Welcome to the MOR-Bible website

December 2023 Printable 156 KB .pdf

MOR-Bible, which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; may God's unmerited divine favor be to you. May peace and the absolute end of all strife and trouble be to you from God our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and us. I thank God through Jesus Christ that we can renew our minds to walk perfect and complete in all His Will. I thank God that we can be well pleasing and acceptable in His sight. May we know the clear, exact, and right dividing of God's Word and the exceeding, surpassing greatness, and majesty of His power to us who believe His Word. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

In the November 2023 teaching, we traced, tracked, and searched in God's Word the Greek word theléma as translated into our English word "will" and defined as "intense desire of God, will, wish, desire; determination, willpower, resolve, drive, motivation, pleasure." We reviewed the first usage, the usages in Acts and the church doctrine epistles (Romans, Ephesians, and Thessalonians), and then the last usage.

In this month's teaching we will trace, track, and search in God's Word the Greek word Theos for our English word "God." The Greek word Theos in the King James Bible occurs 1,343 times in Matthew through Revelation. Remember, the objective of a Biblical word study is to ascertain the exact meaning of a word as God utilized it in the context of the verse(s). We will do a Biblical word study on the Greek word used in the New Testament as translated later into English to see its original Biblical usage and meaning. This will provide us with a richer and deeper understanding of God's Word. Throughout this teaching, we will bold the word in the verse for emphasis.

This year we have been focused on understanding the meaning of the words in Romans 12:2:

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God [Theos].

Note: The sources for all Greek-English words are Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, The Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament (Bullinger), Young's Analytical Concordance to the Bible, The Word Study Concordance by George V. Wigram and Ralph D. Winter, and Webster's Desk Dictionary of the English Language.

In this verse, the English word "God" was originally the Greek word Theos. It is a name reclaimed from the heathen and is used in the New Testament for the true God. The name lost the meaning of the one God and came to mean "a God" only one of the many gods. It became necessary in the New Testament to distinguish it by the article "the" or "the God" meaning the one supreme with whom is the fountain of life and light. In the New Testament, "the God" is "the fountain of life" and "in his light alone can we see light." In the Septuagint (the Greek version of the Hebrew Bible - Old Testament), Theos is (with very few exceptions) the translation of the plural (Elohim). It is used frequently for Jehovah (or Lord). The root word of Theos has several meanings: 1. To be strong, powerful; 2. To take precedence, be first; and 3. God as the mighty one, the one above all, the first, combining the idea of inspiring awe and adoration. See May 2021, June 2021, and September 2022 for additional teachings on Theos.

As it is written in Psalm 36:9:

For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

1 John 1:5:

This then is the message which we have heard of him [God], and declare unto you, that God [Theos] is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

1 Thessalonians 5:5:

Ye are all the children of light [God], and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

There are 1,343 usages of the Greek word Theos. We are going to review the first and last usages for the Greek word Theos in Matthew, Acts, Romans, Ephesians, Thessalonians, and Revelation. I encourage you to please read the contexts of these scriptures to receive more understanding.

The first usage of Theos is documented in Matthew 1:23:

Behold, a virgin [Mary] shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God [Theos] with us.

In the Gospels, God was with us through His son Jesus. In the Grace Administration, God is in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:19). We have Christ in us the hope of glory (see Colossians 1:27)! It is in Christ that we are built together for an habitation of God through the Spirit (see Ephesians 2:22).

Matthew 27:54 has the next usage of Theos that we will look at:

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God [Theos].

This event occurred on the day of Jesus's crucifixion. Jesus was proclaimed to be the son of the one true God or Theos.

Turn now to Acts. Acts 1:3 has the next usage of Theos:

To whom [the original twelve apostles] also he [Jesus Christ] shewed himself alive after his passion [death] by many infallible proofs, being seen of them [during] forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God [Theos].

Acts 28: 31:

Preaching [proclaim, publish, herald] the kingdom of God [Theos], and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence [boldness], no man forbidding him [Paul].

Paul proclaimed, published, and heralded the kingdom of God (all seven administrations) and was teaching those things concerning who? The Lord Jesus Christ! How? With all confidence and boldness, no man forbidding him. It is important to note here that Paul was not teaching Jesus, but the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus was the name of the earthly man; Christ is the name of the resurrected son of God who ascended to sit at the right hand of God (see Romans 8:34; Colossians 3:1).

Now we will look at Romans for the next usages of Theos. Turn to Romans 1:1:

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God [Theos].

Paul was a servant on earth of Jesus Christ. In the Bible, the name "Jesus" is used to denote the earthly life of Jesus. Once the son of God was resurrected and ascended to sit on the right hand of God, the name "Christ" is used. In Romans 1:1, the name "Jesus Christ" is used because Paul is a servant of Jesus Christ on earth.

Romans 16:27:

To God [Theos] only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

The next usages of Theos occur in Ephesians. Ephesians 1:1:

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God [Theos], to the saints [holy ones, those set apart, purified ones] which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus.

Are you born-again of God's Spirit (see Romans 10:9)? If so, you are a saint or a holy one, set apart, purified one! How? Once you confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (Romans 10:9), the gift of holy spirit is created in us. We must study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Then, we continually renew our minds and walk holy for we are set apart and purified according to God's Word! However, when we are born-again of God's spirit, we still have the old man nature. Our minds are still built by the five senses knowledge (see October 2016 and November 2016 teachings).

What often happens is that people are born-again of God's Spirit (the new birth of Romans 10:9), but never renew their mind to the Word (see October 2016 and November 2016 teachings). When we do not continually renew our minds to God's Word, we act strictly from senses knowledge devilishness, which the adversary has built in the world. Unfortunately, these people are born-again and label what they do as "Christian." Our old man nature, the mind built by the five senses knowledge, must get put off by the renewal of the mind to God's rightly divided Word. If you do not renew your mind, the greatness of the teaching of God's Word will just continue to remain merely words without life! Without the renewing of our minds those physical desires of our bodies will prevail. See September 2018 teaching on renewing your mind.

Let us continue with our understanding of Theos in Ephesians 6:23:

Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith [believing], from God [Theos] the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thessalonians has the next usages of Theos. Turn to 1 Thessalonians 1:1:

Paul, and Silvanus [Silas], and Timotheus [Timothy], unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God [Theos] the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God [Theos] our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23:

And the very God [Theos] of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God [Theos] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:1:

Paul, and Silvanus [Silas], and Timotheus [Timothy], unto the church of the Thessalonians in God [Theos] our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:5:

And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God [Theos], and into the patient waiting for Christ.

The last usages are documented in Revelation. Remember, Revelation is written to Israel and not to the body of Christ. We read it for our understanding, rather than instruction to the born-again believers. Why? Romans 5:9 says:

Much more then, being now justified by his [Jesus'] blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

And 1 Thessalonians 1:10 tells us:

And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he (God) raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered [present truth] us from the wrath to come.

Why? Because we will already be with the Lord (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)!

We will start with Revelation 1:1 for the usages of Theos:

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God [Theos] gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.

Revelation 22:19:

And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God [Theos] shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Remember the book of Revelation is addressed to Israel as the bride of Christ and is not addressed to the body of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 12:27) of which you and I are a part.

Let us look at the first and last usages of Theos. The first usage of Theos is documented in Matthew 1:23:

Behold, a virgin [Mary] shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God [Theos] with us.

Revelation 22:19 has the last usage of Theos:

And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God [Theos] shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Both the first and last usages of the Greek word Theos used for our English word God are addressed to Israel the bride of Christ. As it is written in Ephesians 2:4-6 (which is addressed to the church of the body):

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Even when we were dead in sins, hath [present truth] quickened [made alive] us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)

And hath [present truth] raised [awakened] us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

God has awakened us and made us sit in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus spiritually. It is our seat. We are at rest, but we have authority and power in that chair, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (see Colossians 1:27) here on this earth. You and I must renew our minds to God's Word and use our authority and power in Christ to live victoriously. The alternative is that we will not renew our minds and walk by our five senses and live defeated. The key to power is the Word of God in the renewed mind! You can bless and comfort people with words. You can bring deliverance to people with words.

In this month's teaching, we traced, tracked, and searched in God's Word some of the usages of the Greek word Theos for our English word "God." The Greek word Theos in the King James Bible occurs 1,343 times in Matthew through Revelation. We learned that Theos means "the God," the one supreme with whom is the fountain of life and light. The Bible tells us to know Him ("the God") that has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light which is "life eternal." "The God" is "the fountain of life" and "in His light alone can we see light." We reviewed the first and last usages for the Greek word Theos, and usages in Matthew, Acts, Romans, Ephesians, Thessalonians, and Revelation. The reading of the first usage and last usage in Matthew, Acts, Romans, Ephesians, Thessalonians, and Revelation inspired awe and adoration for God our Father and His Word!

In 2023, we devoted 11 months on tracing, tracking, and searching in God's Word some of the Greek words documented in Romans 12:2 to open our understanding on how to renew our minds so that we can prove what is that good, acceptable, and perfect Will of God. The Greek language has influenced numerous words in the English language. Root words, especially those from other languages, tell us a lot about how a language evolved, how it is related to other languages, and what major historical influences caused it to change. Root words carry most of the meaning, and by learning them, we can better understand the whole language.

In January 2023, we learned that the phrase be not conformed is the Greek word suschematizo. We also learned that word "world" in Romans 12:2 is the Greek word aion referring to "age, indefinite time, dispensation; a space of time, an age." As children of God, we are not to fashion ourselves in the same way according to this age and time. Our understanding, reason, and will is to receive God's Word by believing and thinking to form, transfigure and renew our entire minds to God's rightly divided Word!

In March 2023, we focused on the Greek word nous used for our English word "mind." In Romans 12:2, the mind or nous is the organ of mental perception and apprehension or the consciousness preceding the act or recognizing and judging the fact. Nous or a person's mind enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel; it is the faculty of consciousness and thought. The mind is the way we receive God's thoughts through our believing. The word nous is sometimes employed to denote the total inner person, including the ability to distinguish between right and wrong.

The teaching in April 2023 looked at the Greek word kardia translated into our English word "heart." The English word "heart" is often used interchangeably in the New Testament for the word "mind" (the Greek word nous). In the Bible, the heart is the repository and directive center of thought, will, feeling, and conscience.

May 2023 saw us focus on the Greek word phroneo and its root phren. These verbs are the action component of our mind which is the Greek word nous. We learned the Greek word phroneo means "to have understanding, to think" and the Greek root word phren means "the diaphragm, midriff; hence, as the supposed seat of all mental emotions and faculties, the mind, including the intellect, disposition, feeling, etc. understanding." The Greek word phren is the root of the English term "diaphragm." As we now understand physiology, the diaphragm regulates our breathing. In other words, our understanding and thinking regulate our life!

In June 2023, we looked at the word "prove" In Romans 12:2 which is the Greek word dokimazo which means "to test, by implication to approve, to try, prove, to make trial of, put to the proof, examine; hence, to examine and judge of; prove by test; approve on trial." We also looked at it's root word dokimos which means "tested, approved." We learned we must use God's Word to dokimazo or test or prove all that we hear in this world so we can walk and talk true to the Word of God.

In July 2023, we focused on the word "good" which is the Greek word agathos and means "good; what is morally good" and denotes the inner harmonious perfection, which is its own standard and measure and primarily belongs to God. God's Word commands us, as beloved children of God, to not follow and imitate that which is evil or bad. In contrast, we are to follow and imitate that which is good and spiritually the best. We that do good are of God! Those that do evil have not seen the one true God! What a tremendous truth!

The teaching in August 2023 looked at the word "acceptable" in Romans 12:2. It is the Greek word euarestos and its root word eu. We learned from the usages of the Greek eu that we are to be good and faithful servants of God our Father. When we keep God's Word, we enter into the joy of the Lord! We learned the Greek word euarestos used for our English word "acceptable" means "well pleasing." In reviewing the verses, we saw the instruction to make ourselves perfect to do God's Will, which is well pleasing in God sight, through Jesus Christ.

September 2023 focused on the word "perfect" in Romans 12:2 which is the Greek word teleios; its root word is telos which is defined as "an end, a toll." We are to stand perfect and complete in all the will or intensive desire of God our Father. This review reminded us that we must forget those things that are in the past and press toward the mark for the prize of the upper calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The October 2023 teaching looked at the word "will" which is the Greek root word thelo for the word theléma. The root word thelo is defined as "to will, wish, mean." We were reminded that God's Will or wish or thelo is not have us to be ignorant about our brothers and sisters who are asleep (dead) so that we do not sorrow as others which have no hope.

Then, in the November 2023 teaching, we focused on theléma or "will" in Romans 12:2. Based on the root word thelo, we learned it means the "intense desire of God, will, active volition, wish, desire; determination, willpower, resolve, drive, motivation, pleasure."

And in this month's teaching, we focused on the word "God" which is the Greek word Theos meaning the one, true God.

Let us put it all together now in Romans 12:2:

And be not conformed [suschematizo] to this world [aion]: but be ye transformed, by the renewing of your mind [nous or kardia or phroneo], that ye may prove [dokimazo] what is that good [agathos], and acceptable [euarestos], and perfect [teleios], will [thelema] of God [Thelos].

Wow! I want you to feel this verse like I feel it in the innermost depth of my soul and just let the greatness this verse bubble within you. The renewing of our minds according to God's Word is the key to the power of God! Our mind (nous or kardia or phroneo) determines how we renew our minds to God's Word! We must make up our minds that we are going to stand for God's Word! We are what we are today because of our thoughts! We control what we think about in our minds. There is no other way to experience the greatness of God's power other than the renewed mind according to God's Word! We can change our will by renewing our minds to the Will of God, which is the Word of God! God our Father will keep us in perfect peace when our mind is on God's Word (see Isaiah 26:3). Spiritual knowledge of the Word of God is superior to five senses knowledge!

Our study of Romans 12:2 through the Greek words and their meanings have taught you the integrity and accuracy of the Word of God. We saw that the Word of God interprets itself in the verse, in the context, or where it has been used before. Every Word of God must be understood in the light of the verse and context. The Word of God is the Will of God. You cannot know the Will of God without knowing the Word of God. We stand absolutely amazed at the integrity, accuracy, and excellence of God's, pure, perfect, and magnified Word! We are truly thankful and grateful to God our Father for opening our understanding of this tremendous verse of scripture in His Word! We must study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (see 2 Timothy 2:15). We must believe God's Word and let God our Father open our understanding of His Word.

Remember, 1 Thessalonians 2:13 tells us:

For this cause also thank we God [Theos] without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God [Theos] which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God [Theos], which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

We thank you, God our Father, for opening our eyes that we may behold wondrous things documented in your Word to us. We are grateful and thankful that you provided us with a spiritual understanding of your Word so we can renew our minds to walk and act according to your Word. We pray that we will put off the former life of our old man nature, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the life of our minds by putting on the new man, which is after you, Father, is created in righteousness and true holiness. We pray for more boldness to say what your Word declares and to do it in our lives. Our heart's desire is for our walk in this life to be well pleasing and acceptable in your presence, Father. To you, Father, be the glory through our Lord Jesus Christ forever, Amen.

We thank God who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings by heavenly places in Christ this holiday season. We pray that the grace and peace of God our Father be to you and your family this holiday season.

Bless your hearts! You are the best! We love you!

In the Lord,

Ministry of Reconciliation
Son of God through Jesus Christ
Ambassador for Christ

Return to the Top