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NASB | 1 Peter 3:15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy--acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect. [Is 8:12, 13] |
Bible Question:
Should one try to be clear or muddled? 'There's another problem, and it's a practical one. I'm not supposed to seek to be clever or persuasive or to use arguments to convince, apparently. Then what am I to do? If we shouldn't use arguments to promote the Gospel--because it's leaning on human wisdom and not God--then what are we to say? What do I say then when communicating my faith? If I'm not supposed to seek to be clever or persuasive or to use arguments to convince, then what am I to do? Should I work at being clear when I communicate? Or should I try to be muddled lest I depend on clarity and not the Spirit to make the difference? Should I give reasons for what I believe or only gently make assertions with a smile on my face being careful not to respond to challenges someone might raise lest it sound like I'm trying to argue for the Gospel and not depend on the Holy Spirit?' ____________________ Quoted from the transcript of a commentary from the radio show "Stand to Reason," with Gregory Koukl. |
Bible Answer: Happy holidays, Radioman2: You quoted: “Then what am I to do? If we shouldn't use arguments to promote the Gospel--because it's leaning on human wisdom and not God--then what are we to say? What do I say then when communicating my faith?” I enjoy very much discussing, debating, talking about the Scriptures - whatever you want to call it - with anyone who will listen. The following Scriptures and info were enlightening to me. Maybe they will be to you, too. I watched The John Ackerberg show one time when Dr. Hugh Ross was debating another gentlemen. When Dr. Ross would explain the meaning of a word in Greek, the other man would oppose him by saying "You're not a Greek scholar". I wanted to clariy that just because I'm going to share some Greek word meanings, I KNOW I'm NOT a Greek scholar. But I do have Strongs’ Exhaustive Concordance, and other excellent word studies books, and I can read fairly well with my bifocals. (smile) All the # references for the various Greek words are from Strongs’ Concordance. 1) Acts 9:29: “And he (Paul) spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.” KJV Notice that the Greeks disliked so much what Paul was telling them that they wanted to kill him? Doesn't sound like Paul was "gently make assertions with a smile on my face being careful not to respond to challenges someone might raise lest it sound like I'm trying to argue for the Gospel and not depend on the Holy Spirit?" And I doubt anyone would accuse Paul of not depending on the Holy Spirit when it came to sharing the gospel. The word “disputed” in this verse is #4802. It is the Greek word “suzeteo (sood-zay-teh'-o)”; comes from #4862 and #2212. “Suzeteo” means “to investigate jointly, i.e. discuss, controvert, cavil”. KJV translates this Greek word as “dispute (with), enquire, question (with), reason (together).” Here is a list of all the places this Greek word is found in the N.T.: Mark 1:27; 8:11; 9:10,14,16; Mark 12:28; Luke 22:23; 24:15; Acts 6:9; Acts 9:29. 2) Acts 17:17: “Therefore disputed he (Paul) in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.” KJV The word “disputed” is a different Greek word than the one used in Acts 9:29. It is #1256: dialegomai (dee-al-eg'-om-ahee); middle voice from #1223 and #3004. It means “to say thoroughly, i.e. discuss (in argument or exhortation)”. KJV translates it as “dispute, preach (unto), reason (with), speak.” The following list is all the places this word is found in the N.T.: Mark 9:34; Acts 17:2,17; Acts 18:4,19; Acts 19:8-9; Acts 20:7, 9; Acts 24:12, 25; Heb 12:5; Jude 9. The verses in Acts are especially interesting on this subject. 3) Acts 19:8: “And he (Paul) went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.” KJV “Boldly” is #3955, Greek word “parrhesiazomai (par-hray-see-ad'-zom-ahee)”; middle voice from #3954. It means “to be frank in utterance, or confident in spirit and demeanor”. KJV translates it as “be (wax) bold, (preach, speak) boldly.” Being “frank in utterance” is often received by the hearer as being “tactless”, or coming across as a “know it all”. Yet the Bible tells us this is how Paul preached; certainly not "muddled". The word “persuading” in Acts 19:8 is #3982: peitho (pi'-tho); a primary verb. It means “to convince(by argument, true or false); by analogy, to pacify or conciliate (by other fair means); reflexively or passively, to assent (to evidence or authority), to rely (by inward certainty). KJV translates it “agree, assure, believe, have confidence, be (wax) conflent, make friend,obey, persuade, trust, yield.” 4) Acts 17:1-12 says Paul “reasoned”, “explained”, “proved” that Jesus had to suffer and rise from the dead. Verse 11: “These (Bereans) were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” The word “searched” is #350: anakrino (an-ak-ree'-no); from #303 and #2919. It means “to scrutinize, i.e. (by implication) investigate, interrogate, determine”. KJV translates it as “ask, question, discern, examine, judge, search.” The Bereans were “more noble” than the Thessalonians because they “scrutinized, investigated, interrogated, and determined” what Paul was teaching was true. What I've gleened from this is that God’s Word seems to be saying we are to thoroughly discuss, argue, debate, be frank in what we say and confident in our mannerism when we share the gospel with anyone. Blessings to you, Mrs. B in Georgia |