(More Bible Studies Available @ www.marktabata.com)
To Receive These (And Other) Free Bible Studies And Updates Via Email, Contact Mark Tabata @ 606-216-1757 (Text Message) Or hazardhomecoc@gmail.com (Email)
Titus 2:14-who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
There is an interesting difference in the KJV of this passage. Instead of translating as “His own special people,” the KJV has “His own peculiar people.” Now if you are like me, you don’t like being called peculiar. But the word “peculiar” does not mean today what it means when the KJV was translated. There is something beautiful about the background of this word in the original Greek.
Barclay has this for us:
“The word we have translated as special (periousios) is interesting. It means reserved for, and it was used for that part of the spoils of a battle or a campaign which the king who had conquered set apart especially for himself. Through the work of Jesus Christ, Christians become fit to be the special possessions of God.” (William Barclay, The Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon (The New Daily Study Bible), 289 (Kindle Edition): Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press)
Kenneth Wuest sheds a great deal more light on the subject:
“THE WORD “peculiar” is found in Titus 2: 14. Christians are the peculiar people of God. We use the word sometimes when we speak of something odd or strange. But that is not its use here. The word is translated from a Greek word which is made up of two words, one which means “around,” as a circle, and the other which means “to be.” It can be charted by a dot within a circle. This will help us to understand the meaning of the combined word. As the circle is around the dot, so God is around each one of His saints. The circle monopolizes the dot, has the dot all to itself. So God has His own all to Himself. They are His own private unique possession. He has reserved them for Himself. The expression in I Thessalonians 1: 1, “The church of the Thessalonians in God,” has in it the same idea, for the Greek case is locative of sphere. That is, it is in the sphere of God, circumscribed by God, surrounded by Him. This is a place of high privilege. In I Peter 2: 7, the Greek has it, “Unto you who believe, is the preciousness.” That is, the preciousness of Jesus is imputed to us. He becomes our preciousness in the eyes of the Father as He becomes our righteousness before the law. The Son dwells in the bosom of the Father, closest to the Father’s affections. Marvellous grace, that we sinners saved by grace are brought into that favored place closest to the Father’s affections. The Father loves us as much as He loves His only begotten Son. What a pillow on which to rest our weary hearts when going through a testing time. This is also a place of protection. Place a dot outside of the circle, and draw an arrow from that dot to the dot inside the circle. Label that dot a temptation. As the arrow cannot reach the dot except it go through the circle, so no temptation can reach us except it go through the permissive will of God first. As we walk in the center of God’s will, He will not permit the Devil to confront us with a temptation too great for us, but will provide us with the necessary faith and spiritual strength to overcome it. Victory over sin is a guaranteed fact when we are in the center of God’s will. Put another dot outside the circle. Run an arrow to the dot inside. Label the outside dot “a trial or testing time.” As the arrow cannot reach the dot inside unless it goes through the circle, so no time of testing, no sorrow, can reach the child of God who dwells in the center of His will, unless it comes through the permissive will of God, and when it reaches us, God sees to it that all needed grace is given to bear that trial. He is the God of all grace who comforts us in all our afflictions. And this is what Paul means in I Corinthians 10: 13 when he says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” The Greek word translated “temptation” has two meanings, first, “a time of testing or trial,” second, “a solicitation to do evil.” We are the peculiar people of God, all His own, closest to His affections, under His protecting care, the recipients of all needed comfort and grace. God in His wisdom plans the test, and limits the temptation. God in His love sends the test, and permits the temptation. God in His grace meets the test, and overcomes the temptation. In His wisdom He plans and limits. The purpose of Christian suffering is that it is a means whereby sin is put out of our lives and likeness to Jesus produced. “We must be ground between the millstones of suffering before we can become bread for the hungry multitudes.” In His love He sends and permits. Christian suffering shows God’s love for that saint. God wants him more to Himself. In His grace He meets and overcomes. The grace of God is sufficient to surmount every difficulty, comfort any sorrow, overcome any temptation.” (Kenneth S. Wuest, Golden Nuggets from the Greek New Testament, 11-13 (Kindle Edition): Pioneer Library)
Meditate today upon the special love that God for you as a part of His church. Think about the ways that He has protected you, guided you, supplied your needs, and in every way watched over you through all the trials of your life. No doubt even in ways you are not aware!
Philippians 2:1 (ERV)-Think about what we have in Christ: the encouragement he has brought us, the comfort of his love, our sharing in his Spirit, and the mercy and kindness he has shown us.…
Allow this knowledge to guard your heart as you face the trials and hardships of the day. You are known by the Lord of creation and loved by Him more then you can ever imagine!
Psalm 40:17-But I am poor and needy; Yet the LORD thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God.
Go forth and share this love of God with others that they may also become one of His peculiar people.
Thank You Lord that we can be Your peculiar people. Help us to honor You and love You as we should. Please gently lead us along life’s difficult way. Amen.