Exploring Holiness--1 & 2 Thessalonians

Analysis

The Greek words used in Thessalonians in which we will be studying are as follows:

ἅγιος: 1. as adjective pertaining to being dedicated or consecrated to the service of God

1. in the cultic sense dedicated to God, holy, sacred, i.e. reserved for God and God’s service:

ἁγιασμός: personal dedication to the interests of the deity, holiness, consecration, sanctification. Kittle: sanctifying, i.e. a process.

ἁγιωσύνη: Holiness.  Kittle: “This rare word, formed from the adjective ἅγιος by extension of the o to ω after a short syllable as an abstract term of quality, in the same way as δικαιοσύνη is formed from δίκαιος, is not found in pre-biblical Greek.  It means ‘sanctification’ or ‘holiness’ rather than ‘sanctifying’, but as a quality rather than a state.”

ἁγιάζω: 1.  set aside something or make it suitable for ritual purposes, consecrate, dedicate of things.  2. include a person in the inner circle of what is holy, in both cultic and moral associations of the word, consecrate, dedicate, sanctify.  3. to treat as holy, reverence.  4. to eliminate that which is incompatible with holiness, purify

ὁσιότης: state of proper attitude toward God as exhibited in action, devoutness, piety, holiness.”

Passages where Paul calls the Thessalonians “holy ones”.

2Thessalonians 1:10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy ἁγίοις people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

Holy Spirit passages.

1Thessalonians 1:4    For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,  5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy ἁγίῳ Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.  6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy ἁγίου Spirit.

1Thessalonians 4:8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy ἅγιον Spirit.

Holy Kiss.

1Thessalonians 5:26 Greet all God’s people with a holy ἁγίῳ kiss.

Holiness Passages.

1Thessalonians 3:13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ἁγίων ones.

It is an allusion to the end of Zechariah 14:5 LXX:

...καὶ ἥξει κύριος ὁ θεός μου καὶ πάντες οἱ ἅγιοι μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ.

...and the Lord (Yahweh) my God will come and all the holy ones with him.

In the context of Zechariah, “holy ones” probably refers to angels, but Paul is setting up his “resurrection section” of chapters 4 and 5.  So, he is probably now referring to the ones who have died in Jesus.  There is a good chance that this is intended by Paul as it would parallel with 4:13-14.

4:13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

These are the “holy ones” that Paul refers to in his allusion to Zechariah 14:5.

1Thessalonians 4:3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified ἁγιασμὸς: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy ἁγιασμῷ and honorable,  5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before.  7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy ἁγιασμῷ life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

As we have seen through out this study, paganism had a direct influence on sin.  In this case, it is sexual sin.  This sin is just not something that Christian men or women do.  If they do, then they will become like their formal pagan self.

Paul then goes on to state why the pagan Gentiles do such lustful desires.  They simply don’t know God.  Therefore, if they knew God and had his Spirit in them, they would know that such lustful desires are wrong and that using their “vessel” in such a way is opposite of using it in holiness and honor and doing so can wrong and take advantage of their brother or sister if there is an illicit affair going on.

2Thessalonians 2:13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work ἁγιασμῷ of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.  14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

It has been stated many times that a person can’t make him/herself holy.  Here, Paul openly declares that one is saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit.  Literally:

εἰς σωτηρίαν ἐν ἁγιασμῷ πνεύματος καὶ πίστει ἀληθείας

for salvation in the sanctifying/holiness of the Spirit and the belief of truth.

1Thessalonians 3:11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.  12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.  13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy ἁγιωσύνῃ in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

And here it is.  Our word ἁγιωσύνη; holiness as a quality.  It is the holiness that is reached after the time it takes for the Holy Spirit to refine a person.  And yes, it takes the Holy Spirit to do it.  It is this quality of holiness that appointed Jesus as the Son of God at his raising from the dead (Romans 1:4).  It is a nice set up for Paul’s resurrection passage as well as this one:

1Thessalonians 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify ἁγιάσαι you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

Only God can make one holy and blameless.  We can’t do it, but we can stand in the way.  If we stay faithful to him, he will stay faithful to us and make us holy and blameless at the end; the coming of our Lord Jesus.

Exploring Holiness--Colossians

Analysis

The Greek words used in Colossians in which we will be studying are as follows:

ἅγιος: 1. as adjective pertaining to being dedicated or consecrated to the service of God

1. in the cultic sense dedicated to God, holy, sacred, i.e. reserved for God and God’s service:

ἁγιασμός: personal dedication to the interests of the deity, holiness, consecration, sanctification. Kittle: sanctifying, i.e. a process.

ἁγιωσύνη: Holiness.  Kittle: “This rare word, formed from the adjective ἅγιος by extension of the o to ω after a short syllable as an abstract term of quality, in the same way as δικαιοσύνη is formed from δίκαιος, is not found in pre-biblical Greek.  It means ‘sanctification’ or ‘holiness’ rather than ‘sanctifying’, but as a quality rather than a state.”

ἁγιάζω: 1.  set aside something or make it suitable for ritual purposes, consecrate, dedicate of things.  2. include a person in the inner circle of what is holy, in both cultic and moral associations of the word, consecrate, dedicate, sanctify.  3. to treat as holy, reverence.  4. to eliminate that which is incompatible with holiness, purify

ὁσιότης: state of proper attitude toward God as exhibited in action, devoutness, piety, holiness.”

Passages where Paul calls the Philippians “holy ones”.

Colossians 1:2 To God’s holy people ἁγίοις in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people ἁγίους 

12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people ἁγίων in the kingdom of light.

26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people ἁγίοις. 

Holiness Passages:

Colossians 1:21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.  22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy ἁγίους in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—  23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

In our studies up unto this point, it has been known that only God can make one holy.  Here, Paul points out that it was Jesus’ death that makes one holy.  Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice for sin.  Paul also points out from where the Colossians have come as they used to be “alienated from God” in their “evil behavior”  Of course, that “evil behavior would have been Paganism or Judaism.

The Colossians remain holy, without blemish and free from accusation only if they do not move from the Gospel.  Of course the big question is “what does it mean to move from the hope held out in the Gospel?”  Paul himself will tell us below.

Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy ἅγιοι and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

And here it is, as in all of Paul’s letters, Paganism!  We’ve suggested that the sin that God detests is rooted in Paganism, that is, idol worship.  Indulging in sin associated with Paganism is worshipping idols!  Paul suggests that they are τὰ μέλη τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς (the parts which are on the earth) as opposed to the “parts with are in heaven”.  This is why Christians shouldn’t do them.  God’s wrath is coming on those who practice idolatry!  Let’s take a closer look at verse 5.

Paul writes out a list of sins that are tied to sexual immorality, the fist on the list. 

 πορνείαν ἀκαθαρσίαν πάθος ἐπιθυμίαν κακήν, καὶ τὴν πλεονεξίαν, ἥτις ἐστὶν εἰδωλολατρία (sexual immorality, impurity, sexual passion, evil lust, and THE greed which is idolatry).  “The greed” is defined by BDAG as “the state of desiring to have more than one’s due”.  Here, it sums up the list of sexual sins.  “THE” is capitalized because of the article τὴν in Greek.  It makes “greed” specific or a certain kind of greed.  In this case, it is probably the “greed” associated with wanting more of the first parts of the list.

Verses 12-17 represent what the “chosen”, the “holy and beloved” should do!  Note that the Colossians are considered “holy and beloved” before they are told what to do.

Inferred Holiness

Colossians 2:6-23 

This entire passaged deals with the Jewish law and how the Colossians should not try to complete their salvation by doing the works of the Law.  Paul tells them that Jesus embodies all of the Deity in bodily form and in him, they have been brought to fullness and he is the head over every power and authority.  Performing the law gains them nothing.  If fact, in verse 19, Paul says that the people who want the Colossians to perform the law have lost connection with the head (Christ).

In 2:18, a very “hard” statement is made.

18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you.

It is the last part that I wish to comment on: θρησκείᾳ τῶν ἀγγέλων (“in” worship of angels/messengers).  In Judaism, there were strict laws against worshipping “the host of heaven” (Deut. 4:19; 17:3).  So, “people” worshipping angels in this context must be ruled out.  This phrase should be understood as “the angels’ worship to God”.  Evidence of this exists in the Dead Sea Scrolls where the Essenes coveted to be able to worship God as the angels did.  They also thought that they were so holy that angels were in their presence (James Dunn, “The Epistles to the Colossians and Philemon’, 181). 

Colossians 3:18-4:1

These passages represent how households should act towards one another.  This includes wives, husbands, children, fathers, slaves, and slave masters.