|
|
|
|
NO. 9 - STATED SHAMEFUL COMPORTMENT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
There is conduct that is sinful, that is, the behavior is equated with being lost, not entering the kingdom, being cast into the lake of fire, suffering the vengeance of God, etc. There is also conduct that is shameful, that is, the behavior is the opposite of modesty, purity, orderly or decent and causes you and/or others to suffer feelings of fear, pain, guilt or shame. We experience shame because of neglect, lack of motivation, courage or accomplishment and sometimes because our values and beliefs are violated by others. As Christians, we are to conduct ourselves in such a way that we have no reason to be ashamed, or cause others to be ashamed. In this study we will be looking at the Greek words that are translated shame, ashamed, dishonor and dishonest. A. ASHAMED (EP-AISCHUNO-MAI) (feelings of fear, pain, guilt or shame that prevents one from doing something). 1. Mark 8:38 – "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." (See also Luke 9:26). 2. Rom. 1:16 – " I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes." 3. 2 Tim. 1:8 – "Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God." B. ASHAMED (ANEP-AISCHUN-TOS) (not ashamed; having no cause for feelings of fear, pain, guilt or shame). 4. 2 Tim. 2:15 – "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed." C. ASHAMED (AISCHUNO-MAI) (experience the feelings of fear, pain, guilt or shame). 5. Phil. 1:20 – "According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 6. 1 Pet. 4:16 – "If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter (name, NU)." 7. 1 Jn. 2:28 – "And now little children, abide in Him, that when He appears we may have confidence and not be ashamed…" D. ASHAMED/SHAME/DISHONOR (KAT-AISCHUNO) (feelings of fear, pain, guilt, shame, for what you are doing). 8. Rom 5:5 – "Now hope does not disappoint (maketh not ashamed, KJ), because the love of God has been poured out in…" 9,10. Rom. 9:33; 10:11 – "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone…whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." 11,12. 1 Cor. 1:27 – "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame (confound, KJ) the wise." "And God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame (confound, KJ) the things which are mighty." 13,14. 1 Cor. 11:4 – "Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head." "Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head." (It is a shame for Christians to violate cultural traditions). 15. 1 Cor. 11:22 – "What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise (think slightly of) the church of God and shame those (the poor) who have nothing ?" What shall I say? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you. 16. 2 Cor. 7:14 – " For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed…we spoke all things to you in truth." 17. 1 Pet. 2:6 – "I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious…he who believes in Him will by no means be put to shame." 18. 1 Pet. 3:16 – "Having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct may be ashamed." "For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil" (1 Pet. 3:17). E. SHAMEFUL/DISHONEST (AISCHROS) (the opposite of modesty, purity, decency or orderliness). 19. 1 Cor. 11:6 – "If it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered." (It is a shame, not a sin to violate cultural traditions). "If a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering"(1 Cor. 11:15). 20. 1 Cor. 14:34 – "Let your women keep silent…if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in the church." (It is a shame, not a sin, for Christians to violate cultural traditions). 21. Eph. 5:12 – "For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret." 22. Titus 1:11 – "Whose mouths must be stopped who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought (GRK- DEI, must) not , for the sake of dishonest gain (filthy lucre's sake, KJ)." "Therefore rebuke them sharply" (Titus 1:13). F. SHAME (ENTROPE/ENTREPO) (to cause to feel fear, pain, guilt or shame). 23. I Cor. 4:14 – "I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you." 24. 1 Cor. 6:5 – "I say this to your shame. "Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you…able to judge between brethren?" 25. 1 Cor. 15:34 – "Awake to righteousness…do not sin…some have not the knowledge of God…I speak this to your shame." G. DISHONOR (ATIMIA) (signifies shame, disgrace; Rom. 1:26, "vile [passions]," R.V., lit., ‘[passions] of shame).' 26. 1 Cor. 11:14 – "Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor (shame, KJ) to him?" Shameful behavior is not generally equated with salvation, or stated as sinful, a command, charge, order, mandate, obligation, exhortation or exclusionary. One exception could be the dishonor (shame, KJ) that comes from a man wearing long hair (1 Cor. 11:14). The word dishonor (shame, KJ) in this case is translated from the (GRK-ATIMIA). In Rom. 1:26 we read that God gave some up to (vile, GRK-ATIMIA) affections or passions. Any continued shameful conduct could become sinful, just as one can use their liberty in Christ in a way that causes sin against the brethren and wounds their weak conscience (1 Cor. 8:9-13). Behavior that is considered shameful but not sinful, should not be a reason for separating from others and creating divisions in the body of Christ. Creating divisions in the body of Christ because of shameful (but not sinful) conduct is what should be considered a transgression. If any activity we are involved in causes us (or others) fear, pain, guilt, shame, then we should discontinue it. If something that we are neglecting to do causes us feelings of fear, pain, guilt or shame, then we should take action to correct that. We will not want to have feelings of fear, pain, guilt or shame when we come face to face with Jesus Christ. The day will come when Christ will come back to this earth, in the glory of His Father, with the holy angels. We will not want Christ to be ashamed of us for any reason!
Arranged by Eugene Lockling |
|
Site design by: The Tentfactory |
