It, “hapax legomenon,” means a word that appears only once in a document, in a book, in any body of literature! (It has a Greek origin, the language of the New Testament. Where “lego” means “to say.” And “hapax” means “once, once only.”)
And in today’s Text, Galatians 2:14 (only its first clause), a drastically important “hapax” occurs! Let me show you what I mean.
Paul is here writing … “But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter …”
“They?” Yes, a group of Jews who thought way too much of Moses’ Law and not enough of Jesus’ Grace! Men who had come to town (Antioch in Syria) and coerced some of the Jewish believers to forsake the Grace of God and retreat into the observance of the Law, at least in some areas.
Paul watched them closely! The verb “saw” is “eido,” Paul absolutely “knew” (or “perceived,” the meaning of “eido”) what they were doing, hurting the Cause of Christ! Negating the Value of the Cross of Calvary!
Paul expected people who had seen the “Truth” (in Greek “aletheia,” something once learned that can “never be forgotten”) of the pure Gospel … to afterwards LIVE by that Gospel. To believe it and preach it and practice it! Never to abdicate from it!
But the “hapax legomenon” in today’s Text (the Epistle of Galatians has well over a dozen of these, nearly two dozen) is the verb “walked (the little word “not” is an adverb, “ouk,”) uprightly.”
The word is “orthopodeo!”
Again it is Greek, where “ortho” means “straight!” As in English “orthopedics” (straight bones or tendons, especially in children) or “orthodontist” (straight teeth)! Or theologically, “orthodox” (straight belief, doctrine, based on Scripture)!
Plus the verb “podeo” (from “pous”), which means one’s “feet!” (As in podiatry!) The verb then: what one does with his or her feet … “to walk!”
So … “orthopodeo” suggests “walking straight”… according to some truth one has learned and internalized!
Living the Gospel (as a Gift of God, not as a reward having been earned by human effort) … is clearly what Paul has in mind here!
The Grace of God in soul salvation being exhibited every day in shoe leather! By human beings!
“Saved by Grace!”
And that kind of life is worth a “hapax legomenon” any day of the week!
“But when I (Paul) saw that they (some of the Jews) walked not uprightly (orthopodeo) according to the truth of the Gospel (Grace, not Law, Jesus not Moses), I said unto Peter …”
Are you orthopodeo-ing the Gospel today?
Trusting (for salvation) the Blood of Jesus, His sinless Life, exercising faith in His finished Work on Calvary? That is Grace!
Or … are you rather wavering over this great issue? Trying to mix your good works (a misnomer) or fine life or human achievement into the salvation equation?
Paul wrote in our current context (though we will not study this line until next week) … “By the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” Galatians 2:16
Then, how can one be saved? “By the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ.” Same verse, Galatians 2:16!
Wow!
“This is the way, walk ye in it!” (An allusion to Isaiah 30:21, by the way. Really a direct quote!)
The “straight” way!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell