Paul wrote the words, to the Galatian Christians in fact. (They were at times his most “troublesome” group of Believers, it seems.) This verse represents a true “one-to-another” Text, but again in a negative sense!

It would be most pertinent when a congregation of Christians might be having trouble properly “loving one another!”

Here is Galatians 5:15. “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” Wow, that this line was even necessary is astounding!

The “if” in the verse (“ei” in Greek) often means “since.” In other words, the biting and devouring were already happening!

“Biting” is “dakno,” used only here in all the Bible! Present tense, too, biting and biting and biting! It means “to wound, cut, lacerate, with one’s teeth!” Biting to HURT someone!

“Devouring” is “katesthio,” meaning “to gobble down.” Swallowing them whole, these targets of one’s hatred!

Keep this up, Paul warns, and you will “be consumed” one of another! The verb means “to spend up.” Or “to use until something is gone!” Also “to destroy!” Until nothing is left!

Christians at war!

With each other!

Now, look at the verse immediately preceding our Text today. “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Galatians 5:14

Then the verse following our Text. “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16

Seeing the surroundings (the “context” it’s often called) sure does help!

The solution, the antidote, the preventative … to such “in-fighting” among the brethren … is LOVING ONE ANOTHER more deeply and BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT more seriously.

No one needs to say any more.

Ponder these great facts.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Today’s Study Verse is Galatians 5:26. “Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”

I heard a godly Preacher say the other day, “Let’s ‘unpack’ this portion of Scripture.” He respectfully meant that the Holy Spirit heavily “loads” the Word of God with manifold meaning! And any single Portion of Scripture thus can be “mined” for (spiritual) nuggets of gold, precious treasure indeed! (Listen to Psalm 19:10 describe the Bible’s eternal Truths. “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” Wow!)

So again … Galatians 5:26 … “Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” Let’s reverently “analyze” these words, a Greek derivative meaning “to loosen” the meaning, as if “untying a hard knot!”

“Let us (not) be” is the verse’s first verb. Technically “ginomai” here is NOT a command. It’s rather written in the subjunctive mood. It is a suggestion, a desire, the “ideal” Paul is wishing for his people, the Christian converts in the Galatian Churches.

The word “desirous of vain glory” translates a single Greek adjective! And “kenodoxos” means “empty honor!” Each person craving for personal fame, reputation, power, sway!

The verb “provoking” is “prokaleo,” really “calling forth,” as if “inviting someone to do battle!” Challenging your brother or sister to war! Stirring up a conflict! This is amazing. (“Bring it on,” one to another? Hardly God’s perfect Will!)

Then comes today’s “negative” one-to-another thought. Do NOT be “envying one another.”

Here the Greek verb is “phthoneo,” the only time this VERB appears in Scripture. (Though its noun form occurs 9 times.) It means “to envy” of course, but in this sense: “to bear a grudge!” Another lexicon says: “to have ‘ill will’ toward a person!” To hold “malice” in one’s heart … against a fellow Christian. To be jealous. (Although sometimes “jealousy” is defined as “fear of loss.” And “envy” as “desire for gain.”)

In other words, we SHOULD love one another and encourage one another and a dozen other “good” activities as well. But we must not ( strongly unadvised) ENVY each other!

Bury the hatchet!

Forget that … “I’m getting even” feeling!

Do not want … what the other person has … be content!

Count YOUR blessings!

One more time … today’s Verse. “Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Let’s pray … “Lord, help us to live these words in our various relationships one with another, as Believers in Thee. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Today’s verse does not make everyone’s “list,” those who have written about the “one-to-another” Texts of Scripture. And it does have a negative connotation. But it also reveals a critically important aspect of growth in the Christian life! Let me explain further.

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25

Two days ago we discussed the admonition “to exhort” one another. That is, “to encourage” each other. So here’s today’s emphasis: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25

Do not “forsake,” is a verb meaning “to leave behind.” Do not abandon! Do not desert! Do not leave helpless! We are being given a practice that is to be followed for the duration of our Christian lives. “Forsaking” here is a present participle. Ongoing, durative, habitual action is being implied. A lifestyle!

The term “assembling together” is “episunagoge.” A compound consisting of “epi” plus “sun” plus “ago.” And “ago” is the verb that means “to lead, to bring, to lay hold of!” The preposition “sun” means “together.” And the first syllable “epi” intensifies the whole idea. It simply means “our coming together” … as a group to worship God!”

In the word “sunagoge” the Hebrew/Jewish idea of a “synagogue” has developed! Which was for the Jews, still is …  a building, a place to come together as a group … to meet for a single purpose!

And Paul (the likely writer of Hebrews, humanly speaking) knows that some in the Hebrew Christian movement have already stopped attending the worship meetings! “As the manner of some is!” Some who clearly have already “forsaken” the services!

And “the day” that is nearing … no doubt speaking of a time of intense persecution, hardship, and trial on the Believers who love Jesus Christ our Saviour. And that time did come, very soon, for those to whom the Holy Spirit was speaking, 70 AD and the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans.

I write this Lesson on a Saturday morning.

How timely!

We can practice this “one to another” technique tomorrow.

Assemble, come together, with the fellow brothers and sisters in Christ you know. In other words, go to Church! In your location, hearing God’s preached Word. Singing the hymns of the Faith, our Faith! The “Faith of our Fathers!”

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

The New Testament, in 1st Corinthians 16:20, teaches us to “greet one another.” (Do not fail to speak or be kind and friendly to each other.)

In what appears to be a parallel passage, Romans 16:16, we are told to “salute one another.”

And in both cases (“greet” and “salute”) the Greek verbs are identical.

Spelled “aspazomai,” the word means “to draw to oneself!” To keep “close” by one’s side! It is thought by scholars that “aspazomai” is derived from “spao,” a root verb often meaning “to draw (one’s sword).” A sword which is always “by one’s side,” if you’re a soldier anyway. And we are … “Onward Christian soldiers!”

The word might thus carry the idea of “hugging” one another, “kissing” (on the cheek) one another, which was a prevalent custom in Paul’s day. In our time this would be equivalent to something like “shaking hands” with one another.

So, several of Paul’s Epistles close with the admonition … “All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.”

In other words …

We should let our common bond in Christ overrule any petty little “personal differences” we might have between each other. ALL THE BELIEVERS SALUTE YOU!

Neither should we ever feel “superior” to another Christian, refusing to associate with him or her. (“Speaking” to him is the “least” one can do, in terms of Christian love.)

And since the verb in today’s Text is an imperative … this Christian “friendliness, civility, comradery” is more important than we might initially think! After all, it is one of the stark commands of the Bible!

Wow!

This “one another” activity we can all “practice” next Lord’s Day!

Go to Church … and speak to everyone.

Begin with that person who is sometimes neglected, too!

And the one with whom you last “disagreed” on some minor issue, greet him or her first!

And never leave out the Preacher, of course.

Jesus adds this. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, IF YE HAVE LOVE ONE TO ANOTHER.” John 13:35, surely “love” at least leads to “greeting” one another!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Today’s word has grown into disuse.

“Exhort” one another.

I believe the current, most-often-used synonym may be “encourage” one another.

Our Bible Text is Hebrews 3:13. There, succinctly, we are commanded to “exhort one another daily.”

Wow!

Not only are we told what to do, but how often to do so!

First, let’s dissect the word, the verb, “exhort.”

In Greek it is spelled “parakaleo.” With the prefix “para” meaning “alongside.” and the base word, “kaleo,” meaning “I call.” So, a paraclete (the noun form of parakaleo that Jesus “coined”) means … “someone who comes along side you, as a matter of habit, and walks with you and helps you and strengthens you and motivates you and (of course) encourages you!” He or she is summoned, “called” to do this, as a part of the exercise of their Christian faith!

By the way, “paracletos” is the noun Jesus used for the divine “Holy Spirit,” translated “Comforter” in our King James Bibles.

Furthermore, even that word “comforter” is interesting. God the Holy Spirit “comforts” us (daily, hourly, incessantly) … with “comfort” being derived from Latin. It means “with courage.” (with “fortis,” with “fortitude, resolve, determination”)!

Yes … to each other … our Brothers and Sisters in Christ … we are “called” to invest time with them (alongside them) and to “exhort” them every way possible to continue living for Jesus!

So much of the Bible is “hortatory,” the expositors say. The online “Free Dictionary” says “hortatory” means “marked or filled with strong urging,” inciting someone to do the right thing, or continue doing a good thing!

Since God’s Holy Spirit, living within each Believer, is The Comforter, The Paraclete … surely He will influence us, impact us, to (likewise) be “exhorters, comforters” to those with whom we worship. Our Christian friends!

And the (“adverb” in English”) translated “daily” actually utilizes three Greek words! “Kata hekastos hemera,” meaning “according to every day.” Every single day (as the need exists) … encourage that weaker saint of God!

What a thought!

What a duty!

What a life-changing charge!

And yet, what a privilege.

Now, the whole verse Hebrews 3:13. “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

Yes, apparently daily exhortation can help keep us form falling into those pesky little “sins” that so hamper the lives of us Christian.

Exhortation keeps us “soft” hearted!

Sin does the very reverse.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell