"THE RESPONSE TO SUFFERING FOR THE GOSPEL"
Notes
Transcript
How are you suffering for the gospel? Do not over complicate the question - trials can be an aspect of suffering, temptations can be an aspect of suffering.
Over the past couple of weeks we have seen how Paul has commanded Timothy; 1) to be strong, 2) to be engaged in discipleship making, and this morning we going to look at the 3) command which is to suffer.
For just a few minutes go with me on this journey through some parallel passages within the Pauline letters -
22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
26 “Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 “For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.
13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
13 I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far) so that I may obtain some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
Romans 8:33–39 (NASB95)
33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
30 Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, 31 that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints;
32 If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.
2 Corinthians 1:8–11 (NASB95)
8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;
9 indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; 10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us,
11 you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many.
8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
2 Corinthians 4:15–18 (NASB95)
15 For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Philippians 1:18–26 (NASB95)
18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;
24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.
Friends, there are two parallel passages in the Pastoral Epistles -
1 Timothy 4:6–10 (NASB95)
6 In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. 7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;
8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. 10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.
2 Timothy 2:1–7 (NASB95)
1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
Proposition - Join with me as we look to our text this morning. We are going to examine three things 1) the call to suffer, 2) the model to suffer, and 3) the means to suffer.
Interrogative question - In what ways are you suffering because of your faith?
1. The Call to Suffer -
1. The Call to Suffer -
3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
“Suffer hardship with” - (synkakopatheo) - verb, aorist, active, imperative, second person, singular - finite verb - suffer together with someone
Sense: to suffer together - to suffer along with another or others.
a condition that is difficult to endure; suffering; deprivation; oppression:
Synonyms: misfortune, suffering, affliction, trouble
to suffer together - verb - to suffer along with another or others -
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,
3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge Chapter 2
3 endure. ver. 10; ch. 1:8; 3:11; 4:5. 1 Co. 13:7. 2 Co. 1:6. He. 6:15; 10:32; 11:27; 12:2, 3. Ja. 1:12. a good. 2 Co. 10:3–5. Ep. 6:11–18. See on 1 Ti. 1:18.
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge Chapter 1
18 charge. See on ver. 11, 12; ch. 4:14; 6:13, 14, 20. 2 Ti. 2:2; 4:1–3. son. See on ver. 2. Phi. 2:22. 2 Ti. 1:2; 2:1. Tit. 1:4. Phile. 10. according. ch. 4:4. mightest. ch. 6:12. 2 Co. 10:3, 4. Ep. 6:12–18. 2 Ti. 2:3–5; 4:7.
2. The Model to Suffer -
2. The Model to Suffer -
3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
Paul’s preparation and First Missionary Journey -
Watched the stoning of Stephen
58 When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Confronted by Christ -
Acts 9f
Visited Jerusalem -
Acts 9:26–30 (NASB95)
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.
28 And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. 30 But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.
Persecution increased they fled Jerusalem -
Acts 11:19–30 (NASB95)
19 So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. 23 Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; 24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.
25 And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. 27 Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 One of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius.
29 And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea. 30 And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.
Barnabas confirmed the gospel work -
23 Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;
(interesting fact Barnabas went to Tarsus to collect Paul, whom he had earlier mentored in Jerusalem.)
Called to continue spreading the Gospel -
1 Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
The Ministry continued -
Acts 14:8–20 (NASB95)
8 At Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9 This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had faith to be made well, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he leaped up and began to walk.
11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.” 12 And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
16 “In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; 17 and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 Even saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.
19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.
“The next day, Paul and Barnabas went east to Derbe, situated across the mountain range from Tarsus, and made many disciples. It was in the region of Lystra and Derbe that young Timothy heard the gospel from Paul and was saved.”
Paul’s second missionary journey - Acts 15:40–18:22; 2 Cor 11:8–9; 1 Thess 3:1–5
Paul, Silas and Timothy begin second missionary journey - Acts 15:40–16:10
Paul begins his second missionary journey - Acts 15:40–41
40 But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Timothy joins Paul and Silas - Acts 16:1–5
Acts 16:1–5 (NASB95)
1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, 2 and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
4 Now while they were passing through the cities, they were delivering the decrees which had been decided upon by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem, for them to observe. 5 So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily.
Paul travels through Phrygia and Galatia - Acts 16:6
6 They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;
Paul has a vision in Troas - Acts 16:7–10
7 and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; 8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Paul’s missions
Paul’s third missionary journey - Acts 18:23–21:26; Rom 16:1, 22; 1 Cor 16:8–9; 2 Cor 2:1; 7:13–15; 8:6, 16–24; 9:3–5; 12:14–18; 13:1–2
Paul begins his third missionary journey - Acts 18:23
23 And having spent some time there, he left and passed successively through the Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
Apollos begins teaching - Acts 18:24–19:1
24 Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John;
Paul in Ephesus - Acts 19:1–41; 1 Cor 16:8–9
1 It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. 2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Paul visits Corinth the second time - 2 Cor 2:1; 12:14; 13:1–2
1 But I determined this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again.
Paul sends Titus to Corinth the first time - 2 Cor 7:13–15; 8:6; 12:18
13 For this reason we have been comforted. And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I was not put to shame; but as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boasting before Titus proved to be the truth. 15 His affection abounds all the more toward you, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling.
Paul in Macedonia - Acts 20:1–4; Rom 15:25–29; 16:1, 22; 2 Cor 8:6, 16–24; 9:3–5
1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and when he had exhorted them and taken his leave of them, he left to go to Macedonia. 2 When he had gone through those districts and had given them much exhortation, he came to Greece. 3 And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.
Paul writes a letter to the Roman Christians - Acts 20:3; Rom 15:25–29; 16:1, 22
3 And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.
Paul in Troas - Acts 20:5–12
Acts 20:5–12 (NASB95)
5 But these had gone on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas. 6 We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas within five days; and there we stayed seven days. 7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.
8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together. 9 And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead.
10 But Paul went down and fell upon him, and after embracing him, he said, “Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.” 11 When he had gone back up and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long while until daybreak, and then left. 12 They took away the boy alive, and were greatly comforted.
Paul in Miletus - Acts 20:13–38
13 But we, going ahead to the ship, set sail for Assos, intending from there to take Paul on board; for so he had arranged it, intending himself to go by land. 14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. 15 Sailing from there, we arrived the following day opposite Chios; and the next day we crossed over to Samos; and the day following we came to Miletus.
Paul at Tyre - Acts 21:1–6
Acts 21:1–6 (NASB95)
1 When we had parted from them and had set sail, we ran a straight course to Cos and the next day to Rhodes and from there to Patara; 2 and having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 When we came in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left, we kept sailing to Syria and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload its cargo.
4 After looking up the disciples, we stayed there seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem. 5 When our days there were ended, we left and started on our journey, while they all, with wives and children, escorted us until we were out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying, we said farewell to one another. 6 Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home again.
Paul spends a day in Ptolemais - Acts 21:7
7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting the brethren, we stayed with them for a day.
Paul stays with Philip at Caesarea - Acts 21:8–15
Acts 21:8–15 (NASB95)
8 On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses. 10 As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11 And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” 12 When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!” 15 After these days we got ready and started on our way up to Jerusalem.
Paul travels to Jerusalem - Acts 21:16–26
16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea also came with us, taking us to Mnason of Cyprus, a disciple of long standing with whom we were to lodge. 17 After we arrived in Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18 And the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.
The question that comes to my mind is - How was Paul able to keep right perspective in the midst of “suffering?”
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
3. The Means to Suffer -
3. The Means to Suffer -
3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
“Good” - (kalos) - adjective, nominative, singular, masculine - attributive adjective - good
Sense: good - having desirable or positive qualities; especially those suitable for a thing specified. (this word is describing the kind of solders that you and I as believers are to be)
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge Chapter 2
a good. 2 Co. 10:3–5. Ep. 6:11–18.
“a soldier” - (stratiotes) - noun, nominative, singular, masculine - subject - soldier
Sense: soldier - a person who serves in an army
Think about the song - I’am in the Lord’s Army -
The word “soldier” is used 26 times in the NT -
9 “For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him.
12 And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
16 The soldiers took Him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium), and they called together the whole Roman cohort.
8 “For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”
36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine,
2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him;
23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece.
25 Therefore the soldiers did these things. But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
32 So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him;
34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
7 When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants,
4 When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people.
6 On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison.
18 Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to what could have become of Peter.
32 At once he took along some soldiers and centurions and ran down to them; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
35 When he got to the stairs, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob;
23 And he called to him two of the centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen.”
31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved.”
32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it fall away.
42 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim away and escape;
16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.
3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
The word Jesus is used “31” times, and the word Christ is used “32” just in the pastorals. (that is 1 and 2 timothy, and Titus)
“CHRIST”
Noun: Χριστός (Christos), GK 5986 (S 5547), 529×. Christos means “Messiah, anointed one, Christ.” Its root is the verb chriō, which in Greek meant “to smear, rub, spread.” In the LXX, because of the connection with “rubbing or smearing oil,” the term was associated with “one who had been anointed, or set apart, for a special task.” In the Hebrew Bible, the “anointed ones” were the king and the high priest, occasionally a prophet (all three offices are associated with Jesus; cf. Jn 6:14; Heb 9:11; Rev 19:16). In later Jewish writings in Greek, Christos came to mean “the Messiah.” Thus, it came into extensive usage as the NT designation for Jesus. The transliterated word Messias occurs 2× in the NT, translated in each case as Christos (Jn 1:41; 4:25). Mounce, W. D. (2006). In Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words (p. 109). Zondervan.
By the first century, Jews for the most part expected the Messiah to be like David, who would triumph in the last days by defeating and expelling the occupying Roman army. Mounce, W. D. (2006). In Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words (p. 109). Zondervan.
NT preaching, especially among Jews, focuses on presenting Jesus as the Christos: “Philip went down … and proclaimed the Christ there” (Acts 8:5). When Paul preached, he first demonstrated from the OT what sort of Christos was to be expected, and then came with his clincher: “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ” (17:2–3). Mounce, W. D. (2006). In Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words (p. 109). Zondervan.
Paul’s writings are saturated with the term Christos as a name (Rom 5:6; 1 Cor. 1:6, 13, 17; Eph 2:5; Phil 1:15; 2 Thess. 3:5; 1 Tim. 5:11). Paul writes Galatians because false teachers known as the Judaizers are threatening to pervert “the gospel of Christ” (Gal 1:7). Paul’s favorite phrase to describe the Christian’s new relationship to the Lord is “in Christ” (2 Cor. 5:17; Eph 1:3–14; Phil 3:8–9). Other NT authors also use Christos as a name (Heb 3:14; 9:28; 1 Pet. 4:13; 2 Jn. 9; Rev 20:4). The final book in the NT is known as the “Revelation of Jesus Christ.” See NIDNTT-A, 610–12. Mounce, W. D. (2006). In Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words (p. 109). Zondervan.
Matthew uses Christos with the definite article to demonstrate that Jesus is the expected, “end-time,” messianic figure (Mt 2:4).
“JESUS” -
Noun: Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous), GK 2652 (S 2424), 917×. The name Iēsous is the Greek translation of the Hebrew name “Joshua.” Two OT figures named Joshua provide intriguing foreshadowings of Jesus Christ. First is Moses’ godly successor, who led Israel through the Jordan River and into the promised land of Canaan (see the relationship between these two in Heb 4:6–11). Second is the high priest at the time of Israel’s return from exile: Zech 3:8 states that this Joshua (or “Jesus” in the Greek translation of the OT) is a symbol of the coming Messiah. Mounce, W. D. (2006). In Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words (p. 366). Zondervan.
The personal name given to Jesus is an especially appropriate one for the Messiah to bear since its Hebrew antecedent, Joshua, means “The LORD [Yahweh] is salvation.” Mounce, W. D. (2006). In Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words (p. 366). Zondervan.
There is power in the name of Jesus. When Peter and John stood before the authorities and were told to account for the healing of the crippled man, Peter said boldly, “Salvation [also healing] is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The writers of the book of Hebrew instructs us to fix our eyes on Jesus, “the apostle and high priest whom we confess” and “the author and perfecter of our faith” (Heb 3:1; 12:2). He is the mediator of the new covenant (12:24) Mounce, W. D. (2006). In Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words (p. 366). Zondervan.
SO WHAT?
How are you suffering for the gospel? Do not over complicate the question - trials can be an aspect of suffering, temptations can be an aspect of suffering.