Gospel and Spiritual Growth Series by Pastor
Message #35 –
SOCIAL WORKS AND LUSTS FROM THE FLESH -- V
This message deals with the eleventh work of the flesh listing in the AV of Galatians 5:20, 21. It is translated "strife" in the AV though it would be translated better and more accurately "rivalries, factious spirit, selfish ambition." It is frequently confused with the word translated variance (#8) because the same three Greek letters begin each word. This word involves a selfish determination to do anything to get what one wants for one's own personal satisfaction. Often there is a plan involved to accomplish that selfish ambition. It rejects the rights of others and seeks to bring others to one's defense.
The main point gives a set of descriptions of this work of
the flesh (V.). The noun found in
Galatians
In its non-technical uses, this word comes from the idea of
spinning wool or working in wool. It
came to relate to service for hire or for a cause. Later it came to involve self-serving
activities. My definition is "A
scheming by which one puts himself in a good light by any method necessary
while ignoring the rights of other people." G. 2. develops some of the core
concepts. All nine of the passages are
covered under H. I had intended to
simply end with the verse-to-verse analysis of this work of the flesh but it
became evident that the Spirit was leading me to add the material under
The glow of His presence is only there as I enjoy my presence in Him in the heavenlies,
DKS
#35 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth
Valley --
SOCIAL WORKS AND LUSTS FROM THE FLESH -- V
Galatians
Proposition: To present the concepts involved in the word translated "strife" in the AV. This is the eleventh work of the flesh listed in Galatians five. This work involves the manipulation by a person to put forth an agenda for ones own advantage. This word involves selfish ambition that skirts propriety.
Introduction
A. The Categories of the Works of the Flesh
B. The Confusion of the Two Words in Galatians 5:20
1. Work #8 -- e;rij (eris) -- "Variance" AV
2. Work #11 -- evriqei.a (eritheia) -- "Strife" AV
3. The Identical First Three Letters of the Words
C. The Concentration on Devious Self-Seeking Manipulation for One's Advantage
1. Element One: A Willingness to Do Anything to Get What One Wants
2. Element Two: A Plan That Will Accomplish the a Goal to Get What One Wants
3. Element Three: A Prospect of Bringing Others to One's Side or Position
D. The Connection with the Other Works of the Flesh
TRANS: The eleventh work of the flesh is a factious spirit that seeks to include others in accepting the point of view seeking one's own personal desires without considering anyone or anything else.
V. RIVALRIES OR FACTIOUS SPIRITS: A MANIPULATION FOR SELF PROMOTION THAT CREATES FACTIONS --
PERSONAL SELFISH AMBITION THAT DEMANDS THAT OTHERS CONFORM TO ONE'S PARTY OR
FACTION -- A STRONG DESIRE TO WIN A FOLLOWING FOR ONE'S OWN PURPOSES --
Galatians 5:20
A. The Extent of the Revelation in the New Testament
1. evriqei,a (eritheia) -- feminine noun -- 7 times
2. evreqi,zw (erethidzo) -- verb -- 2 times [may be related to evri,j]
3. Total New Testament Occurrences -- 9 times
B. The Evidence in its Distribution in the New Testament -- All Occurrences Are in Grace Revelation
C. The Evaluation of the Ways in Which the Words Are Used in the New Testament
1. Positive Sense Occurrences
a. With the Word zh/loj (zealos) -- 2 Cor. 12:20; Gal. 5:20; Jas. 2:14, 16
b. In Clusters of Unrighteousness -- 2 Cor. 12:20; Gal. 5:20
D. The Examination of the Uses in the Greek Old Testament (LXX)
1. The Noun Is Not Used in the Greek Old Testament (LXX)
2. The Verb Is Used Translating the Following Hebrew Words
a. hr'G"
(gahrah) -- hithpael -- Daniel
b. hr'm'
(mahrah) -- Deuteronomy
c. rt,se (seether) -- Proverbs 25:23
d. @d;r' (rahdaf) -- Proverbs 19:7
E. The Emphasis of Usage in Classical and Koine Greek
F. The Elements of the Meaning of the Noun and the Verb
1. The Noun and Verb
a. Has the Idea of evriqeouo,mai (eritheouomai) -- to serve for hire; to serve a party; evriqo,j (erithos) -- a hired laborer." (T. S. Green, pg. 75)
b. "To Spin Wool, Work in Wool" (Thayer, pg. 249)
G. The Emphasis of the Definition of Rivalries, Factious Spirit
1. My Definition: A scheming by which one puts himself in a good light by any method necessary while ignoring the rights of other people.
2. The Details from the Definition
a. Classical Greek Idea: "a self-seeking pursuit of political office by unfair means."
b. Involves a self-centered self-promotion coming from a prejudiced, selfish ambition
c. It promotes a party spirit or partisanship that disdains others
d. This creates personality-centered factions that rival others of different opinion without objective reasons
e. There is a lack of consideration of other people and their views and positions
f. In the plural it involves "outbreaks or disputes of selfishness (Arndt and Gingrich, pg. 309)."
H. The Examination of Biblical Revelation for Understanding Rivalries or Factious Spirit
1. Its Involvement with Clusters of Unrighteousness
a. In 2 Corinthians 12:20, 21
b. In Works of the Flesh in Galatians 5:20
2. Its Identification with as a Partner in a Pair of Words
a. With Zeal -- zh/loj (zealos)
(1) James 3:14
(a) The Ongoing Possession of Bitter Zeal and Rivalry -- Works of the Flesh
(b) The
(c) The Insured Problem with Wisdom from Above
(2) James 3:16
(a) The Presence of Instability
(b) The Practice Is All Nonproductive
b. With Vainglory (Empty Glory) -- kenodoxi,an (kenodoxian) -- Philippians 2:3
(1) Nothing by Way of Rivalry
(2) Nothing by Way of Empty Glory
(3) But in Humbleness of Mind
(4) Esteem Others of the Same Kind Better Than Themselves
3. Its Identification of a Contrast Between Right and Wrong Behavior -- Rom. 2:6-9
[Pre-Law Saints]
a. Those Who Are Patient in Good Work
b. Seeking: Glory, Honor, Incorruption, Eternal Life
c. To Those Who Are Self-Seeking and Do Not Obey the Truth [Pre-Law Unsaved]
d. Wrath and Anger
e. Pressure and Anguish Upon Every Soul of Man Working Evil
4. The Intention of Some to Make Greater Pressure on Paul in Prison -- Philippians 1:16
[17]
a. The Proclamation of the Christ Out of Rivalry
b. The Position in Opposition to Purity
c. The Plan to Pressure Paul
5. The Involvement of a Good Action in the Verb -- 2 Corinthians 9:2
a. Good Mindset of Temper
b. Good Zeal and Good Provocation Stirred Up Many
c. Good Boast
6. The Imperative that Fathers Do No Provoke Their Children to Rivalry -- Colossians
a. A Prohibition of Exasperating One's Children
b. The Purpose Is to Prevent Their Being Disheartened {Distemper? Lack of Heat?}
I. The Examination of the Contrasts of Positives and Negatives in the Context in Which
Rivalries Is Found
1. Persons Before Law -- Romans 2:6-11
a. Believers -- Patience in Good Work -- Seeking -- 6, 7, 10
b. Unbelievers -- 8, 9
(1) Selfish and Disobedient to the Truth
(2) Obey Unrighteousness, Wrath and Anger
(3) Working Evil
2. Preaching Contrasts -- Philippians 1:15-17
a. Negative Unrighteous Preaching
(1) The Christ of Envy and Strife
(2) The Christ of Rivalry
(3) No Purity
b. Positive Righteous Preaching
(1) The Christ of Goodwill
(2) The Christ of Love
3. Practice of Christians -- Philippians 3:2
a. Negative
(1) Not in Rivalry or Empty Glory
(2) Looking Out for Their Own Things
b. Positive
(1) Humility of Mind Esteeming the Other Better Than Themselves
(2) Looking Our for the Things of Others
4. Problems with Wisdom -- James 3:13-17
a. Negative -- Earthly, Soulish, Demon-like Wisdom --- 15
(1) Bitter Envying and Rivalry in Hearts -- 14
(2) Exulting Over It
(3) Lie Against the Truth
(4) Envying and Strife -- 16
(5) Disorder/Commotion/Instability
(6) Every Nonproductive Practice
b. Positive -- Wisdom from Above
(1) Good Behavior Showing Works
(2) With Meekness of Wisdom
(3) Pure (4) Peaceable (5) Mildness
(6) Easily Persuaded (7) Full of Mercy (8) Having Good Fruits
(9) Without Partiality (10) Without Hypocrisy
TRANS: Rivalry is a self-centeredness that will use anything to get what someone wants for oneself with little or no consideration of someone else. It produces factions and feuds because of selfishness and selfish ambition.
Conclusion
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