or holiness; confirmation

Reproaches (oneidismos [3680]):

a reproach suffered from one's enemies; from the dictionary: severe blame mingled with contempt, an object of scorn, shame or disgrace

Instruction (didaskalia [1319]):

that which is taught, doctrine, the teaching with the thought of the teacher's authority included; precepts;

Perseverance (hupomone [5281]):

endurance with regard to things and circumstances (as opposed to people) the quality that does not surrender to circumstances or succumb to trials; steadfastness, the characteristic of one not swerved from his deliberate purpose and loyalty to faith and piety by any trial or suffering, a patient steadfast waiting for; cheerful or hopeful endurance, constancy

Encouragement (paraklesis [3874]):

the act of calling hither to help, begging, encouragement toward virtue, an exhortation or admonition for the purpose of strengthening and establishing the believer's redemption, comforting words, consolation; a summons for help, supplication, exhortation, consolation, persuasive discourse, powerful hortatory discourse; imploration, solace

Hope (elpis [1680]):

desire of good with expectation of obtaining it, the object of hope, the thing hoped for, the foundation of hope, trust, confidence, security; joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; to anticipate with pleasure, expectation or confidence

 

Paraphrase: (1/3/01)

1 We can't simply please ourselves, but need to share the burdens of our weaker brothers. 2 We should be about serving the good of our neighbor, building them up. 3 This was the example of our Lord, Christ, of whom Scripture wrote that the reproaches that were rightfully ours fell on Him in our stead. 4 Everything we have in writing was put down to instruct us today, so that Scripture would encourage the hope within us as we persevere in its ways.

Key Verse: (1/3/01)

15:2 - Each ought to be working for his neighbor's good, for his strengthening.

People Mentioned: (1/3/01)

N/A

Some Parallel Verses (1/4/01)

15:1

Ro 14:1 - We are to accept the weaker in faith without judging them for their views. Gal 6:2 - By bearing each others' burdens, we obey Christ's law. 1Th 5:14 - We are to encourage and help the weak with patience towards all.

15:2

1Co 9:22 - By behaving in like manner to the weak, we may win the weak. By becoming like to a man, we may save him. 1Co 10:24 - We are to seek our neighbor's good, not our own, 1Co 10:33 - seeking their profit over our own, so that they might be saved. 2Co 13:9 - We rejoice to find others stronger than ourselves, and pray for their completion. Ro 14:19 - We are to pursue those things that lead to mutual edification and peace. 1Co 10:23 - All things are lawful, but they don't all serve to build us up. 1Co 14:3-4 - The prophet speaks and edifies all who hear. The one who speaks in tongues only edifies himself, unless there be interpretation. 1Co 14:26 - In our assemblies, each has something to offer - a song, a word, a teaching - that will serve to build up the whole body. 2Co 12:19 - Paul's letter serves not to defend himself, but rather to build up his readers in Christ. Eph 4:12 - The purpose of ministry is to equip believers and build them up as Christ's body. Eph 4:29 - All of our words ought to build up.

15:3

2Co 8:9 - It is His grace, that He who was rich became poor for us, so that we might become rich. Ps 69:9 - Zeal for God's house consumed me, and so the reproaches directed towards God fell upon me.

15:4

Ro 4:23-25 - The record of Abraham being declared righteous was written to inform us who are so declared as we believe in Christ Jesus, and so are justified. 2Ti 3:16 - All Scripture, being God-inspired, is useful for teaching, training, and correction, as we seek after righteousness.

 

New Thoughts (1/5/01)

All our words, all our training, all our actions ought to be directed towards the building up of the body. This we are called to do both by furthering the growth of the believers, and by adding to their number those who hear Christ's message through us. We are to rejoice when we find a stronger companion, and pray for their completion (2Co 13:9)! Now, that's a change for most of us, I expect. We are competitive by nature (at least I am). We strive ever to show ourselves the best at what we're doing. This is the training our schools give us, it's the training that our sports programs inculcate, and it's the training that our jobs give us, as well. The successful one in this life is the one who proves himself the better able, the stronger skilled. But, this way lies our enemy pride. This way lies self-reliance, and turning from our dependence upon our Lord and Savior.

Instead, we are taught a different, superior model. We are taught to rejoice in finding our betters, and to pray that they become even moreso. This, if you think about it, is to our advantage, if they are of like mind and spirit. For they will undoubtedly turn that skill towards the equipping of other saints such as yourself. They become an opportunity to be mentored. And the greater their skill, the better the instruction you will receive of their hands, so certainly it is wise to pray that they become that much better in their talent. Jazz musicians, I think, are quite familiar with this model, for I've seen the advice given many a time to seek always to play with those who are somewhat better than yourself, so that your skills can rise to match theirs, rather than reaching a plateau, or worse yet, sinking.

This is the call of Christ to His brothers. "Come up higher! Strengthen yourselves, and strive ever for the goal." That goal has been set high. We cannot, in good sense, expect to reach it in this life, but we can rest assured that our God is able to finish what He has begun, so we are certain of reaching that goal in accord with His promise in the day we greet Him in heaven. In preparation for that day, He is faithful to surround us with mentors and models, intermediate goals that we can not only aspire to, but can attain to. These achievements give us encouragement on the long journey towards total sanctification, the 'long journey in one direction.' Like the psalms of ascent that served to encourage the pilgrims on their long trek to Jerusalem, so are these mentors and the growth they help us achieve.

Thank you, Lord, for providing us with these reachable goals, for giving us good trainers on this long road home. Thank you, that You never leave us nor forsake us, but ever provide for our needs. As often as I look at Scripture, I am reminded of those things in me that are still in desperate need of Your attention, of the longstanding issues we have yet to address together. But You also give me those backward glances, both in reflecting on where I've come from, and by those newer brothers You place about me, such that I can see how far You've already brought me. And, ever and again You have placed me amongst those who can provide me with the training needed in the moment, by those who can encourage me to stretch out towards home. Lord, I pray that You would make of me such a trainer, that You would use me to help another to grow into their fuller potential in You. I pray that You would give me a patience for those who are less skilled, perhaps, than I. You know better than I that this is a challenge particular to me. In this, I need the mentor You have in mind, that I might better mentor those You have placed as good works for me to do.