Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Book of Colossians Word Study ~ "Understanding"

In doing some more detailed reading and studying, Paul's message to the brethren in Colossae should prove to us that we can truly have a clear understanding of God's will through Jesus Christ.

I chose the word "understanding" to investigate, but its English form is only observed three times in the Book of Colossians. But in digging deeper into a study of text, we should look closely at what other words are comparable or equivalent to one another in our English Bibles.

In the original language of the New Testament, the word for "to know" is ginosko. Paul's usage of this and its other literary forms is widespread throughout Colossians. "Know", "knowledge", "understood" and "understanding" coonsitute the various usages and forms of ginosko.

What's so powerful about this encouraging epistle is that one of the major points of this text is we can know all there is to know about God's mystery of Christ (cf. Colossians 1:25-27)! The church in Colossae knew and so can we!

"When we hear we can learn, and when we learn then we can understand, and when we understand we can then walk...and keep walking!"

Check out:
Colossians 1:6, 7, 9, 10; Colossians 2:1, 2, 3; Colossians 3:10, 24; Colossians 4:1, 6, 8

*Note: there a couple cases where "know" or "knowing" mean, to realize or to have seen. This is not the ginosko word, rather oida in the original language.

Enjoy and let me know what you observe in your own personal study.

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