Кіріспе
Арминийлік діни ілімдер
Қасиеттілердің шартты сақталуы, немесе қасиеттілердің шартты табандылығы, немесе көбінесе шартты қауіпсіздік – арминийлік христиандық сенім, онда сенушілер Құдайдың оларды Мәсіхке деген табанды сенім шартымен онымен құтқарылу қарым-қатынасында сақтауы айтылады. Арминийлер Киелі кітапта Мәсіхке деген бастапқы сенімді, «арқылы қарым-қатынас орнатылады», және оған деген табандылықты, «арқылы қарым-қатынас сақталады» деп сипаттағанды көреді. «Сенімгердің Мәсіхпен қарым-қатынасы ешқашан өткен шешімнің, іс-әрекеттің немесе тәжірибенің қайтарылмайтын салдары ретінде қалыптасқан тұрақты қарым-қатынас емес». Керісінше, ол – «тірі Құтқарушыға деген тірі сеніммен» өмір сүретін одақ. Бұл тірі одақ Мәсіхтің қарапайым бұйрығында жазылған: «Менде қал, Мен де сенде болам». Арминийшілерге сәйкес, Киелі кітаптағы құтқарушы сенім Құдайға деген сүйіспеншілік пен бағынушылықта көрінеді (Ғалаттықтарға 5:6; Еврейлерге 5:8–9). 1621 жылғы Ремонстранттардың «Күресуі» деп аталатын еңбегінде алғашқы Ремонстранттар шынайы немесе тірі сенім сүйіспеншілік арқылы әрекет ететінін, сондай-ақ Құдайдың өз Ұлы арқылы құтқарылу мен мәңгілік өмірді беруді таңдайтынын, «соның нәтижесінде оның есіміне шын сенетін, яғни оның ізгі хабарына бағынып, өлімге дейін сенім мен бағынушылықта табандылық танытқандардың бәрін және тек соларды ғана даңқтайтынын» растады. Арминийлер «Киелі кітаптан сенушінің қауіпсіз екендігі анық көрінеді» деп сенеді. Сонымен қатар, сенушілердің ешқандай сыртқы күш немесе жағдай оларды Мәсіхпен бірге болған Құдайдың сүйіспеншілігінен ажырата алмайтынын білгенде сенімділік бар (Римдіктерге 8:35–39; Жоханға 10:27–29). Дегенмен, Арминийлер Киелі кітапта шынайы сенушілерге сенімнен айнылып, Мәсіх арқылы Құдаймен құтқарылу байланысынан үзілу мүмкіндігі туралы көптеген ескертулер бар екенін мойындайды. Арминийлер егер сенуші сенімсіз болса (сенушіліктен бас тартса), олар сенімде болып, Мәсіхпен бірігіп жүрген сенушілерге берілген құтқарылу мен мәңгілік өмір уәделеріне міндетті түрде қатыса алмайды деп санайды. Сондықтан Арминийлер сенімнен бас тартудың нақты қауіптері туралы ескертуде Киелі кітап жазушыларына еліктеуге тырысады. Сенімнен бас тартудың Киелі кітапқа негізделген жолы – сенушілерді Құдаймен қарым-қатынаста, Мәсіхпен тығыз байланыста және Киелі Рухтың күшімен рухани жетілуге шақыру. Жетілу Мәсіхтің ізбасарлары бірге бас қосып, бір-бірін жігерлендіріп, нығайтып, Құдайды және басқаларды сүюге шақырып, Иеміз әрі Құтқарушымыз Иса Мәсіхтің рақымы мен білімінде өсіп-өнуді жалғастырып, түрлі сынақтар мен азғырулар кезінде Құдайға сенім артып, дұға ету арқылы табандылық таныту арқылы жүзеге асады.
According to Arminians, biblical saving faith expresses itself in love and obedience to God (Galatians 5:6; Hebrews 5:8–9). In the Remonstrant Confession of 1621, the first Remonstrants affirmed that true or living faith operates through love, and that God chooses to give salvation and eternal life through his Son, "and to finally glorify all those and only those truly believing in his name, or obeying his gospel, and persevering in faith and obedience until death". Arminians believe that "It is abundantly evident from the Scriptures that the believer is secure." Furthermore, believers have assurance in knowing there is no external power or circumstance that can separate them from the love of God they enjoy in union with Christ (Romans 8:35–39; John 10:27–29). Nevertheless, Arminians see numerous warnings in Scripture directed to genuine believers about the possibility of falling away in unbelief and thereby becoming severed from their saving union with God through Christ. Arminians hold that if a believer becomes an unbeliever (commits apostasy), they necessarily cease to partake of the promises of salvation and eternal life made to believers who continue in faith and remain united to Christ. Therefore, Arminians seek to follow the biblical writers in warning believers about the real dangers of committing apostasy. A sure and Biblical way to avoid apostasy is to admonish believers to mature spiritually in their relationship with God in union with Christ and through the power of the Spirit. Maturity takes place as Christ followers keep on meeting with fellow believers for mutual encouragement and strength; exhorting each to love God and others; to continue growing in the grace and knowledge of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; and to persevere in faith in prayerful dependence upon God through various trials and temptations.
Арминий және шартты кепілдік
Якоб Арминий (1560–1609) оқып зерттеген ерте шіркеу әкелерінен де сондай қорытындыға келді. Кальвинші Уильям Перкинстің қасиеттілердің тұрақтылығы туралы аргументтеріне жауап ретінде ол былай деп жазды: «Ерте шіркеу әкелерінің пікірлеріне келсек, сіздердің білетініңіздей, көне заманның дені сенушілердің адасып, құрыуы мүмкін деген пікірде болған». Тағы бір жағдайда ол мұндай көзқарас ешқашан «ерестік саналмағанын», бірақ «Мәсіхтің шіркеуінде оның мүмкін еместігін жоққа шығаратын қарасынан гөрі әрқашан көп жақтастары болғанын» атап өтті. Арминийдің бұл мәселедегі пікірі осы салыстырмалы түрде қысқа мәлімдемеде анық айтылған:
Менің қасиеттілердің тұрақтылығына қатысты көзқарасым мынадай: шын сенім арқылы Мәсіхке егізектелген және осылайша Оның өмір сыйлайтын Рухының үлескері болған адамдар, Шайтанға, күнәға, дүниеге және өздерінің нәпсілеріне қарсы күресуге және осы жауларға жеңіс алуға жеткілікті күшке (немесе қуатқа) ие, бірақ соның өзінде де сол Киелі Рухтың жарылқауысыз емес. Иса Мәсіх те Оның Рухымен барлық сынақтарында оларға көмектеседі, Оның қолдауын ұсынады. Егер олар шайқасқа дайын тұрса, Оның көмегін тілесе және өздерінен жалықпаса, Мәсіх оларды құлаудан сақтайды. Сондықтан, Шайтанның қитұрық амалдарымен немесе күшімен оларды Мәсіхтің қолынан алдап немесе сүйреп алу мүмкін емес. Бірақ менің ойымша, біздің алғашқы жиынымызда (немесе Синодымызда) Киелі кітаптарды мұқият зерттеу пайдалы және қажет болады, кейбір адамдар Мәсіхпен өмір сүрудің бастамасын тастап, қазіргі зұлым дүниеге қайтадан жабысып, оларға берілген сау ұғымнан бас тартып, жақсы ар-ұждандарынан айырылып, Құдайдың жарылқауын күшсіз етуі мүмкін емес пе? Мен мұнда ашық және адал түрде мойындеймін, мен ешқашан шын сенушінің сенімнен толығымен немесе соңынан құлауы және құрыуы мүмкін деп үйреткен емеспін, бірақ мен бұл сияқты көрінетін Киелі кітаптардағы кейбір үзінділер бар екенін жасырмаймын, және маған көруге рұқсат етілген оларға жауаптар менің түсінігімнің барлық аспектілерінде мақұлдамайды. Екінші жағынан, кері доктринаға (шартсыз тұрақтылыққа) қатысты көптеген ойлар тудыратын белгілі бір үзінділер келтіріледі. Арминий үшін сенушінің қауіпсіздігі шартты – «жауынға дайындықпен, Оның көмегін тілеп, өздерінен жалықпаған жағдайда». Бұл Арминийдің басқа жазбаларындағы мына сөздерін толықтырады: «Құдай тәубеге келіп сенгендерді қабылдауға, сенімде тұрақтылық танытқандарды Мәсіх арқылы және Мәсіх үшін құтқаруға, ал тәубесіз және сенімсіздерді күнә мен ашуда қалдыруға және Мәсіхтен бөлінгендерді айыптауға шешім қабылдайды». Басқа жерде ол былай деп жазды: «[Құдай] сеніп, сенімде тұрақтылық танытқандардың құтқарылуын қалайды, бірақ сенбейтіндер мен тәубесіздердің сотталуын қалайды».
Ремонтанттар мен шартты кепілдік
Арминий 1609 жылы қайтыс болғаннан кейін, ремонстранттар өздерінің басшысының шартты қауіпсіздік туралы көзқарасын және жолдан таю мүмкіндігіне қатысты оның күмәнін сақтады. Бұл туралы олардың басшылары 1610 жылы жазған бесінші мақалада дәлелденген:
That those who are incorporated into Christ by a true faith, and have thereby become partakers of his life giving Spirit, have thereby full power to strive against Satan, sin, the world, and their own flesh, and to win the victory; it being well understood that it is ever through the assisting grace of the Holy Ghost; and that Jesus Christ assists them through his Spirit in all temptations, extends to them his hand, and if only they are ready for the conflict, and desire his help, and are not inactive, keeps them from falling, so that they, by not craft or power of Satan, can be misled nor plucked out of Christ's hand, according to the Word of Christ, John 10:28: 'Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.' But whether they are capable, through negligence, of forsaking again the first beginnings of their life in Christ, of again returning to this present evil world, of turning away from the holy doctrine which was delivered them, of losing a good conscience, of becoming devoid of grace, that must be more particularly determined out of the Holy Scripture, before we ourselves can teach it with full persuasion of our minds. Sometime between 1610, and the official proceeding of the Synod of Dort (1618), the Remonstrants became fully persuaded in their minds that the Scriptures taught that a true believer was capable of falling away from faith and perishing eternally as an unbeliever. They formalized their views in "The Opinion of the Remonstrants" (1618). Points three and four in the fifth article read:
True believers can fall from true faith and can fall into such sins as cannot be consistent with true and justifying faith; not only is it possible for this to happen, but it even happens frequently. True believers are able to fall through their own fault into shameful and atrocious deeds, to persevere and to die in them; and therefore finally to fall and to perish. Picirilli remarks: "Ever since that early period, then, when the issue was being examined again, Arminians have taught that those who are truly saved need to be warned against apostasy as a real and possible danger."
Шынайы сенім арқылы Мәсіхке біріккен және Оның өмір сыйлайтын Рухына ие болғандар, Шайтанға, күнәға, дүниеге және өздерінің тәндеріне қарсы күресуге және жеңіске жетуге толық күшке ие; бұл әрқашан Киелі Рухтың көмегімен болатынын жақсы түсіну керек. Иса Мәсіх Киелі Рух арқылы барлық сынақтарда оларға көмектеседі, оларға қолын созып, егер олар күреске дайын болса, көмегін тілесе және жарамсыз болмаса, құлаудан сақтайды. Осылайша, олар Шайтанның айла-амалдарымен немесе күшімен адастырылмайды және Мәсіхтің қолынан жұлып алынбайды, Мәсіхтің сөзі бойынша, Жохан 10:28: «Ешкім де оларды Менің қолымнан тартып ала алмайды». Бірақ олар Мәсіхпен өмір сүрудің бастапқы қадамдарынан немқұрайлылықпен бас тартып, осы зұлым дүниеге қайта оралып, оларға берілген қасиетті ілімнен айырылып, жақсы ар-ұждандарынан адасып, рақымнан кенде болса, онда біз Киелі кітаптарды зерттеп, оларды толық сеніммен үйретуіміз керек. 1610 жыл мен Дорт Синодының (1618 жыл) ресми отырысы арасында ремостранттар Киелі кітаптардың шынайы сенушінің сенімнен бас тартып, мәңгілік құрылуға ұшырауы мүмкін дегеніне толық сенімге келді. Олар өз көзқарастарын «Ремонстранттардың пікірі» (1618 жыл) деген еңбекте ресми түрде жариялады. Бесінші мақаланың үшінші және төртінші тармақтарында былай делінген:
That those who are incorporated into Christ by a true faith, and have thereby become partakers of his life giving Spirit, have thereby full power to strive against Satan, sin, the world, and their own flesh, and to win the victory; it being well understood that it is ever through the assisting grace of the Holy Ghost; and that Jesus Christ assists them through his Spirit in all temptations, extends to them his hand, and if only they are ready for the conflict, and desire his help, and are not inactive, keeps them from falling, so that they, by not craft or power of Satan, can be misled nor plucked out of Christ's hand, according to the Word of Christ, John 10:28: 'Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.' But whether they are capable, through negligence, of forsaking again the first beginnings of their life in Christ, of again returning to this present evil world, of turning away from the holy doctrine which was delivered them, of losing a good conscience, of becoming devoid of grace, that must be more particularly determined out of the Holy Scripture, before we ourselves can teach it with full persuasion of our minds. Sometime between 1610, and the official proceeding of the Synod of Dort (1618), the Remonstrants became fully persuaded in their minds that the Scriptures taught that a true believer was capable of falling away from faith and perishing eternally as an unbeliever. They formalized their views in "The Opinion of the Remonstrants" (1618). Points three and four in the fifth article read:
True believers can fall from true faith and can fall into such sins as cannot be consistent with true and justifying faith; not only is it possible for this to happen, but it even happens frequently. True believers are able to fall through their own fault into shameful and atrocious deeds, to persevere and to die in them; and therefore finally to fall and to perish. Picirilli remarks: "Ever since that early period, then, when the issue was being examined again, Arminians have taught that those who are truly saved need to be warned against apostasy as a real and possible danger."
Шынайы сенушілер шынайы сенімнен тайып, шынайы және ақтауға лайықты сеніммен үйлеспейтін күнәларға түсуі мүмкін; бұл тек мүмкін ғана емес, тіпті жиі болады. Шынайы сенушілер өздерінің кінәларынан туындаған ұятты және қорқынышты істерге түсіп, оларға төзімділікпен төзе алады және солардан өліп, содан кейін құлайды және жойылады. Пицирилли былай деп атап көрсетеді: «Осы мәселе қайта қарастырылғаннан бері арминиандар шын құтқарылғандарды жолдан таюдың нақты және мүмкін қаупі туралы ескертуге үйреткен».
That those who are incorporated into Christ by a true faith, and have thereby become partakers of his life giving Spirit, have thereby full power to strive against Satan, sin, the world, and their own flesh, and to win the victory; it being well understood that it is ever through the assisting grace of the Holy Ghost; and that Jesus Christ assists them through his Spirit in all temptations, extends to them his hand, and if only they are ready for the conflict, and desire his help, and are not inactive, keeps them from falling, so that they, by not craft or power of Satan, can be misled nor plucked out of Christ's hand, according to the Word of Christ, John 10:28: 'Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.' But whether they are capable, through negligence, of forsaking again the first beginnings of their life in Christ, of again returning to this present evil world, of turning away from the holy doctrine which was delivered them, of losing a good conscience, of becoming devoid of grace, that must be more particularly determined out of the Holy Scripture, before we ourselves can teach it with full persuasion of our minds. Sometime between 1610, and the official proceeding of the Synod of Dort (1618), the Remonstrants became fully persuaded in their minds that the Scriptures taught that a true believer was capable of falling away from faith and perishing eternally as an unbeliever. They formalized their views in "The Opinion of the Remonstrants" (1618). Points three and four in the fifth article read:
True believers can fall from true faith and can fall into such sins as cannot be consistent with true and justifying faith; not only is it possible for this to happen, but it even happens frequently. True believers are able to fall through their own fault into shameful and atrocious deeds, to persevere and to die in them; and therefore finally to fall and to perish. Picirilli remarks: "Ever since that early period, then, when the issue was being examined again, Arminians have taught that those who are truly saved need to be warned against apostasy as a real and possible danger."
Шартты қауіпсіздікті растаған басқа арминиандар
Джон Гудвин (1593–1665) пуритан болған, ол "Құтқарылудан айырылу туралы Арминиялық ұстаным" (1651) деген еңбегін ұсынған, бұл кальвинистердің көп назарын аударды. Англиялық епископ Лоренс Вомок (1612–1685) өзінің кітабында кейінгі Ремонстранттардың табандылығына қатысты бесінші қағидаға көптеген жазба орындарын келтіреді. Филипп ван Лимборх (1633–1712) 1702 жылы Ремонстранттардың толық жүйелі теологиясын жазды, онда жолдан тайып кету туралы бөлім болды. 1710 жылы Англия шіркеуінің пасторы Дэниел Уитби (1638–1726) кальвинизмнің бес қағидасын сынаған маңызды еңбек жариялады, оның ішінде шартсыз табандылық туралы доктринасы да бар. Джон Уэсли (1703–1791), методизмнің негізін қалаушы, шартты қауіпсіздікті қатты қорғады және шартсыз қауіпсіздікті сынады. 1751 жылы Уэсли өзінің ұстанымын "Святых табандылығы туралы ойлар" атты еңбегінде қорғады. Онда ол сенуші адам, егер ол "сенімде нығайып" немесе "соңына дейін сенімде табандылық танытса", Құдаймен құтқарылатын қарым-қатынаста болады деді. Уэсли Құдайдың баласы "нағыз сенуші болып қала бергенде, тозаққа түсе алмайды" деп мәлімдеді. Бірақ, егер ол "сенімді жоғалтса", онда "қазір сенетін адам кейін сенімсіз болып" "шайтанның баласы" болуы мүмкін. Арминиялық көзқарасты ұстанған алдыңғылары сияқты, Уэсли де Киелі кітаптардың куәлігінен шынайы сенушінің сенімнен және туралық жолынан бас тартып, "Құдайдан айырылып, мәңгілік құрылуға ұшырауы мүмкін" екенін түсінді. Джон Уильям Флетчер (1729–1783); Джозеф Бенсон (1748–1821); Лерой М. Ли (1758–1816); Адам Кларк (1762–1832); Натан Бангс (1778–1862); Ричард Уотсон (1781–1833); Томас С. Торнтон (1794–1860); Сэмюэл Уэйкфилд (1799–1895); Лютер Ли (1800–1889); Амос Бинни (1802–1878); Уильям Х. Браунинг (1805–1873); Дэниел Д. Уэддон (1805–1885); Томас Н. Ралстон (1806–1891); Томас О. Саммерс (1812–1882); Альберт Нэш (1812–1900); Джон Майли (1813–1895); Филипп Пью (1817–1871); Рэндольф Синкс Фостер (1820–1903); Уильям Бёрт Поуп (1822–1903); Б. Т. Робертс (1823–1893); Дэниел Стил (1824–1914); Бенджамин Филд (1827–1869); Джон Шоу Бэнкс (1835–1917); және Джозеф Агар Бит (1840–1924).
Жолдан таюшылықтың анықтамасы
Жолдан таюшылық – бұрын Иса Мәсіхке сенген адамның оған деген сенімінен әдейі бас тартуы. Кремердің сөзінше, apostasia сөзінің толық мағынасы – «сенімсіздікке өту», яғни «Иса Мәсіхке деген сенім арқылы Құдаймен болған байланыстың» үзілуі. Арминийлік ғалым Роберт Шенк былай деп жазады: «Ағылшын тіліндегі apostasia сөзі грек тіліндегі apostasia сөзінен алынған. Тейер apostasia-ны ‘ауытқу, жолдан тайғандық, діннен бас тарту; Киелі кітапта – шын діннен алшақтау’ деп анықтайды. Бұл сөз Жаңа өсиетте екі рет кездеседі (Елшілердің істері 21:21, 2 Салоникалықтарға 2:3). Бұл сөздің мағынасы Елшілердің істері 21:21-де айтылғанда жақсы түсініледі: «Сіздер Мұсадан бас тартуды үйретіп жүрсіздер». apostasia сөзімен синонимді аталатын сөз – жолдан таюшылық. Тейер apostasion-ды, Киелі кітапта қолданылғандай, «ажырасу, бас тарту» деп анықтайды. Ол «ажырасу туралы хат» деген сөздерді келтіреді. Сондай-ақ ол Матай 5:31-ге сілтеме жасап, «оған ажырасу туралы хат [apostasion] берсін» дейді. Демосфен жолдан таюшылықты «бостандық алған адамның қамқоршысынан бас тартуы» деп атаған. Моултон мен Миллиган [apostasion] сөзін «сатылған мүліктің құжаты, меншік құқығынан бас тарту шарты» деп түсіндіреді. Олар сондай-ақ apostasion сөзін «ажырасу туралы құжатқа» қатысты қолданады. [Туысқан] етістік афистеми-дің мағынасы, әрине, есімдердің мағынасына сәйкес келеді. Бұл сөз Елшілердің істері 5:37-де «оны соңынан еріп жүрген халықты алдады» дегенде қолданылған. Бұл сөздің мағынасы – кету, қашып кету, тастап кету, сенімсіз болу және т.б. И. Говард Маршалл былай деп жазады: «Лука 8:13; 1 Тімотеге 4:1 және Еврейлерге 3:12-де афистеми сенімнен бас тарту үшін қолданылады, ал LXX [яғни, Септуагинта, Ескі өсиеттің грек тіліне аудармасы] –да Құдайдан бас тарту үшін қолданылады». Маршалл сондай-ақ «сенімде тұрақтамаудың сәтсіздігі грек тіліндегі басқа сөздермен де білдіріледі, олар – құлап кету, сырғану және адасу» дейді. Әсіресе теологиялық маңызы бар етістік – скандализо («сенімнен бас тарту») және скандалон («сенімсіздікке итермелеу, құтқарылудың жоғалуына себеп, азғыру»). Шенк былай деп қорытындылады: «Жаңа өсиеттегі анықтамаға сәйкес, жолдан тайған адам – Мәсіхпен құтқарылу қарым-қатынасынан бас тартып, Мәсіхпен байланысын үзіп, одан алыстаған адам. Құдайға қарсы шығудың қаупіне бой ұсынбау туралы ескертулер шынайы сенушілерге арналған». Дж. Родман Уильямс былай деп қосты: «Құтқарылудың өзгермейтін жалғасуын растаушылардың жасаған қателіктерінің бірі – құтқарылуды тым көп «күй» ретінде қарастыру. Осы тұрғыдан алғанда, құтқарылу дегеніміз – «мүсілім күйге» кіру. Адам жаңа дүниеге көшкені қаншалықты дұрыс болса да, оны Құдай патшалығы, мәңгілік өмір немесе басқа да осыған ұқсас сөздермен атауға болады, мәселенің мәні – Құдаймен жаңа қарым-қатынас орнату. Құтқарылуға дейін адам «Құдайдан тыс» немесе «Құдайға қарсы» болып, Оның қасында болудан ажыратылған. Ал енді Иса Мәсіх арқылы Құдай бізді «Оның қасында біртұтас» етіп татуластырды. Оның үстіне, Киелі Рухтың өзі тек күш немесе энергия емес, ол – жаңа және тығыз қарым-қатынастағы Құдайдың Өзі. Демек, адам ‘басқа жаққа ауысып кетсе’, бұл оның қандай да бір тұрақты күйінен емес, Біреуден ‘алып кетуі’ мүмкін. Бұл – жеке қарым-қатынастың бұзылуы, үзілуі, жоғалуы; бұл – жолдан таюдың қайғылы мәні. Бұл құтқарылу сияқты керемет нәрседен бас тарту емес, бұл – Адамды тастау. Мұндай әрекет құтқарылудан да айырады. Бірақ ең бастысы – Құдаймен қарым-қатынасты үзу».
The English word apostasy is derived from the Greek noun, apostasia. Thayer defines apostasia as 'a falling away, defection, apostasy; in the Bible sc. from the true religion.' The word appears twice in the New Testament (Acts 21:21, 2 Thessalonians 2:3). Its meaning is well illustrated in its use in Acts 21:21, "you are teaching apostasy (defection) from Moses." A kindred word is the synonym apostasion. Thayer defines apostasion, as used in the Bible, as "divorce, repudiation." He cites and , "a bill of divorce [apostasion]." He also cites Matthew 5:31, "let him give her a bill of divorce [apostasion]." He cites the use of apostasion by Demosthenes as "defection, of a freedman from his patron." Moulton and Milligan cite the use of [apostasion] as a "bond of relinquishing (of property sold) a contract of renunciation the renunciation of rights of ownership." They also cite the use of apostasion "with reference to 'a deed of divorce.'" The meaning of the [related] verb aphistēmi is, of course, consonant with the meaning of the nouns. It is used transitively in Acts 5:37, "drew away people after him." Intransitively, it means to depart, go away, desert, withdraw, fall away, become faithless, etc. I. Howard Marshall notes that aphistemi "is used of giving up the faith in Luke 8:13; 1 Timothy 4:1 and Hebrews 3:12, and is used of departure from God in the LXX [i. e., Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament]." Marshall also notes that "the failure to persist in faith is expressed by [other Greek] words which mean falling away, drifting and stumbling." Of particular theological significance are the verb skandalizō ("fall away from faith") and the noun skandalon ("enticement to unbelief, cause of salvation's loss, seduction"). Shank concluded: "An apostate, according to the New Testament definition, is one who has severed his union with Christ by withdrawing from an actual saving relationship with Him. Apostasy is impossible for men who have not entered into a saving relationship with God The warnings against succumbing to the ugly peril of apostasy are directed to men who obviously are true believers." J. Rodman Williams adds,
One of the mistakes made by those who affirm the invariable continuance of salvation is the viewing of salvation too much as a "state." From this perspective, to be saved is to enter into "a state of grace." However true it is that one moves into a new realm—whether it is called the kingdom of God, eternal life, or other like expression—the heart of the matter is the establishment of a new relationship with God. Prior to salvation, one was "without God" or "against God," cut off from His presence. Now through Jesus Christ reconciliation—"at one ment with God"—has occurred. Moreover, the Holy Spirit, who becomes present, is not merely some force or energy but God Himself in a new and intimate relationship. Hence, if a person begins to "drift away," it is not from some static condition or "state" but from a Person. It is a personal relationship that thereby is betrayed, broken, forfeited; this is the tragic meaning of apostasy. It is not so much giving up something, even so marvellous as salvation, but the forsaking of a Person. Surely through such an action salvation too is forfeited. But the critical matter is the severing of a relationship with the personal God.
Киелі кітаптағы сөздер
Төменде арминийшілер шартты қауіпсіздікті және иманынан айырылу мүмкіндігін қорғау үшін пайдаланған маңызды көптеген Киелі Жазулар келтірілген.
Елшілердің істері кітабындағы шартты кепілдік
Елшілердің істері 14:21–22 – Олар [Пауыл мен Барнаба] сол қалада Ізгі хабарды уағыздап, көптеген шәкірттерді жеңіп алды. Содан кейін олар Лүстраға, Қонияға және Антақияға қайтып оралып, шәкірттерді нығайтып, сенімде тұруға жігерлендірді. «Құдайдың Патшалығына кіру үшін көптеген қиындықтардан өтуіміз керек», – деді олар. (ЖД) Пауылдың жаңа христиандарға көрсеткен қамқорлығы қиындықтарға төзу қажеттілігі туралы ескертуді қамтыды. «Қиындық – шәкірт болудың маңызды бөлігі. Пауыл да осыны хаттарында айтады, ал Иса шәкірттікке шақыруында атап көрсетті». Пауыл қиындықтарға төзу «Құдайдың Патшалығына кіру шарты» екенін мәлімдеді. Олардың «сенімді нығайтуы» және «сенімде тұруға жігерлендіруі» – Иса мен Пауыл айтқандай, болашақта болатын қиындықтарға төтеп беруге дайындау мақсатында болды. Елшілердің істері 20:28–32 – Өздеріңе де, Киелі Рух сіздерді бақташы етіп тағайындаған бүкіл қауымға да қадағалап қараңдар, Құдайдың отарын бағып-қадағалаңдар, Ол оны Өзінің Ұлының қанымен сатып алды. Мен кеткеннен кейін қауымға қастандық жасайтын қатыгез қасқырлар келеді деп білемін, қойларды аямайды. Тіпті өздеріңіздің араларыңыздан да Исаның жолынан бұрып, адастыруға тырысатын жалған ұстаздар пайда болады. Сондықтан сергек болыңдар, үш жыл бойы күні-түні әрқайсыңызды жас тамтып ескертіп өткенімді есіңдерде сақтаңдар. Ал енді сіздерді Құдайға және Оның рақымы туралы жақсы хабарға аманаттаймын. Осы хабар сіздерді нығайтып, барлық қасиеттілерге берілген мұраны алуға мүмкіндік береді. Пауыл Ефестегі қарттарды сақ болуға және өздеріңе де, Құдайдың отарына да қадағалап қарауға шақырады, себебі жауыз қасқырлар келіп, Құдайдың халқына сырттан да, іштен де зиян келтіреді. Осы жалған ұстаздар Изгі хабардың шындығын бұрмалап, «христиандық сенушілерді (сенімнен)» адастыруға тырысады, оларды «иманнан бас тартуға» көндіреді. Таңқаларлық жайт, кейбір қарттардың өзі «асылған тәлімгерлерге» айналып, қауым мүшелерін «христиандық хабардан» адастырады. Лұқаның «Елшілердің істері кітабының 20-тарауындағы ескертуі» оқырмандарын «христиандық қауымның ішіндегі қауіпті ұстаздарға» ескертіп, олардың сенушілерді елшілердің сенімінен адастыруы мүмкін екенін түсінуге бағытталған. «Егер сенуші дене құмарлықтарына бой жеткізсе, ол жолдан таюшылық пен мәңгілік өлімге ұшырауы мүмкін (2 Петір 2:19–22)». Римдіктерге жолдаған хат 11:19–22 – «Бұтақтар кесілді, мені егіп қоюым үшін», – дейсің. Дұрыс айтасың! Олар сенімсіздіктен кесілді, ал сен сенім арқасында тұрсың. Мақтанба, қорқып жүр! Егер Құдай табиғи бұтақтарды аямаған болса, сені де аямайды. Сондықтан Құдайдың мейірімділігі мен қатаңдығын ойластыр: Ол сенбегендерге қатаң, ал саған мейірімді. Егер сен Оның мейірімділігінде қалып жүрсең. Әйтпесе сен де кесіліп тасталасың. (ISV) 20–22-тараулар Кальвин және басқалардың барлық әділ болғандар ақыры құтқарылады деген іліміне қарама-қайшы келеді. Пауыл оқырмандарының барлығы әділ деп есептейді, Құдайдың ұлдары және мұрагерлері, олардың мұрасының алғашқы жемісі – Құдайдың Рухына ие (5:9–11; 6:18, 22; 8:2, 15, 16, 23-тарауларды қараңыз). Бірақ ол оларды Құдайдың мейірімділігінде қалып жүрмесе, кесіліп тасталатыны туралы ескертеді. Бұл жаза сенімсіз яһудилерге тиген жазадан кем емес, олар 20, 21-тарауларда сенімділерге ескерту ретінде келтірілген. Пауылдың сенімсіз яһудилерге деген қайғысы олардың жойылуға беттеп бара жатқанын көрсетеді (2:12-тарау). Оның сенім арқасында тұрған басқа ұлттарға айтқан ескертуі, егер олар сенімде қалып жүрмесе, сондай тағдырға ұшырайтынын білдіреді. Сондықтан біз осы сөздерді қарапайым және толық мағынасында қабылдаймыз. Құтқарылу, ізгі ниеттен бастап, ақырғы жеңіске дейін, Құдайдың ісі, Оның тегін рақымының сыйы және Оның мәңгілік мақсатының іске асуы болса да, ол басталуында да, жалғасуында да адамның сеніміне байланысты. Римдіктерге жолдаған хат 14:13–23 – Сондықтан бір-бірімізді айыптамайық. Керісінше, бауырларыңыздың алдына ешқандай тосқауыл қоймауға шешім қабылдаңдар. Мен Иеміз Исада толық сенімдімін, ешбір тағамның өзінен зияны жоқ. Бірақ егер біреу бір нәрсені арам деп санаса, ол оған арам. Егер сенің тамақ жеуің бауырларыңды ренжітсе, енді махаббатпен әрекет етпейсің. Тамақ жеуің арқасында Христиан үшін өлген бауырларыңды жоқ қылма. Жақсы деп санайтының арам деп айтылмасын. Өйткені Құдайдың Патшалығы тамақ жеу мен ішу емес, Рақымет, бейбітшілік және Киелі Рухта қуаныш. Осылай қызмет ететін әркім Құдайқа қанағатты және адамдардың алдында мақтанышқа ие. Сондықтан біз бейбітшілікке және бір-бірімізді құрылысқа шақыруға бар күшімізді салалық. Тамақ үшін Құдайдың ісін жоқ қылмаңдар. Барлық тағам таза, бірақ егер ол біреудің құлап кетуіне себеп болса, онда оны жеуге болмайды. Ет жемеу немесе шарап ішпеу, егер ол бауырларыңның құлап кетуіне себеп болса, жақсы. Сондықтан сенің сенімдеріңді Құдаймен өзіңнің араңда сақта. Өзіне ұнаған нәрсесі үшін өзін айыптамайтын адам бақытты. Бірақ күмәні бар адам жесе, ол айыпталады, өйткені оның жеуі сенімнен емес. Сенімнен тумаған әр нәрсе – күнә. (ЖД, 1984)
Күшті христиан бауырларының жолына тосқауыл (. . proskomma) немесе кедергі (skandalon) қоймауға ескертіледі. Бұл тараудағы тосқауыл – рухани, ол күнәға түсуге және құлауға себеп болады. Бұл – нағыз «рухани құлау» (Moo, 851). Мұндай рухани құлаудың себебі – күшті бауырдың істеген әрекеті, ол өзі үшін дұрыс болғанымен, әлсіз бауыр үшін бұрыс болып көрінеді. Әлсіз бауыр оны көргенде сол әрекетті жасауға ықпал етеді, тіпті жүрегінде оның дұрыс емес екенін білсе де, ол күнә болады (23-тарау). Осылайша күшті бауыр әлсіз бауырды «күнәға түсіріп, рухани құлдырауға ұшыратады» (Moo, 852), тек христиандық еркіндігін пайдалана отырып. Біздің мінез-құлқымыздың басқаларға қалай әсер ететініне сезімтал болуымыз керек және біреуді күнә жасауға итермелейтін болса, толығымен дұрыс әрекеттерден де бас тартуға дайын болуымыз керек. 13-тарауда Пауыл күшті христиандарды әлсіздердің жолына тосқауыл қоймауға шақырады, ал 15-тарауда оның себебін айтады, яғни ол махаббатқа сай емес. Махаббатпен әрекет ететін адам үшін әлсіз бауырдың рухани әл-ауқаты жеуге құмарлықтан гөрі маңызды. Егер біреудің еркіндігін пайдалануы әлсіз бауырды сол үлгіні ұстануға және осылайша өз санасымен қайшы келіп, күнә жасауға итерсе, онда ол махаббатпен әрекет етпейді. Пауыл былай деп жазады: «Тамақ жеуің арқасында Христиан үшін өлген бауырларыңды жоқ қылма». Грек тіліндегі «жоқ қылу» сөзі (apollymi) өте күшті сөз. Бұл жойқынның қаншалықты ауыр екені қандай? Пауыл құтқарылудың жоғалуы және тозаққа түсу туралы айта ма? Мен осы ескертудің салдары жойқынды күшті христианның бейсауаттығынан туындаған әлсіз бауырдың құтқарылуын жоғалтуы мүмкін екенін түсінемін. Apollymi жиі тозақта мәңгілік жойқынды білдіреді (мысалы, Маттай 10:28; Лұқа 13:3; Жақып 3:16; Римдіктер 2:12). Осы бауырлар үшін Христианның өлгені туралы сілтеме осы мағынаны қолдайды. Яғни, көзделіп отырған жойқын Христианның өлгенінің мақсатын жоққа шығарады, ол оларды мәңгілік құтқару.
Paul's follow up care with new Christians involved warning them about necessity of enduring hardships. "Hardship is a key ingredient of discipleship. Paul also teaches this in his letters (; ), and Jesus mentioned it in his basic call to discipleship ." Paul asserts that enduring hardships "is a condition for entrance into the kingdom of God." All the "strengthening" and "encouraging them to remain true to the faith" was for the purpose of enabling them to persevere in faith through the coming hardships that Jesus and Paul said was a normal part of being a follower of Jesus. Acts 20:28–32 – Watch out for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after I am gone fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Even from among your own group men will arise, teaching perversions of the truth to draw the disciples away after them. Therefore, be alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning each one of you with tears. And now I entrust you to God and to the message of his grace. This message is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (NET)
Paul warns the elders in Ephesus to be on the alert and to watch out for yourselves and for God's flock, for there is coming a time when fierce wolves will come to prey upon God's people from without and from within. These false teachers will pervert the truth of the gospel message in hopes of drawing away "Christian believers (from the faith)"—persuading them to "apostatize." Shockingly, some of the elders "will become apostate" "false teachers" who "seduce their congregation members away from the Christian message." Luke's "inclusion of the warning in Acts 20" would have put his readers on high alert regarding the "dangerous teachers situated within the Christian community that lead believers away from apostolic faith." "If the believer allow flesh's impulses to get the upper hand again, he faces the awful prospect of apostasy and eternal death (cf. 2 Peter 2:19–22)." Romans 11:19–22 – Then you will say, "Branches were cut off so that I could be grafted in." That's right! They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you remain only because of faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid! For if God did not spare the natural branches, he certainly will not spare you either. Consider, then, the kindness and severity of God: his severity toward those who fell, but God's kindness toward you—if you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you too will be cut off. (ISV)
verses 20—22 involve clearly an emphatic contradiction of the teaching, by Calvin and others, that all who have been justified will ultimately be saved. For Paul assumes throughout that his readers are already justified, are adopted as sons and heirs of God, and possess the Spirit of God as a firstfruit of their inheritance: see chapters 5:9 11; 6:18, 22; 8:2, 15, 16, 23. Yet he solemnly and emphatically warns them that unless they continue in the kindness of God they will be cut off. This last can be no less than the punishment already inflicted on the unbelieving Jews who have been broken off, and who are held up in verse 20, 21 as a warning to the believing Gentiles. For Paul's deep sorrow for the unbelieving Jews proves clearly that in his view they are on the way to the destruction (chapter 2:12) awaiting unrepentant sinners. His warning to Gentiles who now stand by faith implies clearly that unless they continue in faith they will experience a similar fate. We therefore accept the words before us in their simple and full meaning. Although salvation, from the earliest good desire to final victory, is entirely a work of God, a gift of His undeserved favor, and a realisation of His eternal purpose, it is nevertheless, both in its commencement and in its continuance, altogether conditional on man's faith. Romans 14:13–23 – Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. (NIV, 1984)
The strong Christian is warned not to place a stumbling block (. . proskomma) or an obstacle ( skandalon) in a brother's path The stumbling in this verse is spiritual it refers to stumbling and falling into sin It refers to a true "spiritual downfall" (Moo, 851). The cause for such spiritual stumbling would be an act on the part of the strong brother that is not wrong in itself, but which is perceived as wrong by a weak brother. Such an act becomes a stumbling block when the weak brother observes it and is influenced there by to do the same thing, even though in his heart he believes it is wrong, which is sin (v. 23). In this way the strong brother has inadvertently influenced the weak brother to "fall into sin and potential spiritual ruin" (Moo, 852), just by exercising his Christian liberty. The point is that we must be sensitive to how our conduct is affecting others, and we must be willing to forgo perfectly legitimate behavior if it has the potential of causing someone to sin against his conscience In v. 13 Paul urges the strong Christian to not put a stumbling block in the way of the weak; here in v. 15 he gives one reason for this, i. e., it is not consistent with love. To the one who loves, a weak brother's spiritual well being is always more important than indulging the right to eat whatever one likes [O]ne is not acting in love if his exercise of liberty influences a weak brother to follow his example and thus fall into sin by violating his own conscience. [Paul goes on to write:] Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. The Greek word for "destroy" is (apollymi), a very strong word Just how serious is this destruction? Is Paul referring to a loss of salvation, and condemnation to hell? I must conclude that this strong warning does imply that the careless and unloving exercise of Christian liberty can lead to actual loss of salvation for a weak brother. Apollymi is frequently used in the sense of eternal destruction in hell (e. g., Matt 10:28; Luke 13:3; John 3:16; Rom 2:12). The reference to the fact that Christ died for these weak brethren supports this meaning here. I. e., the destruction in view would negate the very purpose of Christ's death, which is to save them from eternal condemnation The verse cannot be reconciled with "once saved, always saved." Romans 16:17–20 – I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. (NIV, 1984)
Paul warns the Roman Christians about false teachers before they ever appear in the community. He commands them to watch out or maintain constant vigilance regarding the dangerous heretics who may come at any time. The first problem with these people is that they cause divisions or "dissension" in the community. Second they put obstacles or "stumbling blocks" before believers. these are forces [i. e., teachings] that destroy one's faith and can lead to apostasy. This is in fact a primary characteristic of heresy. It actually destroys the core doctrines of the Christian faith. 1 Corinthians 3:16–17 – Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for God's temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. (NIV)
Since this community building is the temple of God, where the Spirit of God dwells, Paul introduces a new, more serious threat. While some builders may do a lousy job of building on the foundation and their work will be consumed, some work moves beyond mere shoddiness and becomes destructive. Paul assumes that the community can be destroyed by insiders, not by outsiders It is a severe warning. He has real destruction in mind, and those who destroy God's temple will also be destroyed Paul does not describe how the temple is destroyed, but it is undoubtedly relates in some way to their boastful arrogance, their eagerness to appraise others, and their competitive partisanship—all the things that divide Christ Paul allows the readers to imagine that their petty jealousies (3:3), boasting (1:29; 3:21; 4:7), arrogance (4:6, 18, 19), and quarrels (1:11; 3:3) might qualify for this bleak judgment. The survival of the church and their salvation is at risk. 1 Corinthians 6:7–11 – The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers. Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (NIV, 1984)
The 'wicked' will not inherit the kingdom of God." This is of course refers to the eschatological [i. e., future and final] consummation of the kingdom Paul's point in all this it to warn "the saints," that if they persist in the same evils as the "wicked" they are in the same danger of not inheriting the kingdom. Some theologies have great difficulty with such warnings, implying that they are essentially hypothetical since God's children cannot be "disinherited." But such a theology fails to take seriously the genuine tension of texts like this one. The warning is real; the wicked will not inherit the kingdom Paul's concern is that the Corinthians must "stop deceiving themselves" or "allowing themselves to be deceived." By persisting in the same behavior as those already destined for judgment they are placing themselves in the very real danger of that same judgment. If it were not so, then the warning in no warning at all. 1 Corinthians 8:9–13 – But be watching out that this right of yours does not somehow become an opportunity for stumbling to the weak ones. For if someone sees you, the one having knowledge, reclining [to eat] in an idol temple, will not his conscience, being weak, be built up so as to eat the foods sacrificed to idols? For the one being weak is being destroyed by your knowledge— the brother for the sake of whom Christ died! And in this manner sinning against the brothers and striking their conscience while being weak, you are sinning against Christ. For this very reason, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never eat meats, ever—in order that I may not cause my brother to fall. (DLNT)
Paul solemnly warns [Christians] of the danger of dabbling with idolatrous practices. Verse 10–12 offer a specific description of how Paul imagines the possible damage inflicted on the community by those who want to eat the idol meat. The weak will see the gnōsis [knowledge] boasters eating in the temple of an idol and be influenced, contrary to their own consciences, to participate in the same practice (v. 10) [Paul] is concerned about weaker believers being drawn back into idol worship In verse 11 Paul states the dire consequences of such cultural compromise: The weak will be "destroyed" [apollymi]. This language should not be watered down. David Garland states: "Paul always uses the verb [apollymi] to refer to eternal, final destruction ([So] Barrett 1968: 196; Conzelmann 1975: 149 n. 38; Fee 1987: 387 88; Schrage 1995: 265; Cheung 1999: 129). If salvation means that God has 'rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son' (Col. 1:13), then returning to idolatry and the regime of darkness means eternal ruin." Robert Picirilli notes that "the verb [apollymi] is present tense 'Your brother is perishing.' (This use of the present is futuristic, of course, but it puts the future into the present time as something already in process.) Paul does not mean that this weak brother has perished yet; but he does mean that the outcome of his falling into sin, if the process is not reversed in some way, is certain to be his eternal ruin." Picirilli concludes: "Sin persisted in, on the part of a Christian, can lead to a retraction of faith in Christ and thus to apostasy [i. e., becoming an unbeliever] and eternal destruction." 1 Corinthians 9:24–27 – Do you not know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Now everyone who competes exercises self control in everything. However, they do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. Therefore, I do not run like one who runs aimlessly, or box like one who beats the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified. (HCSB)
Paul issues an imperative "Be running in such a way that you may win [the prize]" (9:24b, DLNT), which controls the whole paragraph. The command ("be running") suggests that some believers are not running the Christian race in such a way to win the prize. Specifically, some are not "exercising proper self control (the emphasis in vv. 25 27)" in their Christian walk. Some Christians are demonstrating a lack of self control in regards to knowingly eating food offered to idols in a pagan temple and influencing other Christians to engage in such idolatry as well (see 1 Cor. 8:7 13). This passage "serves as a clear warning if they fail to 'run' properly," and anticipates the warnings found in 10:1 22. The goal of running with self control for the believer is an imperishable prize which commentators and scholars identify as: "final salvation" or "eternal life" with God, or more specifically, "eternal life in an imperishable new body (15:42, 50, 53 54)." Gregory Lockwood concludes:
Buy thus disciplining himself, Paul's faith was active in loving service to all. If he were to live a life of self indulgence, he would endanger not only the salvation of others, but also his own. The danger of being disqualified is real. Disqualification would mean nothing less than missing out on the crown of [eternal] life, as the context makes clear (1 Cor 9:24–27). The implication for the Corinthians should be obvious: it would be a tragedy if they forfeited their salvation by ceasing to exercise self control and thus relapsing into idolatry. Paul will now elaborate that message in 1 Corithians 10. Christians must constantly exercise self discipline, restraining their sinful nature and putting it to death by the power of the Spirit, so that they may live for God—now and in eternity (Rom 8:13). 1 Corinthians 10:1 12 – For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all went through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. But God was not pleased with the majority of them, for they were struck down in the desert. Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we should not be desirers of evil things, just as those also desired them, and not become idolaters, as some of them did, just as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play," nor commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed sexual immorality, and twenty three thousand fell in one day, nor put Christ to the test, as some of them tested him, and were destroyed by snakes, nor grumble, just as some of them grumbled, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now these things happened to those people as an example, but are written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore, the one who thinks that he stands must watch out lest he fall. (Lexham English Bible)
The connecting word "For" is significant because it links "the argument of chapter 10 to chapter 9. The danger of being 'disqualified' from salvation (9:27) is real, as the history of Israel proves." Both 1 Cor. 9:24–27 and 10:1–12 convey "the necessity for self control and [warn of] the danger of apostasy," via idolatry. Paul "appeals to the history of Israel as directly applicable to Christians in Corinth. The example of 'the fathers' horrifying end highlights the peril in which the Corinthians place themselves by consorting with idols." "Paul's purpose in drawing the parallel is this: just as many Israelites were disqualified because of their unfaithfulness and false worship, Christians too face the danger of being disqualified from salvation if they engage in false worship and fail to remain in repentance and faith worked by the Holy Spirit." "Paul uses the Israelite examples so that the Corinthians will repent and not perish" due to their idolatrous actions. Paul gives a "climatic" and "chilling warning" to his readers in verse 12, "Therefore, the one who thinks that he stands must watch out lest he fall" (LEB). In Pauline usage "stand" (Greek: histēmi) refers to "the idea of one's standing in faith and grace or in the message of the Gospel (1 Cor. 15:1f; 16:13; 2 Cor. 1:24; Rom. 5:2; 11:20; Phil. 4:1 cf. 1 Pet. 5:12)." Here, in light of "the divine privileges found in 10:1–4" that the Christians in Corinth already partake of, histēmi conveys in v. 12 that they are presently "standing in a salvific relationship" with Christ and enjoy "the blessings of divine graces." Unfortunately, some Christians are "forgetting that their standing is not indelible [i. e., permanent] but depends on a continuing faithfulness to God." "If Paul thinks that he could fall (9:27), how much more, then, could the Corinthians fall. Their security rests on their continuing fidelity [i. e., faithfulness] to God and God alone (cf. Rom. 11:22)." "When congregants have an overinflated view of salvific assurance . Paul is quick to deflate them by warning that they may not achieve final salvation if they persist in ways that displease God (e. g., 1 Cor 10:1–12)." Indeed, "The sins specified by Paul are those peculiarly besetting the Church at Corinth. They are to be interpreted as sins through which apostasy and destruction were likely to result. Hence Paul warns them (verse 12) against a fall." This "fall" is not merely "a falling into a state of sin" since some Christians in Corinth have already been committing the sins mentioned in 10:6 10, specifically, idolatry and sexual immorality. Since "fall" is the opposite of standing in faith, Paul is referring to a "catastrophic fall" from faith whereby the believer commits apostasy (i. e., becomes an unbeliever). Even Calvinist Thomas Schreiner acknowledges that "the verb 'fall' (piptō) often designates apostasy – falling away from the faith," but does not believe that this can happen to Christians. Calvinist Andrew Wilson says, "Standing and falling, for Paul, appear to be common metaphors for perseverance and apostasy," and goes on to conclude: "Paul's use of the Israelites to warn the Corinthians about 'standing' and 'falling' suggests that he has this polarity in mind: perseverance [in faith] leading to eternal salvation, or idolatry resulting in eschatological [i. e., future and final] condemnation. Paul holds that eating food known to have been offered to idols as nothing less than "idolatry," and he states emphatically that "no one who makes a practice of committing idolatry will inherit God's kingdom (1 Cor. 6:9; Gal. 5:20–21; Eph. 5:5)." Therefore, if a Christian persists in such idolatrous behavior they will eventually "fall" or commit apostasy (i. e., become an unbelieving idolater) and be prevented "from entering the kingdom of God,", forfeiting eternal "salvation" with God for "eternal destruction" or "damnation" from God. "Given the close connection between 9:27 and this passage [10:12], one might very well find in this entire section (9:24–10:14) one of the best N. T. passages warning about apostasy." 1 Corinthians 15:1–2 – Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (ESV)
The Corinthians are being saved by means of the gospel and can confidently expect final salvation if in fact they go on holding fast to such good news as Paul announced to them. Paul is confident that they are holding fast to the gospel even so, he feels it necessary to attach an exception clause. They are holding fast—except for the possibility that if they are not they placed their [original] faith (in Christ) in vain. There is really no reason to doubt that the reference to believing in vain reflects the real possibility of apostasy from faith. Apparently Paul regards their doubts about the resurrection of believers seriously enough that his usual confidence in his converts must be qualified at least this much. 2 Corinthians 11:1–5, 13–15 – I wish that you would be patient with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you are being patient with me! For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his treachery, your minds may be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus different from the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the one you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it well enough! 5 For I consider myself not at all inferior to those "super apostles." For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore, it is not surprising his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will correspond to their actions. (NET)
The Christians in Corinth are "being seduced and defiled by double agents of Satan (11:2–3)" proclaiming a "false gospel." These false teachers "have snaked their way into the Corinthians' affection and captured their minds" by preaching "a different Jesus, Spirit, and gospel—that can only lead Christians away from Christ" and into "spiritual apostasy." These "false apostles" disguise themselves as servants of God but they are really servants of Satan. "Their 'end,' in the sense of 'destiny,' or 'fate,' will correspond to what they have done, specifically in introducing alien [i. e., false] teaching (11:4) and seducing the congregation (11:3, 20). They have done Satan's work, to Satan's fate they will go. (v. 15; cf. Matt 25:41, 46)." Therefore, "'To follow them is to risk damnation.' Such language may sound harsh, but Paul judges the situation to be perilous, calling for sharp warnings to jar the Corinthians awake." Galatians 1:6–9 – I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God's curse! (NIV)
Paul writes to the churches in Galatia who have a large number of uncircumcised Gentiles already standing in a saving relationship with Christ, but are repeatedly warned by him that they are in danger of existing out of this relationship. Simply put, "the Galatians are in danger of apostasy" (i. e., becoming unbelievers). Rival teachers, whom Paul refers to "as 'agitators' or 'troublemakers' (1:7; 5:10b, 12)," have infiltrated the churches and are "leading astray Gentile believers" by "preaching a false gospel of circumcision (1:7; 4:17; 5:7; 6:12)." "The Galatians Christians . appear to be giving them a careful and attentive hearing, even standing on the verge of being persuaded by them (1:6; 5:1)." These rival teachers are "persuading gentile converts to receive circumcision . (explicitly in 5:2; 6:12 13; indirectly in 5:11 12), probably as a means of securing their place in the family of Abraham, the line of promise (3:6 29), and as a means of combating the power of the flesh (indirectly, 5:13–6:10) and thus experiencing freedom from its power over them so that they can make progress in their new life of godliness (3:3)." "He stands amazed at how quickly the Galatians are deserting God to follow a false gospel." This desertion "was not just an intellectual one. Rather, it was a desertion of God as made known in Christ; it was abandoning of their personal relationship with God." The verb for "deserting" (metatithēmi) is in the present tense and "indicates clearly that when the apostle wrote [this letter] the apostasy of the Galatians was as yet only in process." The Gentile believers "were in danger of apostasy" or "a reverse conversion, although they had not yet 'become apostate.' But Paul considered this a real possibility (see 5:4)." Paul passionately declares that if anyone (including himself) was to preach to others this different gospel, "let them be under God's curse!" (v. 8, 9, NIV). Scot McKnight states: "This word ['curse' anathema] is used in the Old Testament for something consecrated to God for his destruction (cf. Deut. 7:26; Josh. 6:17 18). Paul is not talking here about church discipline; his language is far too strong for that. He is invoking God's final damnation and wrath on people who distort the gospel of grace in Christ." This shocking wish was occasioned by the seriousness of the Agitators' crime. They had perverted the gospel, preached a substitute nongospel, confused his converts, and led them to consider turning away from Christ He put those terrifying the Galatians on notice: Beware of divine judgment. And he warned the Galatians that surrender to the Agitators meant placing "themselves 'under the curse'" (Betz 1979, 250). If the Christians in Galatia go on to fully embrace the false gospel of these false teachers they will "fall into apostasy [i. e., become unbelievers] and stop being a Christian." As unbelievers, the false teachers and their followers can expect to receive "eternal punishment at the last judgment." Galatians 4:9–11 – But now that you have come to know God (or rather to be known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless basic forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? You are observing religious days and months and seasons and years. I fear for you that my work for you may have been in vain. (NET)
"Paul warns the Galatians" that if they "turn back" again to the weak and elemental spirits "they are on the verge of deconverting." "The looming threat of his convert's apostasy (4:8 10; 5:2 4) is now expressed in distress (4:11) This is not the only place where Paul warns his converts that if they pursue the wrong path their faith and his work will have been in vain (1 Cor. 15:2, 10, 14; 2 Cor. 6:1; cf. Phil. 2:16) or the only place where he fears the possibility (1 Thess. 3:5)." Galatians 5:1–6 – It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. (NASB)
Paul warns Gentile Christians that if they follow the demands of the false teachers in seeking to be justified by the law through circumcision then Christ will be of no saving benefit to them (v. 2). Furthermore, they will become "severed from Christ" and will have "fallen from grace" (v. 4). "No doubt the rival teachers had assured them that keeping the law was not abandoning their faith in Christ; it was the way to "attain your goal" (3:3)—perfection—in Christian life." But
For Paul, Christ is everything or nothing. Either God has inaugurated the new, eschatological age of the Spirit through Christ, or not. Either justification, or life in the Spirit, is received by faith, or not. Either cruciform faith expressing itself through cruciform love is the essence of covenantal existence, or not. Either this is all of grace, or not. Whereas for the circumcisers Christ is necessary but not sufficient, for Paul Christ is either sufficient or else not necessary Circumcision is a gate into a way of life—obedience to the entire Law (5:3)—that has had its day but has ended with the coming of the Messiah and his Spirit (3:24). Now anyone—a Gentile or Jew—who is in Christ, by faith, shares in the hope of future righteousness (5:5) and expresses that faith, as Christ did (2:20), in love (5:6). Circumcision counts for nothing because 'having' it (or not) neither enables or prevents entry into the realm of Christ and the Spirit. Seeking it, however, betrays a lack of confidence in the power of grace and faith, the sufficiency of Christ and the Spirit. Therefore, submitting to circumcision would indicate "a cessation of faith in Christ," "an act of repudiation of God's grace manifested in Christ." The circumcised end up "returning to their former state of slavery, (4:9; 5:1)," having severed their saving union with Christ, and fallen from grace. Such persons necessarily "cease to be Christians" and will not receive "a favorable verdict at the final judgment (5:5)." "Paul could hardly have made any clearer that a person who chooses to submit to the Law," (specifically, circumcision as commanded in the Law), and "who seeks final justification" before God "by means of the Law, has in effect committed apostasy, has fallen from grace, has even severed themselves from relationship with Christ." "The danger of apostasy, falling away from grace, must have been very real, or Paul would not have used such strong language." "Paul certainly did not teach the popular doctrine today of 'once saved, always saved.'" Galatians 5:16,19–21 – But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)
Paul calls Christians in Galatians chapters 5–6 to be "living under the guidance of the Spirit and following the law of love." Paul's opponents, who insist that Gentiles believers must keep the works of the Law (specifically, circumcision), are "condemning uncircumcised Christians," and using "the Law . to exclude faithful Gentiles from inheriting God's promises (1:6; 4:17; 5:10)." "The works of the Law, then, when imposed on the Gentile Christ followers," wind up causing "divisions" among those in the Christian community. The "threat of apostasy" "is a real danger" in Paul's "warning in 5:21b," which is directed specifically "to the believers" in Galatia. Paul's "emphasis here, as in 1 Cor 6:9 11 and Eph 5:5, is to warn believers not to live as unbelievers, those who are destined to experience the wrath of God (Col 3:6)." If believers persist in living according to the flesh like unbelievers, they will eventually become an unbeliever (i. e., commit "apostasy") and "be excluded" from "inheriting God's kingdom." To not inherit (klēronomeō) the kingdom of the God means to fail to "partake of eternal salvation in the Messiah's kingdom" when it becomes fully manifested in the new heaven and new earth described in Revelation 21 22 (cf. Rev. 21:7 8 with Gal. 5:19 21). Galatians 6:7–10 – Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (ESV)
Paul issues "a solemn warning based on an agricultural principle: Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows (v. 7 [NIV]). When people think and act as if they will not reap what they have sown, or as if they will reap something different from what they have sown, they are deceiving themselves and mocking God." In verse 8, Christians "are faced with a decision, a decision" that will determine their eternal destiny—"sowing to the flesh" or "sowing to the Spirit." Sowing to the flesh would refer to practicing "the works of the flesh" already warned about in 5:19 21. Sowing to the Spirit "is exactly the opposite in every respect and means doing things to or with one another that stem from the Spirit's impulses. And so here we come to 'the fruit of the Spirit' listed in 5:22, 23." Paul spells out the contrasting harvests or destinies: sowing to the Spirit = "eternal life," while sowing to the flesh = "corruption." This warning in Galatians 6:8 is parallel "to the warning about the possibility of not inheriting the Kingdom of God set out in 5.21," for those practicing the works of the flesh. Therefore, this "corruption" or "destruction" (NIV, CSB, NASB2020) can mean nothing less than "eternal destruction" or "eternal death" for sowing to the flesh since it is explicitly contrasted with "eternal life." For any believer overtaken by any sin related to the works of the flesh in 5:19 21, "there is a potential recovery in 6:1." This trespass (paraptōma) "is considered by Paul as a sin or an immoral act (cf. Rom 4:25; 11:11 12; 2 Cor 5:19; Col 2:13; cf. Matt 6:15). Those who operate in the fruit of the Spirit . are to restore such individuals, being mindful that they themselves are susceptible to temptations." Hence, Paul holds that believers who are engaged in sowing to the flesh are "headed towards apostasy if not restored." Ephesians 5:1–11 – Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. And be walking in love, just as Christ also loved us and handed Himself over for us—an offering and a sacrifice to God for an aroma of fragrance. But let sexual immorality and all impurity or greed not even be named among you, as is proper for saints—and filthiness and foolish talk or coarse joking, which are not fitting, but rather thanksgiving. For you know this—recognizing that every sexually immoral or impure or greedy person (that is, an idolater) does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore, do not be fellow partakers with them. For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Be walking as children of light (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), approving what is pleasing to the Lord. And do not be participating in the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even be exposing them. (DLNT)
Paul is "warning" believers in Ephesus about "the danger to faith inherent in falling back into the pagan lifestyle." The command, "Let no one deceive you with empty words" warns the Ephesians "against allowing themselves to be led astray by the specious arguments of antinomians" who "pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality" (Jude 4, NIV), and who promise those engaging in the same sins as the "sons of disobedience" (i. e., unbelievers) as still having an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and escaping the wrath of God on judgment day. "The reason" believers "should not act like unbelievers is because unbelievers are not going to inherit the kingdom of Christ and God." Paul could not be clearer, Christians must not be fellow partakers in the sinful way of life of the "sons of disobedience," lest they become one of them and "participate with them in their destiny." Believers "who take a cavalier attitude toward sin are playing games with their eternal destiny." Colossians 1:21–23 – Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. (NIV)
In the first half of verse 23 Paul breaks with tradition to address his readers in a more intimate way. His exhortation to them expresses a condition of their reconciliation, which includes both a positive and a negative element. This exhortation has caused problems for those who think of Paul's idea of salvation in terms of God's unconditional grace. However, Paul's understanding of God's salvation is profoundly Jewish and therefore covenantal. The promise of the community's final justification is part of a covenant between God and the "true" Israel. Even the idea of God's faithfulness to a promise made is modified by the ideals of a covenantal relationship: God's fulfillment is conditioned upon a particular response. According to Paul's gospel, getting into the faith community, which has covenanted with God for salvation, requires the believer's confidence in the redemptive merit of Christ's death (as defined in vv. 21–22). And staying in that community requires the believer to keep the faith. Paul does not teach a "once saved, always saved" kind of religion; nor does he understand faith as a "once for all" decision for Christ. In fact, apostasy (loss of faith) imperils one's relationship with God and with the community that has covenanted with God for salvation. So he writes that the community's eschatological fitness holds if you continue in your faith The negative ingredient of the passage envisions the very real possibility that the community may indeed [move] from the hope held out in the gospel, risking God's negative verdict at Christ's parousia. 1 Thessalonians 3:1–5 – So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless. (NIV, 1984)
The possibility of apostasy is expressed in the final part of the verse: I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless. Paul expresses apprehension, which was rooted in his knowledge of Satanic activity. Although the Thessalonians' contemporaries were driving the persecution forward, the power of the tempter orchestrated this battle for their souls (cf. Eph. 6:11–12). The temptation of the tempter was to commit the sin of apostasy (Luke 8:12; 1 Pet. 5:8), which is implied in this context by the references to their stability and continuance in the faith (3:3, 6, 8). The issue is not moral lapse but continuance in faith. What was at stake was the salvation of the Thessalonians. Paul knew the machination of Satan (2 Cor. 2:11), the tempter, but he was unsure whether he had met success in Thessalonica (and out efforts might have been useless). The temptation, while inevitable, was resistible. But the possibility of apostasy was clear a clear and present danger. 1 Timothy 1:18–20 – This charge I commit to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophetic utterances which pointed to you, that inspired by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting conscience, certain persons have made shipwreck of their faith, among them Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. (RSV)
"Central to this charge is the defense and preservation of the true faith, which is currently under attack" from false teachers. Paul depicts Timothy's role "as a warrior in service to his or her king. This is wholly appropriate following a doxology to 'the eternal King' (1:17)." "Timothy is to wage warfare, not by using violence, but by holding on to faith and a good conscience (v. 19)." "Faith involves here the act of trusting in God" "A good conscience is the state where one's own moral self evaluation says that one has been obedient to God." and "is guided in its everyday life by faith, trust in the living God, to guide and to teach one." Holding on to a good conscience would thus entail being committed to following the Christian faith proclaimed by Christ's apostles as the basis for godly living. "Without a good conscience, Timothy could end up like Hymenaeus (cf. 2 Tim 2:17) and Alexander (cf. 2 Tim 4:14) who had shipwrecked their faith (1:19 20)." Paul, "as a warning, cites two tragic examples of men whose moral laxity has led to their faith being ruined." They have "rejected" (apōtheō) or better "'thrust away from themselves' a good conscience." The verb expresses "a willful and violent act," "a conscious, deliberate rejection . not a passive, careless slipping away from faith." By willfully thrusting away a good conscience they have made "shipwreck of their faith." "The metaphoric use of the word [shipwreck] conveys a complete loss of the ship," a "total disaster," and serves as a fitting "metaphor for apostasy" since these men have "lost their faith altogether." Thus, Hymenaeus and Alexander "were once true believers" who "had personal faith comparable to Timothy's (1:18 19a), but that faith was destroyed,",
1 Timothy 4:1 5 – Now the Spirit clearly says that in the last times some of the faith will apostatize by being devoted to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, by the hypocrisy of liars whose own consciences have been seared, forbidding to marry, demanding abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who are faithful and know the truth, since all of God's creation is good, and nothing is unclean if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified through [the] word of God and prayer. (Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament)
The Spirit has given a clear "warning" about "the sober" reality "of apostasy" that will take place within the church. "The ultimate cause of this apostasy is that people pay attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons." The verb aphistēmi means to "fall away, apostatize," in three theologically significant passages in the New Testament (Lk. 8:13; 1 Tim. 4:1; Heb. 3:12), and "often conveys apostasy" in the Old Testament and other literature. In each of these NT references we find aphistēmi conveying "the serious situation of becoming separated from the living God after a previous turning towards him, by falling away from the faith. It is a movement of unbelief and sin." Paul says in verse 1, "some of the faith will fall away or apostatize." William Mounce's translation brings this out and is more accurate than other renderings. When Mounce examined the NT occurrences of aphistēmi, he says "in the vast majority of cases if there is a recipient of the verb's action, it will most likely be indicated by a preposition and will immediately follow the verb." Hence, in 1 Tim 4:1, which has no preposition following [aphistēmi, fall away], "the faith" would seem to modify the indefinite pronoun "some" rather [than] the verb "fall away." If so, then the "some" who will fall away are identified as faithful church members. These ones who apostatize are not fake believers but real Christians. The nature of their apostasy involves devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and demonic teachings. These teachings are no doubt promulgated by the false teachers (4:2 5). Satanic spiritual forces are viewed as being the inspiration of their false teachings, and these powers are mentioned as a way to vilify the teachers (1 Tim 5:15; 2 Tim 2:25 26). Some of the believers will fall away by following the opponents' teachings that have been influenced by anti god powers (1 Tim 4:1 3). It is affirmed here that more apostasies of those who possessed faith will take place similar to the defections of Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Tim 1:19; cf. 1:6). In the Pastoral Letters, then, final salvation is futuristic, with the real potential to have one's faith undermined, making it all the more important for these Christians to take seriously the need to endure through potential deception. 1 Timothy 4:13, 15 16 – Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching. . Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all. Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers. (HCSB)
In Paul's final exhortation to Timothy in v. 16, he gives "the reason why" he "is so persistent and concerned, because what is at stake is salvation for Timothy and his hearers." Traditional Calvinist George Knight observes that some commentators take save (sōzō, v. 16) in the sense of to preserve or be kept safe from the doctrinal error of the false teachers "(Bengel, Gromacki, Vine, Wuest)," but most commentators understand save "soteriologically and eschatologically (Alford, Bernard, Brox Bürki, Calvin, Earle, Ellicott, Fairbairn, Gealy, Guthrie, Hendriksen, Hiebert, Huther, Kelly, Kent, Lenski, Moellering, Robertson, Scott, Simpson, van Oosterzee, and White; also J. Schneider, NIDNTT 3:215; W. Foerster, TDNT 7:995)." Knight goes on to note: "The other occurrences of [sōzō, save] in the PE (1 Tim. 1:15; 2:4, 15; Tit. 3:5; 2 Tim. 1:9; 4:18) are clearly soteriological [i. e., salvation] in orientation. It is true that [didaskalia, teaching] does deliver from error and bring to truth, but that seems to be included in the ultimate goal expressed in [sōzō, save] (cf. 2:4; so also Oosterzee). The salvation of the hearers is elsewhere depicted by Paul as the central goal of the ministry (cf. especially 1 Cor. 15:1, 2; 9:22; 2 Ti. 2:10; 4:5), and it is that hope in the living God who is the Savior of all believers that Paul has presented as the centerpiece of encouragement for Timothy in this section." Gordon Fee would agree, and thus writes: "Salvation involves perseverance; and Timothy's task in Ephesus is to model and teach the gospel in such a fashion that it will lead the church to perseverance in faith and love and hence to final . salvation." Therefore, "Ultimate salvation is not automatic, even for Timothy. He must persevere in the faith to be saved eternally, and to be the instrument to save others." 2 Timothy 2:10–13 – For this reason, I am enduring all things for the sake of the chosen ones, in order that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy— for if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we are enduring, we will also reign with Him; if we shall deny Him, that One also will deny us; if we are faithless, that One remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. (DLNT)
Paul suggests in 2 Timothy 2:10, that if he faithfully endures suffering and hardship to the end of life, this will provide "a good witness to others and is done for the sake of the chosen ones," in order that they, "will persevere and go on to receive eschatological [i. e., future and final] salvation." "The implicit negative corollary is that if Paul" fails to persevere and apostatizes, then "surely that would have led to the . apostasy by others" in the church. "The potential for apostasy" among believers in Ephesus "is clearly evident in the hymn found in 2 Tim 2:11–13." This trustworthy saying has four "if" clauses that describe a believer's action that are followed by "then" clauses that describe Christ's action taken in response. The "we" throughout this hymn applies first to Paul and Timothy, and then "equally to all believers." The hymn begins with: "if we died with him (Christ), we will also live with him (2:11b)." This line "portrays the entire scope of Christian existence, from conversion to glorification, in terms of 'dying and rising' with Christ." The next clause says "enduring" leads to "reigning with" Christ. The word enduring (hupomenō) means "to persevere: absolutely and emphatically, under misfortunes and trial to hold fast to one's faith in Christ." The present tense verb conveys the meaning "keep on enduring" or "persevering." Thus, a persevering faith "is to be a normal way of life" for Timothy and other Christ followers. Paul and Timothy "must endure in spite of every adversity, including suffering and/or imprisonment, so that others 'may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.'" Believers who faithfully keep on enduring will "reign together with" (symbasileuō) Christ. This means that they will "share in the 'kingdom of God' (basileia tou theou), the traditional symbol of God's eschatological [i. e., future and final] reign (see 4:1, 18), the focus of Jesus' own preaching of the good news (see Mark 1:15)." "The causal connection between perseverance in the present age of suffering and the future attainment of salvation is expressly stated in 2 Tm. 2:12." The third clause contains a definite "warning against apostasy." "If we deny Him, He will also deny us" certainly recalls "Jesus' warning that if his followers deny him publicly before outsiders he will deny them before his Father at the eschatological [i. e., future and final] judgment (cf. Matt 10:33; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:36). This type of denial (ἀρνέομαι [arneomai]) refers to apostasy resulting from persecution, and this is almost certainly what it means here in 2 Tim 2:12." Such denial reverses conversion so that Christ disowns the person who denies him, and as with the Synoptic sayings this leads to eternal judgment. This warning is definitely directed toward Timothy, "Paul and all believers." "If it is not possible to disown faith in Christ, there is no need for these words. The possibility of Timothy and others disowning the faith is real."
Петірдің екінші хаты мен Яһуданың хатында сөз етілетін қауіпсіздік
Құдай бізге Өзінің құдіретімен өмір сүруімізге және Оған ұнамды өмір сүруімізге қажеттінің бәрін сыйлады. Ол мұны Өзінің даңқы мен игілігі арқылы бізді шақырған Мәсіхті білу арқылы берді. Осы арқылы Ол бізге зор және құнды уәделер сыйлады, осылайша сендердің құдай табиғатына ортақтасуларыңа, әлемдегі арамдықтан құтылуларыңа мүмкіндік береді. Сондықтан сенімдеріңді ізгілікпен, ізгілікті біліммен, білімді ұстамдылықпен, ұстамдылықты төзімділікпен, төзімділікті Құдайға ұнамдылықпен, Құдайға ұнамдылықты бауырластық сүйіспеншілікпен және бауырластық сүйіспеншілікті махаббатпен күшейтуге бар күшіңді салыңдар. Егер осы қасиеттер сендерде арттырып дамыса, олар сендерді Иеміз Иса Мәсіхті білуде пайдасыз немесе жеміссіз болудан сақтайды. Осы қасиеттері жоқ адам соқыр, алдынан келе жатқанды көре алмайды және бұрынғы күнәсінен тазарғанын ұмытыпты. Сондықтан, бауырластар, шақырылғандарыңды және таңдалуыңды растауға бар күшіңді салыңдар, себебі осылай істесеңдер, ешқашан сүрінбейсіңдер. Осылайша Иеміз бен Құтқарушымыз Иса Мәсіхтің мәңгілік Патшалығына толыққанды кіру сендерге сыйланады. (CSB) "2 Петір 1:5–7-де мәсіхшілерге дамытуға қатты ұсынылатын ізгі қасиеттердің тізбесін табамыз" (яғни, "бар күш-жігерін салу", CSB, NET, NIV). Бұл моральдық күш-жігерге деген шақыруды естігенде таңқалмаймыз, өйткені 2 Петірдегі жалған ұстаздар жалған, себебі олар моральдық тұрғыдан өмір сүруге тырыспайды және мәсіхшілерді олардың ізімен жүруге ынталандыратын "бұрыс моральдық үлгіні" көрсетеді. Бұл тізімде сенімнің бірінші орында тұрғаны маңызды. "Құдайға сену – барлық басқа қасиеттердің бастауы". Петірдің теологиясы "сенім махаббатпен көрінеді" деген Пауылдың сөзімен келіседі (Гал. 5:6). Барлық Құдайға ұнамды қасиеттер сенімнен басталады" және махаббатқа жетеді. Егер мәсіхшілер осы қасиеттерді "жалғастырып істесе" (10-аят, ISV), олар "сүрінбейді" (10-аят, ESV) немесе "жолдан тайып кетпейді" (NLT, GOD'S WORD), "яғни, олар Құдайды тастамайды, Одан бас тартпайды және діннен шығып кетпейді". 10-аяттың 11-аятқа "осылай" деп жалғасқанына назар аударыңыз. "Әрине, "жол" – бұл ізгілік жолы, 5–7-аяттардағы қасиеттерді сақтау, олар қайтадан 10-аятта айтылды". Құдайдың күшімен ізгі өмір сүру арқылы Мәсіх "сенушілерге Патшалыққа кіруді қамтамасыз етеді". Петір үшін "мәсіхшілер сенімінің этикалық жемістері ақырғы құтқарылуға жету үшін қажет". Оның осы ілімі қажет болды, өйткені оның оқырмандары "адамгершілікке қатысты [мәңгілік] үкімге ұшырамайтынына сенетін [жалған] ұстаздардың ықпалынан моральдық жолдан таю қаупіне ұшыраған". Петір "адам моральдық өмір сүрмесе, ол Патшалыққа кіре алмайды деп сенді, бұл Пауыл да сенген нәрсе (1 Кор 6:9–10; Гал 5:21)". Осылайша, Петірдің айтуынша, "адам тәлімін қабылдағаннан кейін, оның тәлімін қабылдағаннан кейінгі жүріс-тұрысына қарамастан, "бір рет құтқарылсаң, әрқашан құтқарыласың" деп ойлап отыра алмайды". Петір олардың "діннен шығуы мүмкін" екенін айтады, соның салдарынан "мәңгілік өмірден айырылу" Иеміз Исаның билігі астындағы Патшалықта болады. Бірақ елші мұндай жолдан таюшылықтың ешбір мәсіхшіге орын алмауы керектігін баса айтады. Ал егер біз Мәсіхке деген сенімімізді күнделікті ұстанып жүрсек, мұндай жағдай ешқашан орын алмақ емес". Бұл "мәсіхшілік қасиеттердегі өсу арқылы көрініс тапқан сенім". 2 Петір 2:18–22 – Олар бос сөздермен мақтанып, нәпсілік құштарлықтармен, сезімталдықпен азғындыққа салынып, қателікте жүргендерден шамалы ғана құтылғандарды азғырады, оларға еркіндік уәде етеді, ал өздері жеңіліске ұшырайды. Себебі кімнің құлы болса, сол кісінің билігінде болады. Олар Иеміз және Құтқарушымыз Иса Мәсіхтің білімі арқылы әлемнің ластығынан құтылғаннан кейін, қайтадан оған түсіп, жеңіліп қалса, соңғы жағдайы бұрынғысынан да жаман болады. Олар үшін туралық жолын білмегендері жақсы болар еді, оны білгеннен кейін қасиетті өсиеттен бас тартқанша. Олардың басына келгені туралы мақалдың сөзі орындалды: "Ит қайтадан құсығына оралады", және "жуылған шошқа қайтадан лайға оралады". (NASB 1995)
"In 2 Peter 1:5–7 we discover a chain of virtues that Christians are strongly encouraged to develop" (i. e., "make every effort," CSB, NET, NIV). This encouragement to moral effort is not surprising since the false teachers in 2 Peter are false precisely because they are not making any effort to live morally, and are setting "a wrong moral example" that encourages Christians to follow in their footsteps. Of significance in this list of virtues is that faith is first. "Trusting God is the root from which all the other virtues spring." Peter's theology here agrees "with Paul's, who said that faith expresses itself in love (Gal. 5:6). All the godly virtues find their source in faith" and culminate in love. If Christians "keep on doing" (v. 10, ISV) these godly virtues, they "will never fall [ptaiō]" (v. 10, ESV) or "fall away" (NLT, GOD'S WORD), 'that is, they will never forsake God, abandon him, and commit apostasy." Notice that v. 10 is connected to v. 11 by "For in this way." "The 'way,' of course, is the pathway of virtue, the keeping of the qualities in vv. 5–7, which were mentioned again in v. 10." By living godly lives through God's power Christ "will provide entrance into the kingdom for believers." For Peter, "the ethical fruits of Christian faith are objectively necessary for the attainment of final salvation." This teaching on the importance of moral living was needed since "His readers were in danger of moral apostasy, under the influence of [false] teachers who evidently held that immorality incurred no danger of [eternal] judgment." Peter believes "that without moral living one will not enter the kingdom which is precisely what Paul also believed (1 Cor 6:9–10; Gal 5:21)." Thus, according to Peter, "A person cannot sit around after conversion and assume 'once saved, always saved' regardless of one's postconversion conduct." "Peter assumes the possibility of their apostasy" with the consequent "forfeiture of eternal life" that is experienced in the kingdom ruled by the Lord Jesus. "But the apostle insists that such apostasy does not have to happen to any Christian. And it will never happen if we live each day by an abiding faith in Christ." A "faith that is demonstrated by growth in the Christian" virtues mentioned here. 2 Peter 2:18–22 – For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A dog returns to its own vomit," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire." (NASB 1995)
This passage follows "a relatively simple outline: verses 18, 19 [deals with] the attempts of the false teachers to lure believers astray; verses 20, 21 [deals with] the apostasy which they [the false teachers] exemplify; verse 22 [is] an illustrative analogy." "Peter warns" that these false teachers "will lure those who are still weak in faith back into sin. These Christians had begun to put lives that were mired in sin behind them," but now they are being "seduced by these teachers" to "go right back to the filth from which they had so recently been cleansed." Notice, the false teachers "promise the new converts freedom in a lustful life, but they themselves were slaves of the very moral corruption they were enticing others to embrace." How deceitful it is to tell Christians "'You can believe in Jesus and be free to live an immoral life.'" "The key verses to consider, in discussing apostasy are verses 20, 21. That these whom Peter regards as apostates had a genuine Christian experience is seen in at least three ways." First, they "escaped [apopheugō] the defilements of the world," which recalls 2 Peter 1:4 ("having escaped [apopheugō] the corruption that is in the world"). David Kuske notes that "they escaped" (apopheugō) with "The preposition [apo] used as a prefix makes [pheugō] a perfective verb, that is, it stresses not only that people escaped but that they made a complete, total escape. As Christians, they turned their back completely on the sinful actions of their former way of life." at "the time of their conversion." Second, this escape was accomplished "by the knowledge [epignōsis] of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." Peter's use of epignōsis here and in 2 Peter 1:2, 3, leave us in no doubt about whether they were once saved, for "he uses this compound [word] for knowledge consciously as a way of representing the saving knowledge of Christ one gains at conversion." "Third, they 'have come to know the way of righteousness'" ("meaning a righteous lifestyle"). "The verb [epiginōskō] 'have come to know' is cognate to the noun epignōsis just referred to." It "refers to saving knowledge, to the experience of coming to know this 'way.' The tense of the verb (Greek perfect) indicates a continuing state that is a result of a prior act. They entered into this knowledge at conversion and continue to possess that knowledge afterward." With all these in mind, "it would be hard to find a better description of what it means to become a Christian." Indeed, "There can be little doubt that the false teachers had once been orthodox Christians;" "true followers of Jesus Christ." "The 'way of righteousness' [which the false teachers had at one time fully embraced] is obviously the same as 'the way of truth' in verse 2 and 'the straight way' in verse 15." Furthermore, it is equivalent to "the holy commandment" passed on to them. Unfortunately, these once orthodox Christians have "turned away" (hupostrephō) from following the way of righteousness or holy commandments delivered to them. This "implies that they have returned to their former way of life and thus committed apostasy" (i. e. become unbelievers). This is an "ethical apostasy," which is an act of "deconversion." Finally, Peter illustrates what has happened to these former Christians with two proverbs that convey the same point. "Like a dog that comes back to lick up the spoiled vomit that sickened him in the first place, like a sow that gets a bath and goes back to the mud from which she had been cleansed, these apostates return to the enslaving, polluting wickedness from which they had been delivered." Calvinists try to get around Peter's teaching here "by suggesting that the real nature of the sow or the dog had not been changed, and that this implies that these apostate false teachers were never regenerated" or saved to begin with. But this is simply "pressing the illustration beyond what they are intended to convey. Indeed, the proverbs must be interpreted by the clearer words that precede them and not the other way around. The previous paragraph [i. e., verses 20–21] expresses precisely what the proverbs are intended to convey. Peter is describing a real apostasy from genuine Christianity." "If all we had of the New Testament was 2 Peter, then there would be no question about the possibility of true believers abandoning the faith. The author of 2 Peter seems to leave no doubt about the initial conversion of the false teachers (v. 20—they came to the saving knowledge—epignosis) who have now, according to his estimation, left the faith and are in danger of eternal damnation." Indeed, "Peter has already told us of their end: 'Blackest darkness is reserved for them' (2 Pet 2:17)." Based on this passage, "Our author does not believe in eternal security." 2 Peter 3:16–18 – Some things in them [Paul's letters] are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, leading to their own destruction, as they do the rest of the Scriptures. And so, dear friends, since you already know these things, continually be on your guard not to be carried away by the deception [or "error," ESV, NET] of lawless people. Otherwise, you may fall from your secure position. Instead, continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Messiah. Glory belongs to him both now and on that eternal day! Amen. (ISV)
"Instead of being faithful to Paul and his presentation of the gospel, the false teachers have distorted his message." "They twist his teaching as even the other Scriptures," and they do this to their own "eternal destruction" (Greek: apōleia), which entails "the loss of eternal life" and "the final loss of salvation." "The problem of the false teachers is not that they have poorly understood portions of divine revelation but that they use their twisted interpretation to justify their immorality (e. g., 2:19; 3:3 4). Twisted teaching and twisted practice go hand in hand." Peter's "dear friends" have been forewarned in advance—they are to continually be on guard against being "carried away" (Greek: synapagō) by the error and deception of the false teachers who are already "seducing the unstable" in the congregation. David Kuske says the verb synapagō "means 'to drag away together with others," and the passive voice indicates that this action would be done to Peter's readers" by the false teachers. If a believer winds up embracing the heretical beliefs and practices of these false teachers, they will "apostatize," or "fall" (Greek: ekpiptō) from their secure position. Jörg Frey says the word fall (ekpiptō) is likely used here because piptō, fall, "and other composites are conventionally used for apostasy and ethical decline (cf. Rom 11:11, 22; 1 Cor 10:12; Gal 5:4; Heb 4:11; Rev 2:5; 1 Clem. 59:4; 2 Clem. 2.6; 5.7)." Peter is issuing a "severe warning." His readers have been "informed in advance about the nature of the false teachers and the danger they pose, and should therefore be on guard against the temptation to apostasy from the true faith and the ethical way of life, because this would inevitably entail the loss of salvation and destruction." He "has clarified in the entire letter that those who fall away" (or commit apostasy, like the false teachers have done), "are destined for eternal destruction. Believers maintain their secure position by heeding warnings, not by ignoring them." "The apostle recognizes that the best antidote against apostasy is a Christian life that is growing." Therefore, Peter urges them in his final exhortation to "continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Messiah." This growth in grace and knowledge "is the strongest antidote against the destructive lures of the false teachers." Jude 20–21 – But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. (ESV)
Бұл өлең "шамалы қарапайым схеманы" ұстанады: 18, 19-аяттар – жалған ұстаздардың сенушілерді адастыруға тырысуы; 20, 21-аяттар – олардың [жалған ұстаздардың] көрсететін діннен шығуы; 22-аят – бейнелі салыстыру". "Петір ескертеді", осы жалған ұстаздар "әлі де сенімдері нашарларды күнәға қайтадан жетелеуге тырысады. Бұл мәсіхшілер күнәге толы өмірді артта қалдырған еді", бірақ қазір олар "осы ұстаздар арқылы азғырылып", "жақында ғана тазартылған лас нәрселеріне қайта оралуда". Назар аударыңыз, жалған ұстаздар "жаңадан сенгендерге нәпсілік өмірде еркіндік уәде етеді, бірақ олардың өздері осы моральдық жеңіліске ұшырағандардың құлы". Мәсіхшілерге "Исаға сеніп, арамдық өмір сүруге болады" деудің қаншалықты алдамашы екеніне назар аударыңыз. "Діннен шығу туралы талқылауда ескеруге тиіс негізгі аяттар – 20, 21-аяттар. Петірдің діннен шыққандар деп санайтындарының шынайы мәсіхшілік тәжірибесі болғаны кемінде үш жолмен көрінеді". Біріншіден, олар "әлемнің ластығынан құтылған" (apopheugō), бұл 2 Петір 1:4-тегі сөздерді еске түсіреді ("әлемдегі жеңілістен құтылған"). Дэвид Куске атап көрсетеді, олар "құтылған" (apopheugō) сөзімен "алдынан қойылған префикс [apo] [pheugō] сөзін толықтырады, яғни, адамдар құтылғанын ғана емес, толық және түгелдей құтылғанын көрсетеді. Мәсіхшілер ретінде олар бұрынғы өмір салтының күнәлі әрекеттерінен толығымен бас тартты". "Тәуекел еткен уақытта". Екіншіден, бұл құтылу "Иеміз және Құтқарушымыз Иса Мәсіхтің білімі арқылы" жүзеге асырылды. Петірдің осы жердегі және 2 Петір 1:2, 3-тегі epignōsis сөзін қолдануы, олардың бұрын құтқарылған-құтқарылмағандығы туралы күмәндік тудырмайды, өйткені "ол осы күрделі [сөзді] Мәсіхтің білуі үшін қолданады, оны тәуекел еткенде алады". "Үшіншіден, олар "туралық жолын білді" ("әділ өмір салты"). "[epiginōskō] "білді" етістігі аздан бұрын айтылған epignōsis есімімен байланысты". Ол "құтқарушы білімге, осы "жолды" білу тәжірибесіне сілтеме жасайды. Етістіктің уақыты (грек тіліндегі жетілдірген форма) бұрынғы әрекеттің нәтижесі болып табылатын жалғасып жатқан жағдайды көрсетеді. Олар тәуекел еткенде осы білімге енді және кейіннен осы білімді сақтап қалды". Осының бәрін ескерсек, "христиан болудің мағынасын сипаттау үшін жақсырақ сипаттаманы табу қиын". Шындығында, "жалған ұстаздардың бұрын да ортодоксалды христиандар болғанына күмән жоқ"; "Иса Мәсіхке адал ізбасарлар". "Туралық жолы" [жалған ұстаздар бұрын толығымен қабылдаған] 2-аяттағы "туралық жолымен" және 15-аяттағы "түзу жолмен" бірдей". Бұған қоса, ол оларға берілген "қасиетті өсиетке" тең. Өкінішке орай, бұрынғы ортодоксалды христиандар "туралық жолынан немесе оларға берілген қасиетті өсиеттен бас тартты" (hupostrephō). Бұл "әдепсіздікке қатысты діннен шығу", яғни "иманнан бас тарту". Петір бұл оқиғаны екі мақалмен түсіндіреді, олардың екеуі де бірдей мәнді білдіреді. "Ауру болғанда құсығын жеуге қайта оралатын ит сияқты, жуылған шошқа лайға қайта оралады, осы діннен шыққандар олардан құтылған құлдыққа және ластануға қайта оралады". Кальвинистер Петірдің осы ілімін "ұсыныс жасау арқылы...
"In 2 Peter 1:5–7 we discover a chain of virtues that Christians are strongly encouraged to develop" (i. e., "make every effort," CSB, NET, NIV). This encouragement to moral effort is not surprising since the false teachers in 2 Peter are false precisely because they are not making any effort to live morally, and are setting "a wrong moral example" that encourages Christians to follow in their footsteps. Of significance in this list of virtues is that faith is first. "Trusting God is the root from which all the other virtues spring." Peter's theology here agrees "with Paul's, who said that faith expresses itself in love (Gal. 5:6). All the godly virtues find their source in faith" and culminate in love. If Christians "keep on doing" (v. 10, ISV) these godly virtues, they "will never fall [ptaiō]" (v. 10, ESV) or "fall away" (NLT, GOD'S WORD), 'that is, they will never forsake God, abandon him, and commit apostasy." Notice that v. 10 is connected to v. 11 by "For in this way." "The 'way,' of course, is the pathway of virtue, the keeping of the qualities in vv. 5–7, which were mentioned again in v. 10." By living godly lives through God's power Christ "will provide entrance into the kingdom for believers." For Peter, "the ethical fruits of Christian faith are objectively necessary for the attainment of final salvation." This teaching on the importance of moral living was needed since "His readers were in danger of moral apostasy, under the influence of [false] teachers who evidently held that immorality incurred no danger of [eternal] judgment." Peter believes "that without moral living one will not enter the kingdom which is precisely what Paul also believed (1 Cor 6:9–10; Gal 5:21)." Thus, according to Peter, "A person cannot sit around after conversion and assume 'once saved, always saved' regardless of one's postconversion conduct." "Peter assumes the possibility of their apostasy" with the consequent "forfeiture of eternal life" that is experienced in the kingdom ruled by the Lord Jesus. "But the apostle insists that such apostasy does not have to happen to any Christian. And it will never happen if we live each day by an abiding faith in Christ." A "faith that is demonstrated by growth in the Christian" virtues mentioned here. 2 Peter 2:18–22 – For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A dog returns to its own vomit," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire." (NASB 1995)
This passage follows "a relatively simple outline: verses 18, 19 [deals with] the attempts of the false teachers to lure believers astray; verses 20, 21 [deals with] the apostasy which they [the false teachers] exemplify; verse 22 [is] an illustrative analogy." "Peter warns" that these false teachers "will lure those who are still weak in faith back into sin. These Christians had begun to put lives that were mired in sin behind them," but now they are being "seduced by these teachers" to "go right back to the filth from which they had so recently been cleansed." Notice, the false teachers "promise the new converts freedom in a lustful life, but they themselves were slaves of the very moral corruption they were enticing others to embrace." How deceitful it is to tell Christians "'You can believe in Jesus and be free to live an immoral life.'" "The key verses to consider, in discussing apostasy are verses 20, 21. That these whom Peter regards as apostates had a genuine Christian experience is seen in at least three ways." First, they "escaped [apopheugō] the defilements of the world," which recalls 2 Peter 1:4 ("having escaped [apopheugō] the corruption that is in the world"). David Kuske notes that "they escaped" (apopheugō) with "The preposition [apo] used as a prefix makes [pheugō] a perfective verb, that is, it stresses not only that people escaped but that they made a complete, total escape. As Christians, they turned their back completely on the sinful actions of their former way of life." at "the time of their conversion." Second, this escape was accomplished "by the knowledge [epignōsis] of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." Peter's use of epignōsis here and in 2 Peter 1:2, 3, leave us in no doubt about whether they were once saved, for "he uses this compound [word] for knowledge consciously as a way of representing the saving knowledge of Christ one gains at conversion." "Third, they 'have come to know the way of righteousness'" ("meaning a righteous lifestyle"). "The verb [epiginōskō] 'have come to know' is cognate to the noun epignōsis just referred to." It "refers to saving knowledge, to the experience of coming to know this 'way.' The tense of the verb (Greek perfect) indicates a continuing state that is a result of a prior act. They entered into this knowledge at conversion and continue to possess that knowledge afterward." With all these in mind, "it would be hard to find a better description of what it means to become a Christian." Indeed, "There can be little doubt that the false teachers had once been orthodox Christians;" "true followers of Jesus Christ." "The 'way of righteousness' [which the false teachers had at one time fully embraced] is obviously the same as 'the way of truth' in verse 2 and 'the straight way' in verse 15." Furthermore, it is equivalent to "the holy commandment" passed on to them. Unfortunately, these once orthodox Christians have "turned away" (hupostrephō) from following the way of righteousness or holy commandments delivered to them. This "implies that they have returned to their former way of life and thus committed apostasy" (i. e. become unbelievers). This is an "ethical apostasy," which is an act of "deconversion." Finally, Peter illustrates what has happened to these former Christians with two proverbs that convey the same point. "Like a dog that comes back to lick up the spoiled vomit that sickened him in the first place, like a sow that gets a bath and goes back to the mud from which she had been cleansed, these apostates return to the enslaving, polluting wickedness from which they had been delivered." Calvinists try to get around Peter's teaching here "by suggesting that the real nature of the sow or the dog had not been changed, and that this implies that these apostate false teachers were never regenerated" or saved to begin with. But this is simply "pressing the illustration beyond what they are intended to convey. Indeed, the proverbs must be interpreted by the clearer words that precede them and not the other way around. The previous paragraph [i. e., verses 20–21] expresses precisely what the proverbs are intended to convey. Peter is describing a real apostasy from genuine Christianity." "If all we had of the New Testament was 2 Peter, then there would be no question about the possibility of true believers abandoning the faith. The author of 2 Peter seems to leave no doubt about the initial conversion of the false teachers (v. 20—they came to the saving knowledge—epignosis) who have now, according to his estimation, left the faith and are in danger of eternal damnation." Indeed, "Peter has already told us of their end: 'Blackest darkness is reserved for them' (2 Pet 2:17)." Based on this passage, "Our author does not believe in eternal security." 2 Peter 3:16–18 – Some things in them [Paul's letters] are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, leading to their own destruction, as they do the rest of the Scriptures. And so, dear friends, since you already know these things, continually be on your guard not to be carried away by the deception [or "error," ESV, NET] of lawless people. Otherwise, you may fall from your secure position. Instead, continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Messiah. Glory belongs to him both now and on that eternal day! Amen. (ISV)
"Instead of being faithful to Paul and his presentation of the gospel, the false teachers have distorted his message." "They twist his teaching as even the other Scriptures," and they do this to their own "eternal destruction" (Greek: apōleia), which entails "the loss of eternal life" and "the final loss of salvation." "The problem of the false teachers is not that they have poorly understood portions of divine revelation but that they use their twisted interpretation to justify their immorality (e. g., 2:19; 3:3 4). Twisted teaching and twisted practice go hand in hand." Peter's "dear friends" have been forewarned in advance—they are to continually be on guard against being "carried away" (Greek: synapagō) by the error and deception of the false teachers who are already "seducing the unstable" in the congregation. David Kuske says the verb synapagō "means 'to drag away together with others," and the passive voice indicates that this action would be done to Peter's readers" by the false teachers. If a believer winds up embracing the heretical beliefs and practices of these false teachers, they will "apostatize," or "fall" (Greek: ekpiptō) from their secure position. Jörg Frey says the word fall (ekpiptō) is likely used here because piptō, fall, "and other composites are conventionally used for apostasy and ethical decline (cf. Rom 11:11, 22; 1 Cor 10:12; Gal 5:4; Heb 4:11; Rev 2:5; 1 Clem. 59:4; 2 Clem. 2.6; 5.7)." Peter is issuing a "severe warning." His readers have been "informed in advance about the nature of the false teachers and the danger they pose, and should therefore be on guard against the temptation to apostasy from the true faith and the ethical way of life, because this would inevitably entail the loss of salvation and destruction." He "has clarified in the entire letter that those who fall away" (or commit apostasy, like the false teachers have done), "are destined for eternal destruction. Believers maintain their secure position by heeding warnings, not by ignoring them." "The apostle recognizes that the best antidote against apostasy is a Christian life that is growing." Therefore, Peter urges them in his final exhortation to "continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Messiah." This growth in grace and knowledge "is the strongest antidote against the destructive lures of the false teachers." Jude 20–21 – But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. (ESV)
Жоханның хаттарында шартты қауіпсіздік
17 Осы дүниені де, ондағы еш нәрсені де сүймеңдер! Осы дүниені сүйгендердің көктегі Әкеге сүйіспеншілігі жоқ. Себебі осы дүниеге тән нәрселердің бәрі: дене құмарлықтары, көздің тілегі және өмірдің мақтанышы – көктегі Әкеден емес, осы дүниеден бастау алған. Осы дүние мен оның тілегі өткінші. Ал Құдайдың еркін орындайтындар мәңгі өмір сүреді. (Құдайдың сөзі, ТМ) Осы тарауларда «дүниеге сүйіспеншілік танытпау» туралы нақты ескерту жазылған, өйткені «ондағының бәрі [яғни дене құмарлықтары, көздің тілегі және өмірдің мақтанышы] зиянды» және «адамды Құдайдан алыстатуға әкелуі мүмкін». Мәсіхші бір мезгілде Әкесі Құдайды да, осы дүниені де сүйе алмайды. «Дүниеге деген сүйіспеншілік Құдайдан алыстатуға әкеледі, бұл – сенушіге болатын ең ауыр нәрсе». Жас сенушілерді жазушы 2:13-те «жаманнан жеңгендер» деп атайды. Олар «Құдайдың сөзін берік ұстанады» (2:14) және «Исаның Мәсіх, Құдайдың Ұлы екеніне сенулері» (4:4) арқылы жеңімпаз болып табылады. Алайда олар осы дүниенің қызықтарына беріліп, «сенімнен бас тартып, [мәңгілік] құрылуы мүмкін. Ал «Мәңгілік өмір Құдайдың еркін орындайтындарға, Әкені сүйіп, Оның өсиеттерін орындайтындарға арналған» (17-аят)» деген сөздермен толықтырылсын. Балаларым, қазір соңғы уақыт. Сендер Мәсіхке қарсы шығатын біреу келе жатқанын естідіңдер, ал қазірдің өзінде Мәсіхке қарсы шығатын адамдар көп. Соның нәтижесінде біз осы дүниенің соңғы дәуірі екенін білеміз. Олар ортамыздан шықса да, біздікі болған жоқ, өйткені егер біздікі болса, бізбен бірге қалар еді. Бірақ олардың бәрі біздікі емес екені анық көрінсін деп, бізден алшақ шығып кетті. Киелі Құдай сендерге Өзінің Рухын қондырғандықтан барлығын ажырата білесіңдер. Сендерге осыны шынайы ілімді білмегендерің үшін емес, қайта, оны біліп, шындықтан өтірік тумайтынын да ұққандарың үшін жазып отырмын. Исаның Құдай жіберген Мәсіх екенін мойындамайтындардан басқа кім өтірікші? Мәсіхке қарсы шығушы – Әкені және Ұлын мойындамайтындар. Кім Ұлды мойындамаса, оның Әкеге қатысы жоқ. Ал кім Ұлды мойындаса, оның Әкеге де қатысы бар. Сондықтан бастапқыдан естіген шынайы ілімді ұстаныңдар! Егер осылай істесеңдер, онда Ұлмен және Әкемен тығыз байланыста өмір сүресіңдер. Ал Құдайдың бізге берген уәдесі – мәңгілік өмір. Осыны дұрыс жолдан азғырушылардан сақтандыру үшін жазып отырмын. Ал сендерге келсек, Құдайдан алған Киелі Рух өздеріңде қалады, сондықтан басқаның сендерге тәлім беруіне қажеті жоқ. Қайта, сендерге Киелі Рухтың майлауы барлық нәрсеге үйретеді. Оның сендерге үйреткендері еш өтіріксіз, шынайы, сондықтан Киелі Рухтың үйреткені бойынша әрекет ете беріңдер. (ЖД) 2 Жохан 7–11 Көптеген алдамшылар дүниеге шығып, Иса Мәсіхтің адам болып келгенін мойындамайды. Мұндайлар – алдамшы және Мәсіхке қарсы шығушылар. Еңбекпен қол жеткізгендеріңді жоғалтпай, Иемізден толық сыйларыңды алу үшін сақ болыңдар! Мәсіхтің ілімімен жүрмей, одан шығып кеткен әркімде Құдай жоқ. Ал Оның іліміне сай әрекет ететіндер көктегі Әкемен де, Оның Ұлымен де тығыз байланыста болады. Сондықтан да біреу келіп, осы ілімді үйретпесе, оны үйлеріңе кіргізіп, жылы лебізін айтпаңдар! Себебі оған сәлем берген әркім оның жаман істеріне ортақ болады. (HCSB)
The addresses are explicitly commanded and "warned not to love the world" because "everything in it [i. e., the desire of the flesh, desire of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life ] is dangerous" and "can lead a person to fall away from God." A believer cannot love the world and love God the Father at the same time. "Loving the world leads to falling away from God, the most serious thing that can happen to a believer." The young believers are identified by the writer as "victors over the evil one" in 2:13 14. They are victors because they are "holding fast to God's word" (2:14) and "their faith in Jesus as the messiah, the son of God (4:4)." However, if they allow themselves to be seduced by the allurements of the world, they will "fall away from this faith, [and] they will go lost [eternally]. The world is passing away (v. 17)" but "eternal life belongs to those who do God's will, to those who love the Father and follow his commandments (v. 17)." 1 John 2:18–27 – Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard, "Antichrist is coming," even now many antichrists have come. We know from this that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you have knowledge. I have not written to you because you don't know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? This one is the antichrist: the one who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son can have the Father; he who confesses the Son has the Father as well. What you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life. I have written these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. The anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you don't need anyone to teach you. Instead, His anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie; just as He has taught you, remain in Him. (HCSB)
2 John 7–11 – Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves so you don't lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward. Anyone who does not remain in Christ's teaching but goes beyond it, does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and don't say, "Welcome," to him; for the one who says, "Welcome," to him shares in his evil works. (HCSB)
Аян кітабындағы шартты қауіпсіздік
Аян кітабындағы маңызды тақырып – грек сөзі "никао", яғни "жеңіске жеу, басып озу, үстемдік ету, жеңіп шығу". Оның мағынасы Аян кітабының қазіргі аудармаларында көрінеді. Мысалы, 2:7: "Жеңіске жеткенге Мен Құдайдың рақатында өсетін, мәңгілік өмірді сыйлайтын ағаштың жемісін жеуге рұхсат беремін" (NASB 2020). "Жеңіске жеткенге" (NET, ESV, CSB), "Жеңіске ие болғанға" (NIV; EHV).
"To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God." (NASB 2020)
"To the one who conquers " (NET, ESV, CSB)
"To the one who is victorious " (NIV; EHV)
The Greek verb nikaō appears eight times (2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:7) as a present participle which is translated "literally [as] the one overcoming or conquering." "The present participle implies continuous victory, 'keeps on overcoming' or 'continues to be victorious.'" Thus, Christians are "in the process of conquering" and will receive the promises only if they "carry out the process to its completion." Overcoming/conquering in these verses refers to "Christians that hold fast their faith even unto death against the power of their foes, and their temptations and persecutions." Overcoming/Conquering simply "means persevering in faith," which entails an "active trust in God that leads to faithfulness in the difficult situations of life lived for Christ." Each of the seven churches are given a promise on the condition of overcoming/conquering that differs from one another, but "each contains in some form the anticipation of eternal life" or "final salvation [with God] in the time of the new Jerusalem." This is confirmed by the final promise found in Revelation 21:7, "The one overcoming will inherit these things, and I will be God to him and he will be a son to Me" (DLNT). "The pronoun . 'these things,' refers to the blessings of eschatological [i. e., future and final] salvation enumerated in v. 4 (i. e., no sorrow, death, mourning, tears, or pain)." Alexander Stewart states, "Each of the seven initial promises [proclaimed to the seven churches] point forward to the visions of final salvation at the end of the Apocalypse (Revelation 20–22). Altogether they illustrate one of John's primary motivational strategies: hearers should strive to overcome in order to gain final salvation. Final salvation is dependent upon a human response of overcoming." Christians must be conquering/overcoming, that is, "remaining faithful [to Jesus], even to death, in order to experience glorious, everlasting life with God, the Lamb, and all the redeemed in God's new heaven and earth." Of course, the "Failure to overcome necessarily entails failure to receive the promises and the resultant exclusion from God's new creation." Revelation 2:10–11 – "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I [Jesus] will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death." (NASB)
"The persecution would be a time for testing of the church's faith. The time of affliction would be brief ("ten days," that is, an indeterminate, short period) but may result in death for some of the faithful. They were not to fear," but "Keep on being faithful" in the midst of the devils efforts "to lead the faithful into apostasy." If they "Keep on proving faithful unto death" Christ will give them "the 'crown' which consists in eternal life," "eternal life in the coming Kingdom." Jesus calls "all [Christians] to faithfulness, which is what it means to conquer" in the book of Revelation. Therefore, those who "Continue to be faithful" to Jesus until death consist of those who are presently "conquering" "all the godless and antichristian powers" waring against them. Christians who are conquering (i. e., "persevering in faith") are promised to never experience "the second death" (2:11) which entails "exclusion from participation in God's final kingdom" and "eternal damnation in hell" (cf. 20:6, 14; 21:8). Revelation 3:10–11 – And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: "This is what the holy one, the true one, the one who has the key of David, the one who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one can open, says: I know your works (behold, I have put before you an opened door that no one is able to shut) that you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and did not deny my name. Behold, I am causing those of the synagogue of Satan, the ones who call themselves Jews and are not, but are lying—behold, I will make them come and kneel down before your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of my patient endurance [or "perseverance," NASB 1995] I also will keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole inhabited world, to put to the test those who live on the earth. I am coming quickly! Hold fast [or "Hold on," NET, NIV] to what you have, so that no one may take away your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never go outside again, and I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God, and my new name." (Lexham English Bible)
The Philadelphian Christians are praised by Jesus: they "did not deny my name" (3:9), but "kept my word" (3:8), and "kept the word of my patient endurance" or perseverance (3:10). "This passage assumes that those who identify with Jesus' 'name' are being pressured to deny their faith" "Despite Jesus' praises for the Philadelphian Christians' perseverance to this point, however, 'it's not over till it's over.' They must continue to hold fast what they have (3:11), that is, to continue to keep the message that demands their perseverance (3:10), lest their persecutors seize from them their crown (3:11; cf. 2:25)." "[T]he crown of life in Revelation 2:10 is eternal life itself" which Christ gives to those who remain faithful to Jesus until death. In 3:11, this "crown" also represents "eternal life," as a present possession that Christians must "be holding on to" (Disciples Literal New Testament) in light of Jesus's second coming. They must "'hold fast' to their present faith [in Christ] . in the face of coming difficulties" or else they will have their crown "taken away." This "is a metaphor for being disqualified in a contest." "The athletic metaphor is appropriate in this letter, since Philadelphia was noted for its [athletic] games and festivals (Mounce 104; Hemer, Letters 165)." The Christian athlete can become disqualified from keeping possession of the crown "of eternal life" through a variety of ways in the book of Revelation. Gwyn Pugh explains,
Jesus alerts believers [throughout the seven letters to the churches] to spiritual enemies that are aggressive, militant, and opportunistic. Believers must be on guard against any temptation, whether imperial pressure to deny Christ, social pressure to compromise with the pagan and idolatrous environment around them, or persecution from unbelieving Jews—not to mention false doctrine, indifference, and spiritual inertia within the churches. Any of these might overcome the believer and have the effect of taking one's crown. (The Book of Revelation, 196)
Christians are warned, they must be holding fast to one's faith in Christ despite present opposition or else they will find the crown of eternal life they currently possess being "forfeited." "Through unfaithfulness this crown, which includes the blessing of everlasting life, is lost," and one is excluded from entering the kingdom of God along with all the rest who are "unfaithful" (Rev. 21:8, ISV). The doctrine of once saved, always saved "is here clearly denied." Revelation 21:7–8 – The person who overcomes ["conquers," ESV, NET] will inherit these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son. But people who are cowardly, unfaithful, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will find themselves in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death. (ISV)
Revelation 21:8 concludes this section (vv. 1–8) with a "warning" to Christians about succumbing to temptations that could keep them from being faithful to Jesus until the end as overcomers/conquers. Since "cowardly" is the opposite of the "conqueror," Christians must "decide whether to be a 'conqueror' (21:7) or a 'coward' (21:8)" and share in each of their corresponding destines. In this context, "cowards" are Christians who lack the "courage to offer faithful witness in following the Lamb wherever he might go, specifically to death," and who ultimately relinquish "one's faith in the battle against evil," and become "apostates" (i. e., unbelievers) "The term unfaithful stands with the" term coward. Unfaithful [Greek: apistos] "is the opposite of faith [Greek: pistos], which includes loyalty to God and Christ (Rev 2:10; 17:14). If Jesus (1:5; 3:14; 19:11) and Antipas (2:13) were faithful and resist evil," the unfaithful "are the opposite" (cf. Luke 12:46). The book of Revelation calls "all [Christians] to faithfulness, which is what it means to conquer" (see Rev. 2:10 11). Therefore, for a Christian to become unfaithful to Jesus means that they have "turned their backs on him" and failed "to offer the faithful witness that reflects their Lord and his followers." Thus, "When Rev. 21:8 places" the cowardly and the unfaithful "in the lake of fire, it has in view Christians during times of persecution who, out of a fear of suffering, renounce their faith" and become "apostates" (i. e., unbelievers) Since "John's audience is Christians under pressure and threat of persecution, cowardice and faithlessness to the Lord, either spiritually or ethically," must be condemned in the strongest possible manner. "The intended rhetorical effect of this verse was to warn the faithful of the dangers of spiritual and moral apostasy." Revelation 22:18–19 – I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy contained in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book. (NET)
Whether it is Jesus or the author John who is speaking authoritatively as a prophet on behalf of God (commentators differ here), we have in these verses a "severe warning" against distorting or "falsifying the message of Revelation through one's teaching and manner of life." These warnings are meant for "everyone" who "hears" the message of Revelation and "especially for the seven churches" who were its original recipients. Craig Koester says,
Hearers have already been told to "keep" what is written in the book and that they are blessed through faithfulness to God and Christ (1:3; 22:7, 9). Since "keeping" means obeying the message, then "adding and taking away" are the opposite and connote disobedience. The words adding/taking away "echoes Moses' teaching in Deuteronomy" (4:2; 12:32), which in context, contain commands against committing idolatry and warn of false prophets who would encourage Israel to worship other gods (Deut. 13:1 5). Since false teachers/prophets are already active in at least two of these churches, enticing God's people to participate in idolatry and immorality (2:14 15, 20), Revelation 22:18 19 also serves as a "warning [to them] that God will punish interpretations of the Christian faith that allow the idolatry, immorality, and compromise with evil that Revelation condemns." Since the warning is addressed to "everyone who hears," it would therefore discourage both Christians and non Christians "from attempting to tamper with the book's contents." Nevertheless, it must be remembered that this warning was originally given to believers, and thus, if a believer adds/takes away, that is, "change[s] the message God has communicated in the book or prophecy of Revelation" to allow themselves or others to disobey God, they will commit "apostasy" (i. e., "the believer will become an unbeliever") and "will have the plagues of the book added to them; that is, they will be treated as unbelievers and suffer the punishments to be inflicted on the wicked." "Even more severe is the warning that they will lose their share in the tree of life" and the holy city which are references to final salvation with God and His people in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21–22). "Clearly, failure to keep the prophecy disqualifies one from the eternal life that awaits in New Jerusalem." In light of these verses, "It is hard to deny that the author believed that a person could commit apostasy and so have the privilege of eternal salvation taken away from him. John was not an advocate of 'once saved, always saved' theology."
Грек етістігі "никао" сегіз рет кездеседі (2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:7) қазіргі уақыт қатысы ретінде, "үнемі жеңіске жететін" немесе "жеңімпаз болып отыратын" деп аударылады. "Қазіргі уақыттағы етістік үздіксіз жеңіске жетуді білдіреді, яғни 'жеңіп отырады' немесе 'жеңімпаз болып келеді'". Осылайша, христиандар "жеңіске жету процесінде" және олар уәделерді тек қана "процесті аяқтағанда" алады. Бұл тармақтарда жеңіске жету – "өлімге дейін өз сенімдерін сақтап, жауларының күшіне, азғыруларына және қудалауларына қарсы тұратын христиандарға" қатысты. Жеңіске жету – "сенімде табандылық таныту", яғни "Құдайға деген белсенді сенім, Мәсіх үшін өмір сүрген өмірдің қиын жағдайларында адалдыққа жетелейтін сенім". Жеті қауымның әрқайсысына жеңіске жету шарты бойынша берілген уәделер бір-бірінен ерекшеленеді, бірақ "әрқайсысында қандай да бір түрде мәңгілік өмірге деген үміт" немесе "Жаңа Иерусалим кезінде Құдаймен соңғы құтқарылу" бар. Бұл Аян 21:7-дегі соңғы уәдеде расталады: "Жеңіске жеткен бұл игіліктердің бәрін мұраға алады. Мен оның Құдайы боламын, ал ол Менің ұлым болады" (DLNT). "Дұрыс айтуынша, 'бұл игіліктер' деген сөз 4-тарауда айтылған құтқарылудың (яғни қайғы-қасірет, өлім, жоқтау, көз жас, қайғы-қасіретсіз) баталарына сілтеме жасайды". Александр Стюарт былай дейді: "Жеті алғашқы уәделердің әрқайсысы [жеті шіркеуге жарияланды] Апакалипсис соңындағы соңғы құтқарылу көріністеріне (Аян 20–22) назар аударады. Олар Жақияның негізгі ынталандыру стратегиясының бірін көрсетеді: тыңдаушылар соңғы құтқарылу үшін жеңіске жетуге тырысулары керек. Соңғы құтқарылу адам баласының жеңіске жету реакциясына байланысты". Христиандар жеңіске жетуі керек, яғни "өлімге дейін [Исаға] адал болып, Құдаймен, Тоқтымен және жаңа аспан мен жердегі құтқарылғандардың бәрімен бірге мәңгілік өмірді иемденуі керек". Әрине, "жеңіске жете алмау уәделерді қабылдамауға және Құдайдың жаңа жаратылысынан шеттетуге әкеледі". Аян 2:10–11: "Сен тартатын азаптардан қорықпа! Міне, шайтан сендердің біразын түрмеге тастауға дайын тұр, сендерді сынау үшін және он күнге дейін қиындықтарға ұшырату үшін. Өлгенше адал бол, Мен [Иса] саған өмір тәжін сыйлаймын. Құлағы бар болсын, ол Рухтың қауымдарға айтқандарын естісін. Жеңіске жеткен екінші өлімге ұшырамайды".
"To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God." (NASB 2020)
"To the one who conquers " (NET, ESV, CSB)
"To the one who is victorious " (NIV; EHV)
The Greek verb nikaō appears eight times (2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:7) as a present participle which is translated "literally [as] the one overcoming or conquering." "The present participle implies continuous victory, 'keeps on overcoming' or 'continues to be victorious.'" Thus, Christians are "in the process of conquering" and will receive the promises only if they "carry out the process to its completion." Overcoming/conquering in these verses refers to "Christians that hold fast their faith even unto death against the power of their foes, and their temptations and persecutions." Overcoming/Conquering simply "means persevering in faith," which entails an "active trust in God that leads to faithfulness in the difficult situations of life lived for Christ." Each of the seven churches are given a promise on the condition of overcoming/conquering that differs from one another, but "each contains in some form the anticipation of eternal life" or "final salvation [with God] in the time of the new Jerusalem." This is confirmed by the final promise found in Revelation 21:7, "The one overcoming will inherit these things, and I will be God to him and he will be a son to Me" (DLNT). "The pronoun . 'these things,' refers to the blessings of eschatological [i. e., future and final] salvation enumerated in v. 4 (i. e., no sorrow, death, mourning, tears, or pain)." Alexander Stewart states, "Each of the seven initial promises [proclaimed to the seven churches] point forward to the visions of final salvation at the end of the Apocalypse (Revelation 20–22). Altogether they illustrate one of John's primary motivational strategies: hearers should strive to overcome in order to gain final salvation. Final salvation is dependent upon a human response of overcoming." Christians must be conquering/overcoming, that is, "remaining faithful [to Jesus], even to death, in order to experience glorious, everlasting life with God, the Lamb, and all the redeemed in God's new heaven and earth." Of course, the "Failure to overcome necessarily entails failure to receive the promises and the resultant exclusion from God's new creation." Revelation 2:10–11 – "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I [Jesus] will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death." (NASB)
"The persecution would be a time for testing of the church's faith. The time of affliction would be brief ("ten days," that is, an indeterminate, short period) but may result in death for some of the faithful. They were not to fear," but "Keep on being faithful" in the midst of the devils efforts "to lead the faithful into apostasy." If they "Keep on proving faithful unto death" Christ will give them "the 'crown' which consists in eternal life," "eternal life in the coming Kingdom." Jesus calls "all [Christians] to faithfulness, which is what it means to conquer" in the book of Revelation. Therefore, those who "Continue to be faithful" to Jesus until death consist of those who are presently "conquering" "all the godless and antichristian powers" waring against them. Christians who are conquering (i. e., "persevering in faith") are promised to never experience "the second death" (2:11) which entails "exclusion from participation in God's final kingdom" and "eternal damnation in hell" (cf. 20:6, 14; 21:8). Revelation 3:10–11 – And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: "This is what the holy one, the true one, the one who has the key of David, the one who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one can open, says: I know your works (behold, I have put before you an opened door that no one is able to shut) that you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and did not deny my name. Behold, I am causing those of the synagogue of Satan, the ones who call themselves Jews and are not, but are lying—behold, I will make them come and kneel down before your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of my patient endurance [or "perseverance," NASB 1995] I also will keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole inhabited world, to put to the test those who live on the earth. I am coming quickly! Hold fast [or "Hold on," NET, NIV] to what you have, so that no one may take away your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never go outside again, and I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God, and my new name." (Lexham English Bible)
The Philadelphian Christians are praised by Jesus: they "did not deny my name" (3:9), but "kept my word" (3:8), and "kept the word of my patient endurance" or perseverance (3:10). "This passage assumes that those who identify with Jesus' 'name' are being pressured to deny their faith" "Despite Jesus' praises for the Philadelphian Christians' perseverance to this point, however, 'it's not over till it's over.' They must continue to hold fast what they have (3:11), that is, to continue to keep the message that demands their perseverance (3:10), lest their persecutors seize from them their crown (3:11; cf. 2:25)." "[T]he crown of life in Revelation 2:10 is eternal life itself" which Christ gives to those who remain faithful to Jesus until death. In 3:11, this "crown" also represents "eternal life," as a present possession that Christians must "be holding on to" (Disciples Literal New Testament) in light of Jesus's second coming. They must "'hold fast' to their present faith [in Christ] . in the face of coming difficulties" or else they will have their crown "taken away." This "is a metaphor for being disqualified in a contest." "The athletic metaphor is appropriate in this letter, since Philadelphia was noted for its [athletic] games and festivals (Mounce 104; Hemer, Letters 165)." The Christian athlete can become disqualified from keeping possession of the crown "of eternal life" through a variety of ways in the book of Revelation. Gwyn Pugh explains,
Jesus alerts believers [throughout the seven letters to the churches] to spiritual enemies that are aggressive, militant, and opportunistic. Believers must be on guard against any temptation, whether imperial pressure to deny Christ, social pressure to compromise with the pagan and idolatrous environment around them, or persecution from unbelieving Jews—not to mention false doctrine, indifference, and spiritual inertia within the churches. Any of these might overcome the believer and have the effect of taking one's crown. (The Book of Revelation, 196)
Christians are warned, they must be holding fast to one's faith in Christ despite present opposition or else they will find the crown of eternal life they currently possess being "forfeited." "Through unfaithfulness this crown, which includes the blessing of everlasting life, is lost," and one is excluded from entering the kingdom of God along with all the rest who are "unfaithful" (Rev. 21:8, ISV). The doctrine of once saved, always saved "is here clearly denied." Revelation 21:7–8 – The person who overcomes ["conquers," ESV, NET] will inherit these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son. But people who are cowardly, unfaithful, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will find themselves in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death. (ISV)
Revelation 21:8 concludes this section (vv. 1–8) with a "warning" to Christians about succumbing to temptations that could keep them from being faithful to Jesus until the end as overcomers/conquers. Since "cowardly" is the opposite of the "conqueror," Christians must "decide whether to be a 'conqueror' (21:7) or a 'coward' (21:8)" and share in each of their corresponding destines. In this context, "cowards" are Christians who lack the "courage to offer faithful witness in following the Lamb wherever he might go, specifically to death," and who ultimately relinquish "one's faith in the battle against evil," and become "apostates" (i. e., unbelievers) "The term unfaithful stands with the" term coward. Unfaithful [Greek: apistos] "is the opposite of faith [Greek: pistos], which includes loyalty to God and Christ (Rev 2:10; 17:14). If Jesus (1:5; 3:14; 19:11) and Antipas (2:13) were faithful and resist evil," the unfaithful "are the opposite" (cf. Luke 12:46). The book of Revelation calls "all [Christians] to faithfulness, which is what it means to conquer" (see Rev. 2:10 11). Therefore, for a Christian to become unfaithful to Jesus means that they have "turned their backs on him" and failed "to offer the faithful witness that reflects their Lord and his followers." Thus, "When Rev. 21:8 places" the cowardly and the unfaithful "in the lake of fire, it has in view Christians during times of persecution who, out of a fear of suffering, renounce their faith" and become "apostates" (i. e., unbelievers) Since "John's audience is Christians under pressure and threat of persecution, cowardice and faithlessness to the Lord, either spiritually or ethically," must be condemned in the strongest possible manner. "The intended rhetorical effect of this verse was to warn the faithful of the dangers of spiritual and moral apostasy." Revelation 22:18–19 – I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy contained in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book. (NET)
Whether it is Jesus or the author John who is speaking authoritatively as a prophet on behalf of God (commentators differ here), we have in these verses a "severe warning" against distorting or "falsifying the message of Revelation through one's teaching and manner of life." These warnings are meant for "everyone" who "hears" the message of Revelation and "especially for the seven churches" who were its original recipients. Craig Koester says,
Hearers have already been told to "keep" what is written in the book and that they are blessed through faithfulness to God and Christ (1:3; 22:7, 9). Since "keeping" means obeying the message, then "adding and taking away" are the opposite and connote disobedience. The words adding/taking away "echoes Moses' teaching in Deuteronomy" (4:2; 12:32), which in context, contain commands against committing idolatry and warn of false prophets who would encourage Israel to worship other gods (Deut. 13:1 5). Since false teachers/prophets are already active in at least two of these churches, enticing God's people to participate in idolatry and immorality (2:14 15, 20), Revelation 22:18 19 also serves as a "warning [to them] that God will punish interpretations of the Christian faith that allow the idolatry, immorality, and compromise with evil that Revelation condemns." Since the warning is addressed to "everyone who hears," it would therefore discourage both Christians and non Christians "from attempting to tamper with the book's contents." Nevertheless, it must be remembered that this warning was originally given to believers, and thus, if a believer adds/takes away, that is, "change[s] the message God has communicated in the book or prophecy of Revelation" to allow themselves or others to disobey God, they will commit "apostasy" (i. e., "the believer will become an unbeliever") and "will have the plagues of the book added to them; that is, they will be treated as unbelievers and suffer the punishments to be inflicted on the wicked." "Even more severe is the warning that they will lose their share in the tree of life" and the holy city which are references to final salvation with God and His people in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21–22). "Clearly, failure to keep the prophecy disqualifies one from the eternal life that awaits in New Jerusalem." In light of these verses, "It is hard to deny that the author believed that a person could commit apostasy and so have the privilege of eternal salvation taken away from him. John was not an advocate of 'once saved, always saved' theology."
"Қудалау шіркеудің сенімін сынау кезі болатын. Азап уақыты қысқа ("он күн", яғни белгісіз, қысқа уақыт) болса да, адалдардың кейбіреулерінің өліміне әкелуі мүмкін еді. Олар қорқып, қорқып жүрмеулері керек еді", бірақ "адал болып қала беріңдер" шайтанның оларды "апостасияға түсіруге" жасаған әрекеттерінің арасында. Егер олар "өлімге дейін адал болып қала берсе", Мәсіх оларға "мәңгілік өмірден тұратын 'тәжді'" сыйлайды, "келе жатқан Патшалықтағы мәңгілік өмір". Иса Аян кітабында "барлық [христиандарды] адалдыққа шақырады, бұл жеңіске жету дегенді білдіреді". Сондықтан өлгенше Исаға адал болып жүргендер – қазіргі уақытта оларға қарсы соғысып жатқан "құдайсыз және Мәсіхке қарсы шыққан барлық биліктерді" жеңіп жатқандар. Жеңіске жетуші (яғни "сенімде табандылық танытатын") христиандарға "екінші өлімді" (2:11) ешқашан сезінбеуді уәде етеді, бұл "Құдайдың соңғы патшалығына қатысудан шеттетуді" және "тозақта мәңгілік жазалануды" (20:6, 14; 21:8) білдіреді. Аян 3:10–11: "Філадельфия шіркеуінің періштесіне былай деп жаз: Міне, Киелі және Шын, Дәуіттің кілтін ұстаған, ашқан ешкім жаба алмайтын, жапқан ешкім аша алмайтын Құдай мынаны айтады: Мен сенің істеріңді білемін. Міне, Мен сенің алдыңа ешкім жаба алмайтын ашық есік қойдым. Сенің күшің аз болғанымен, Менің сөзімді сақтадың және Менің атымды мойындамадың. Міне, Мен сенің шайтанның қауымдарының, өзін яһуди деп атап, бірақ олар емес, өтірік айтатын адамдардың алдына тизе бүгіп, Мен сені сүйемін деп мойындауына мәжбүр етемін. Сен Менің табандылық туралы сөзімді сақтағаның үшін, Мен де сені бүкіл әлемге келетін сынақ уақытынан сақтаймын, осы әлемде тұратындарды сынау үшін. Мен жақын арада келемін! Сенде бар нәрсені берік ұста, ешкім саған тәжді тартып алмасын. Жеңіске жеткенге Мен Құдайымның киелі үйінде бағана іспетті етемін, ол содан ешқашан шықпайтын болады. Мен оның үстіне Құдайымның атын, сондай-ақ Менің Құдайымнан, көктен түсетін жаңа Иерусалим қаласының атын және Менің жаңа атымды жазамын". (Лексем ағылшынша Киелі кітап)
"To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God." (NASB 2020)
"To the one who conquers " (NET, ESV, CSB)
"To the one who is victorious " (NIV; EHV)
The Greek verb nikaō appears eight times (2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:7) as a present participle which is translated "literally [as] the one overcoming or conquering." "The present participle implies continuous victory, 'keeps on overcoming' or 'continues to be victorious.'" Thus, Christians are "in the process of conquering" and will receive the promises only if they "carry out the process to its completion." Overcoming/conquering in these verses refers to "Christians that hold fast their faith even unto death against the power of their foes, and their temptations and persecutions." Overcoming/Conquering simply "means persevering in faith," which entails an "active trust in God that leads to faithfulness in the difficult situations of life lived for Christ." Each of the seven churches are given a promise on the condition of overcoming/conquering that differs from one another, but "each contains in some form the anticipation of eternal life" or "final salvation [with God] in the time of the new Jerusalem." This is confirmed by the final promise found in Revelation 21:7, "The one overcoming will inherit these things, and I will be God to him and he will be a son to Me" (DLNT). "The pronoun . 'these things,' refers to the blessings of eschatological [i. e., future and final] salvation enumerated in v. 4 (i. e., no sorrow, death, mourning, tears, or pain)." Alexander Stewart states, "Each of the seven initial promises [proclaimed to the seven churches] point forward to the visions of final salvation at the end of the Apocalypse (Revelation 20–22). Altogether they illustrate one of John's primary motivational strategies: hearers should strive to overcome in order to gain final salvation. Final salvation is dependent upon a human response of overcoming." Christians must be conquering/overcoming, that is, "remaining faithful [to Jesus], even to death, in order to experience glorious, everlasting life with God, the Lamb, and all the redeemed in God's new heaven and earth." Of course, the "Failure to overcome necessarily entails failure to receive the promises and the resultant exclusion from God's new creation." Revelation 2:10–11 – "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I [Jesus] will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death." (NASB)
"The persecution would be a time for testing of the church's faith. The time of affliction would be brief ("ten days," that is, an indeterminate, short period) but may result in death for some of the faithful. They were not to fear," but "Keep on being faithful" in the midst of the devils efforts "to lead the faithful into apostasy." If they "Keep on proving faithful unto death" Christ will give them "the 'crown' which consists in eternal life," "eternal life in the coming Kingdom." Jesus calls "all [Christians] to faithfulness, which is what it means to conquer" in the book of Revelation. Therefore, those who "Continue to be faithful" to Jesus until death consist of those who are presently "conquering" "all the godless and antichristian powers" waring against them. Christians who are conquering (i. e., "persevering in faith") are promised to never experience "the second death" (2:11) which entails "exclusion from participation in God's final kingdom" and "eternal damnation in hell" (cf. 20:6, 14; 21:8). Revelation 3:10–11 – And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: "This is what the holy one, the true one, the one who has the key of David, the one who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one can open, says: I know your works (behold, I have put before you an opened door that no one is able to shut) that you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and did not deny my name. Behold, I am causing those of the synagogue of Satan, the ones who call themselves Jews and are not, but are lying—behold, I will make them come and kneel down before your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of my patient endurance [or "perseverance," NASB 1995] I also will keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole inhabited world, to put to the test those who live on the earth. I am coming quickly! Hold fast [or "Hold on," NET, NIV] to what you have, so that no one may take away your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never go outside again, and I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God, and my new name." (Lexham English Bible)
The Philadelphian Christians are praised by Jesus: they "did not deny my name" (3:9), but "kept my word" (3:8), and "kept the word of my patient endurance" or perseverance (3:10). "This passage assumes that those who identify with Jesus' 'name' are being pressured to deny their faith" "Despite Jesus' praises for the Philadelphian Christians' perseverance to this point, however, 'it's not over till it's over.' They must continue to hold fast what they have (3:11), that is, to continue to keep the message that demands their perseverance (3:10), lest their persecutors seize from them their crown (3:11; cf. 2:25)." "[T]he crown of life in Revelation 2:10 is eternal life itself" which Christ gives to those who remain faithful to Jesus until death. In 3:11, this "crown" also represents "eternal life," as a present possession that Christians must "be holding on to" (Disciples Literal New Testament) in light of Jesus's second coming. They must "'hold fast' to their present faith [in Christ] . in the face of coming difficulties" or else they will have their crown "taken away." This "is a metaphor for being disqualified in a contest." "The athletic metaphor is appropriate in this letter, since Philadelphia was noted for its [athletic] games and festivals (Mounce 104; Hemer, Letters 165)." The Christian athlete can become disqualified from keeping possession of the crown "of eternal life" through a variety of ways in the book of Revelation. Gwyn Pugh explains,
Jesus alerts believers [throughout the seven letters to the churches] to spiritual enemies that are aggressive, militant, and opportunistic. Believers must be on guard against any temptation, whether imperial pressure to deny Christ, social pressure to compromise with the pagan and idolatrous environment around them, or persecution from unbelieving Jews—not to mention false doctrine, indifference, and spiritual inertia within the churches. Any of these might overcome the believer and have the effect of taking one's crown. (The Book of Revelation, 196)
Christians are warned, they must be holding fast to one's faith in Christ despite present opposition or else they will find the crown of eternal life they currently possess being "forfeited." "Through unfaithfulness this crown, which includes the blessing of everlasting life, is lost," and one is excluded from entering the kingdom of God along with all the rest who are "unfaithful" (Rev. 21:8, ISV). The doctrine of once saved, always saved "is here clearly denied." Revelation 21:7–8 – The person who overcomes ["conquers," ESV, NET] will inherit these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son. But people who are cowardly, unfaithful, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will find themselves in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death. (ISV)
Revelation 21:8 concludes this section (vv. 1–8) with a "warning" to Christians about succumbing to temptations that could keep them from being faithful to Jesus until the end as overcomers/conquers. Since "cowardly" is the opposite of the "conqueror," Christians must "decide whether to be a 'conqueror' (21:7) or a 'coward' (21:8)" and share in each of their corresponding destines. In this context, "cowards" are Christians who lack the "courage to offer faithful witness in following the Lamb wherever he might go, specifically to death," and who ultimately relinquish "one's faith in the battle against evil," and become "apostates" (i. e., unbelievers) "The term unfaithful stands with the" term coward. Unfaithful [Greek: apistos] "is the opposite of faith [Greek: pistos], which includes loyalty to God and Christ (Rev 2:10; 17:14). If Jesus (1:5; 3:14; 19:11) and Antipas (2:13) were faithful and resist evil," the unfaithful "are the opposite" (cf. Luke 12:46). The book of Revelation calls "all [Christians] to faithfulness, which is what it means to conquer" (see Rev. 2:10 11). Therefore, for a Christian to become unfaithful to Jesus means that they have "turned their backs on him" and failed "to offer the faithful witness that reflects their Lord and his followers." Thus, "When Rev. 21:8 places" the cowardly and the unfaithful "in the lake of fire, it has in view Christians during times of persecution who, out of a fear of suffering, renounce their faith" and become "apostates" (i. e., unbelievers) Since "John's audience is Christians under pressure and threat of persecution, cowardice and faithlessness to the Lord, either spiritually or ethically," must be condemned in the strongest possible manner. "The intended rhetorical effect of this verse was to warn the faithful of the dangers of spiritual and moral apostasy." Revelation 22:18–19 – I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy contained in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book. (NET)
Whether it is Jesus or the author John who is speaking authoritatively as a prophet on behalf of God (commentators differ here), we have in these verses a "severe warning" against distorting or "falsifying the message of Revelation through one's teaching and manner of life." These warnings are meant for "everyone" who "hears" the message of Revelation and "especially for the seven churches" who were its original recipients. Craig Koester says,
Hearers have already been told to "keep" what is written in the book and that they are blessed through faithfulness to God and Christ (1:3; 22:7, 9). Since "keeping" means obeying the message, then "adding and taking away" are the opposite and connote disobedience. The words adding/taking away "echoes Moses' teaching in Deuteronomy" (4:2; 12:32), which in context, contain commands against committing idolatry and warn of false prophets who would encourage Israel to worship other gods (Deut. 13:1 5). Since false teachers/prophets are already active in at least two of these churches, enticing God's people to participate in idolatry and immorality (2:14 15, 20), Revelation 22:18 19 also serves as a "warning [to them] that God will punish interpretations of the Christian faith that allow the idolatry, immorality, and compromise with evil that Revelation condemns." Since the warning is addressed to "everyone who hears," it would therefore discourage both Christians and non Christians "from attempting to tamper with the book's contents." Nevertheless, it must be remembered that this warning was originally given to believers, and thus, if a believer adds/takes away, that is, "change[s] the message God has communicated in the book or prophecy of Revelation" to allow themselves or others to disobey God, they will commit "apostasy" (i. e., "the believer will become an unbeliever") and "will have the plagues of the book added to them; that is, they will be treated as unbelievers and suffer the punishments to be inflicted on the wicked." "Even more severe is the warning that they will lose their share in the tree of life" and the holy city which are references to final salvation with God and His people in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21–22). "Clearly, failure to keep the prophecy disqualifies one from the eternal life that awaits in New Jerusalem." In light of these verses, "It is hard to deny that the author believed that a person could commit apostasy and so have the privilege of eternal salvation taken away from him. John was not an advocate of 'once saved, always saved' theology."
Філадельфиялық христиандарды Иса мақтайды: олар "Менің атымды мойындаудан бас тартпады" (3:9), бірақ "Менің сөзімді сақтады" (3:8) және "Менің табандылығым туралы сөзімді сақтады" (3:10). "Бұл жол олардың Исаның 'атымен' байланысты екенін көрсетеді, олардың сенімдерін мойындаудан бас тартуға қысым көрсетілді". Бірақ, "Филадельфиялық христиандардың осы уақытқа дейінгі табандылығына қарамастан, 'әлі аяқталған жоқ'. Олар өздерінің бар нәрсесін ұстап беруді жалғастыруы керек (3:11), яғни табандылықты талап ететін хабарды сақтауды жалғастыруы керек (3:10), әйтпесе олардың қудалаушылары олардан тәжді тартып алады (3:11; 2:25)". "[Аян 2:10-дағы] өмір тәжірибесі – мәңгілік өмірдің өзі", оны Мәсіх Исаға өлімге дейін адал болғандарға сыйлайды. 3:11-де бұл "тәж" де "мәңгілік өмірді" білдіреді, христиандар Исаның екінші келуіне қарай "ұстап тұруы керек" (Disciples Literal New Testament). Олар "келе жатқан қиындықтарға қарсы [Христосқа] сенімдерін ұстап беруі керек", әйтпесе олардың тәжірибесі "жарысқа қатысудан шеттетілудің метафорасы". "Бұл метафора осы хатқа сәйкес келеді, өйткені Филадельфиядағы [атлетикалық] ойындар мен фестивальдар белгілі болды" (Mounce 104; Hemer, Letters 165). Христиан спортшысы Аян кітабындағы түрлі жолдармен "мәңгілік өмір тәжірибесін" ұстаудан шеттетілуі мүмкін. Гвин Пух былай түсіндіреді:
"To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God." (NASB 2020)
"To the one who conquers " (NET, ESV, CSB)
"To the one who is victorious " (NIV; EHV)
The Greek verb nikaō appears eight times (2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:7) as a present participle which is translated "literally [as] the one overcoming or conquering." "The present participle implies continuous victory, 'keeps on overcoming' or 'continues to be victorious.'" Thus, Christians are "in the process of conquering" and will receive the promises only if they "carry out the process to its completion." Overcoming/conquering in these verses refers to "Christians that hold fast their faith even unto death against the power of their foes, and their temptations and persecutions." Overcoming/Conquering simply "means persevering in faith," which entails an "active trust in God that leads to faithfulness in the difficult situations of life lived for Christ." Each of the seven churches are given a promise on the condition of overcoming/conquering that differs from one another, but "each contains in some form the anticipation of eternal life" or "final salvation [with God] in the time of the new Jerusalem." This is confirmed by the final promise found in Revelation 21:7, "The one overcoming will inherit these things, and I will be God to him and he will be a son to Me" (DLNT). "The pronoun . 'these things,' refers to the blessings of eschatological [i. e., future and final] salvation enumerated in v. 4 (i. e., no sorrow, death, mourning, tears, or pain)." Alexander Stewart states, "Each of the seven initial promises [proclaimed to the seven churches] point forward to the visions of final salvation at the end of the Apocalypse (Revelation 20–22). Altogether they illustrate one of John's primary motivational strategies: hearers should strive to overcome in order to gain final salvation. Final salvation is dependent upon a human response of overcoming." Christians must be conquering/overcoming, that is, "remaining faithful [to Jesus], even to death, in order to experience glorious, everlasting life with God, the Lamb, and all the redeemed in God's new heaven and earth." Of course, the "Failure to overcome necessarily entails failure to receive the promises and the resultant exclusion from God's new creation." Revelation 2:10–11 – "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I [Jesus] will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death." (NASB)
"The persecution would be a time for testing of the church's faith. The time of affliction would be brief ("ten days," that is, an indeterminate, short period) but may result in death for some of the faithful. They were not to fear," but "Keep on being faithful" in the midst of the devils efforts "to lead the faithful into apostasy." If they "Keep on proving faithful unto death" Christ will give them "the 'crown' which consists in eternal life," "eternal life in the coming Kingdom." Jesus calls "all [Christians] to faithfulness, which is what it means to conquer" in the book of Revelation. Therefore, those who "Continue to be faithful" to Jesus until death consist of those who are presently "conquering" "all the godless and antichristian powers" waring against them. Christians who are conquering (i. e., "persevering in faith") are promised to never experience "the second death" (2:11) which entails "exclusion from participation in God's final kingdom" and "eternal damnation in hell" (cf. 20:6, 14; 21:8). Revelation 3:10–11 – And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: "This is what the holy one, the true one, the one who has the key of David, the one who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one can open, says: I know your works (behold, I have put before you an opened door that no one is able to shut) that you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and did not deny my name. Behold, I am causing those of the synagogue of Satan, the ones who call themselves Jews and are not, but are lying—behold, I will make them come and kneel down before your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of my patient endurance [or "perseverance," NASB 1995] I also will keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole inhabited world, to put to the test those who live on the earth. I am coming quickly! Hold fast [or "Hold on," NET, NIV] to what you have, so that no one may take away your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never go outside again, and I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God, and my new name." (Lexham English Bible)
The Philadelphian Christians are praised by Jesus: they "did not deny my name" (3:9), but "kept my word" (3:8), and "kept the word of my patient endurance" or perseverance (3:10). "This passage assumes that those who identify with Jesus' 'name' are being pressured to deny their faith" "Despite Jesus' praises for the Philadelphian Christians' perseverance to this point, however, 'it's not over till it's over.' They must continue to hold fast what they have (3:11), that is, to continue to keep the message that demands their perseverance (3:10), lest their persecutors seize from them their crown (3:11; cf. 2:25)." "[T]he crown of life in Revelation 2:10 is eternal life itself" which Christ gives to those who remain faithful to Jesus until death. In 3:11, this "crown" also represents "eternal life," as a present possession that Christians must "be holding on to" (Disciples Literal New Testament) in light of Jesus's second coming. They must "'hold fast' to their present faith [in Christ] . in the face of coming difficulties" or else they will have their crown "taken away." This "is a metaphor for being disqualified in a contest." "The athletic metaphor is appropriate in this letter, since Philadelphia was noted for its [athletic] games and festivals (Mounce 104; Hemer, Letters 165)." The Christian athlete can become disqualified from keeping possession of the crown "of eternal life" through a variety of ways in the book of Revelation. Gwyn Pugh explains,
Jesus alerts believers [throughout the seven letters to the churches] to spiritual enemies that are aggressive, militant, and opportunistic. Believers must be on guard against any temptation, whether imperial pressure to deny Christ, social pressure to compromise with the pagan and idolatrous environment around them, or persecution from unbelieving Jews—not to mention false doctrine, indifference, and spiritual inertia within the churches. Any of these might overcome the believer and have the effect of taking one's crown. (The Book of Revelation, 196)
Christians are warned, they must be holding fast to one's faith in Christ despite present opposition or else they will find the crown of eternal life they currently possess being "forfeited." "Through unfaithfulness this crown, which includes the blessing of everlasting life, is lost," and one is excluded from entering the kingdom of God along with all the rest who are "unfaithful" (Rev. 21:8, ISV). The doctrine of once saved, always saved "is here clearly denied." Revelation 21:7–8 – The person who overcomes ["conquers," ESV, NET] will inherit these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son. But people who are cowardly, unfaithful, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will find themselves in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death. (ISV)
Revelation 21:8 concludes this section (vv. 1–8) with a "warning" to Christians about succumbing to temptations that could keep them from being faithful to Jesus until the end as overcomers/conquers. Since "cowardly" is the opposite of the "conqueror," Christians must "decide whether to be a 'conqueror' (21:7) or a 'coward' (21:8)" and share in each of their corresponding destines. In this context, "cowards" are Christians who lack the "courage to offer faithful witness in following the Lamb wherever he might go, specifically to death," and who ultimately relinquish "one's faith in the battle against evil," and become "apostates" (i. e., unbelievers) "The term unfaithful stands with the" term coward. Unfaithful [Greek: apistos] "is the opposite of faith [Greek: pistos], which includes loyalty to God and Christ (Rev 2:10; 17:14). If Jesus (1:5; 3:14; 19:11) and Antipas (2:13) were faithful and resist evil," the unfaithful "are the opposite" (cf. Luke 12:46). The book of Revelation calls "all [Christians] to faithfulness, which is what it means to conquer" (see Rev. 2:10 11). Therefore, for a Christian to become unfaithful to Jesus means that they have "turned their backs on him" and failed "to offer the faithful witness that reflects their Lord and his followers." Thus, "When Rev. 21:8 places" the cowardly and the unfaithful "in the lake of fire, it has in view Christians during times of persecution who, out of a fear of suffering, renounce their faith" and become "apostates" (i. e., unbelievers) Since "John's audience is Christians under pressure and threat of persecution, cowardice and faithlessness to the Lord, either spiritually or ethically," must be condemned in the strongest possible manner. "The intended rhetorical effect of this verse was to warn the faithful of the dangers of spiritual and moral apostasy." Revelation 22:18–19 – I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy contained in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book. (NET)
Whether it is Jesus or the author John who is speaking authoritatively as a prophet on behalf of God (commentators differ here), we have in these verses a "severe warning" against distorting or "falsifying the message of Revelation through one's teaching and manner of life." These warnings are meant for "everyone" who "hears" the message of Revelation and "especially for the seven churches" who were its original recipients. Craig Koester says,
Hearers have already been told to "keep" what is written in the book and that they are blessed through faithfulness to God and Christ (1:3; 22:7, 9). Since "keeping" means obeying the message, then "adding and taking away" are the opposite and connote disobedience. The words adding/taking away "echoes Moses' teaching in Deuteronomy" (4:2; 12:32), which in context, contain commands against committing idolatry and warn of false prophets who would encourage Israel to worship other gods (Deut. 13:1 5). Since false teachers/prophets are already active in at least two of these churches, enticing God's people to participate in idolatry and immorality (2:14 15, 20), Revelation 22:18 19 also serves as a "warning [to them] that God will punish interpretations of the Christian faith that allow the idolatry, immorality, and compromise with evil that Revelation condemns." Since the warning is addressed to "everyone who hears," it would therefore discourage both Christians and non Christians "from attempting to tamper with the book's contents." Nevertheless, it must be remembered that this warning was originally given to believers, and thus, if a believer adds/takes away, that is, "change[s] the message God has communicated in the book or prophecy of Revelation" to allow themselves or others to disobey God, they will commit "apostasy" (i. e., "the believer will become an unbeliever") and "will have the plagues of the book added to them; that is, they will be treated as unbelievers and suffer the punishments to be inflicted on the wicked." "Even more severe is the warning that they will lose their share in the tree of life" and the holy city which are references to final salvation with God and His people in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21–22). "Clearly, failure to keep the prophecy disqualifies one from the eternal life that awaits in New Jerusalem." In light of these verses, "It is hard to deny that the author believed that a person could commit apostasy and so have the privilege of eternal salvation taken away from him. John was not an advocate of 'once saved, always saved' theology."
Иса сенушілерді [барлық жеті шіркеуге жолданған хаттар арқылы] белсенді, әскери және мүмкіндік іздейтін рухани жаулар туралы ескертеді. Сенушілер кез келген азғыруға, императорлық қысымға қарсы тұруға, шайтанның айналасындағы бейімдікке, бейімділікке және шіркеулердегі бейтараптыққа және рухани инерцияға қарсы тұруы керек. Олардың кез келгені сенушіні жеңіп, тәжді тартып алуы мүмкін. (Аян кітабы, 196)
"To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God." (NASB 2020)
"To the one who conquers " (NET, ESV, CSB)
"To the one who is victorious " (NIV; EHV)
The Greek verb nikaō appears eight times (2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:7) as a present participle which is translated "literally [as] the one overcoming or conquering." "The present participle implies continuous victory, 'keeps on overcoming' or 'continues to be victorious.'" Thus, Christians are "in the process of conquering" and will receive the promises only if they "carry out the process to its completion." Overcoming/conquering in these verses refers to "Christians that hold fast their faith even unto death against the power of their foes, and their temptations and persecutions." Overcoming/Conquering simply "means persevering in faith," which entails an "active trust in God that leads to faithfulness in the difficult situations of life lived for Christ." Each of the seven churches are given a promise on the condition of overcoming/conquering that differs from one another, but "each contains in some form the anticipation of eternal life" or "final salvation [with God] in the time of the new Jerusalem." This is confirmed by the final promise found in Revelation 21:7, "The one overcoming will inherit these things, and I will be God to him and he will be a son to Me" (DLNT). "The pronoun . 'these things,' refers to the blessings of eschatological [i. e., future and final] salvation enumerated in v. 4 (i. e., no sorrow, death, mourning, tears, or pain)." Alexander Stewart states, "Each of the seven initial promises [proclaimed to the seven churches] point forward to the visions of final salvation at the end of the Apocalypse (Revelation 20–22). Altogether they illustrate one of John's primary motivational strategies: hearers should strive to overcome in order to gain final salvation. Final salvation is dependent upon a human response of overcoming." Christians must be conquering/overcoming, that is, "remaining faithful [to Jesus], even to death, in order to experience glorious, everlasting life with God, the Lamb, and all the redeemed in God's new heaven and earth." Of course, the "Failure to overcome necessarily entails failure to receive the promises and the resultant exclusion from God's new creation." Revelation 2:10–11 – "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I [Jesus] will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death." (NASB)
"The persecution would be a time for testing of the church's faith. The time of affliction would be brief ("ten days," that is, an indeterminate, short period) but may result in death for some of the faithful. They were not to fear," but "Keep on being faithful" in the midst of the devils efforts "to lead the faithful into apostasy." If they "Keep on proving faithful unto death" Christ will give them "the 'crown' which consists in eternal life," "eternal life in the coming Kingdom." Jesus calls "all [Christians] to faithfulness, which is what it means to conquer" in the book of Revelation. Therefore, those who "Continue to be faithful" to Jesus until death consist of those who are presently "conquering" "all the godless and antichristian powers" waring against them. Christians who are conquering (i. e., "persevering in faith") are promised to never experience "the second death" (2:11) which entails "exclusion from participation in God's final kingdom" and "eternal damnation in hell" (cf. 20:6, 14; 21:8). Revelation 3:10–11 – And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: "This is what the holy one, the true one, the one who has the key of David, the one who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one can open, says: I know your works (behold, I have put before you an opened door that no one is able to shut) that you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and did not deny my name. Behold, I am causing those of the synagogue of Satan, the ones who call themselves Jews and are not, but are lying—behold, I will make them come and kneel down before your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of my patient endurance [or "perseverance," NASB 1995] I also will keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole inhabited world, to put to the test those who live on the earth. I am coming quickly! Hold fast [or "Hold on," NET, NIV] to what you have, so that no one may take away your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never go outside again, and I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God, and my new name." (Lexham English Bible)
The Philadelphian Christians are praised by Jesus: they "did not deny my name" (3:9), but "kept my word" (3:8), and "kept the word of my patient endurance" or perseverance (3:10). "This passage assumes that those who identify with Jesus' 'name' are being pressured to deny their faith" "Despite Jesus' praises for the Philadelphian Christians' perseverance to this point, however, 'it's not over till it's over.' They must continue to hold fast what they have (3:11), that is, to continue to keep the message that demands their perseverance (3:10), lest their persecutors seize from them their crown (3:11; cf. 2:25)." "[T]he crown of life in Revelation 2:10 is eternal life itself" which Christ gives to those who remain faithful to Jesus until death. In 3:11, this "crown" also represents "eternal life," as a present possession that Christians must "be holding on to" (Disciples Literal New Testament) in light of Jesus's second coming. They must "'hold fast' to their present faith [in Christ] . in the face of coming difficulties" or else they will have their crown "taken away." This "is a metaphor for being disqualified in a contest." "The athletic metaphor is appropriate in this letter, since Philadelphia was noted for its [athletic] games and festivals (Mounce 104; Hemer, Letters 165)." The Christian athlete can become disqualified from keeping possession of the crown "of eternal life" through a variety of ways in the book of Revelation. Gwyn Pugh explains,
Jesus alerts believers [throughout the seven letters to the churches] to spiritual enemies that are aggressive, militant, and opportunistic. Believers must be on guard against any temptation, whether imperial pressure to deny Christ, social pressure to compromise with the pagan and idolatrous environment around them, or persecution from unbelieving Jews—not to mention false doctrine, indifference, and spiritual inertia within the churches. Any of these might overcome the believer and have the effect of taking one's crown. (The Book of Revelation, 196)
Christians are warned, they must be holding fast to one's faith in Christ despite present opposition or else they will find the crown of eternal life they currently possess being "forfeited." "Through unfaithfulness this crown, which includes the blessing of everlasting life, is lost," and one is excluded from entering the kingdom of God along with all the rest who are "unfaithful" (Rev. 21:8, ISV). The doctrine of once saved, always saved "is here clearly denied." Revelation 21:7–8 – The person who overcomes ["conquers," ESV, NET] will inherit these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son. But people who are cowardly, unfaithful, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will find themselves in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death. (ISV)
Revelation 21:8 concludes this section (vv. 1–8) with a "warning" to Christians about succumbing to temptations that could keep them from being faithful to Jesus until the end as overcomers/conquers. Since "cowardly" is the opposite of the "conqueror," Christians must "decide whether to be a 'conqueror' (21:7) or a 'coward' (21:8)" and share in each of their corresponding destines. In this context, "cowards" are Christians who lack the "courage to offer faithful witness in following the Lamb wherever he might go, specifically to death," and who ultimately relinquish "one's faith in the battle against evil," and become "apostates" (i. e., unbelievers) "The term unfaithful stands with the" term coward. Unfaithful [Greek: apistos] "is the opposite of faith [Greek: pistos], which includes loyalty to God and Christ (Rev 2:10; 17:14). If Jesus (1:5; 3:14; 19:11) and Antipas (2:13) were faithful and resist evil," the unfaithful "are the opposite" (cf. Luke 12:46). The book of Revelation calls "all [Christians] to faithfulness, which is what it means to conquer" (see Rev. 2:10 11). Therefore, for a Christian to become unfaithful to Jesus means that they have "turned their backs on him" and failed "to offer the faithful witness that reflects their Lord and his followers." Thus, "When Rev. 21:8 places" the cowardly and the unfaithful "in the lake of fire, it has in view Christians during times of persecution who, out of a fear of suffering, renounce their faith" and become "apostates" (i. e., unbelievers) Since "John's audience is Christians under pressure and threat of persecution, cowardice and faithlessness to the Lord, either spiritually or ethically," must be condemned in the strongest possible manner. "The intended rhetorical effect of this verse was to warn the faithful of the dangers of spiritual and moral apostasy." Revelation 22:18–19 – I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy contained in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book. (NET)
Whether it is Jesus or the author John who is speaking authoritatively as a prophet on behalf of God (commentators differ here), we have in these verses a "severe warning" against distorting or "falsifying the message of Revelation through one's teaching and manner of life." These warnings are meant for "everyone" who "hears" the message of Revelation and "especially for the seven churches" who were its original recipients. Craig Koester says,
Hearers have already been told to "keep" what is written in the book and that they are blessed through faithfulness to God and Christ (1:3; 22:7, 9). Since "keeping" means obeying the message, then "adding and taking away" are the opposite and connote disobedience. The words adding/taking away "echoes Moses' teaching in Deuteronomy" (4:2; 12:32), which in context, contain commands against committing idolatry and warn of false prophets who would encourage Israel to worship other gods (Deut. 13:1 5). Since false teachers/prophets are already active in at least two of these churches, enticing God's people to participate in idolatry and immorality (2:14 15, 20), Revelation 22:18 19 also serves as a "warning [to them] that God will punish interpretations of the Christian faith that allow the idolatry, immorality, and compromise with evil that Revelation condemns." Since the warning is addressed to "everyone who hears," it would therefore discourage both Christians and non Christians "from attempting to tamper with the book's contents." Nevertheless, it must be remembered that this warning was originally given to believers, and thus, if a believer adds/takes away, that is, "change[s] the message God has communicated in the book or prophecy of Revelation" to allow themselves or others to disobey God, they will commit "apostasy" (i. e., "the believer will become an unbeliever") and "will have the plagues of the book added to them; that is, they will be treated as unbelievers and suffer the punishments to be inflicted on the wicked." "Even more severe is the warning that they will lose their share in the tree of life" and the holy city which are references to final salvation with God and His people in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21–22). "Clearly, failure to keep the prophecy disqualifies one from the eternal life that awaits in New Jerusalem." In light of these verses, "It is hard to deny that the author believed that a person could commit apostasy and so have the privilege of eternal salvation taken away from him. John was not an advocate of 'once saved, always saved' theology."
Христиандарға ескертіледі, олар қазіргі қарсылыққа қарамастан, өз сенімдерін сақтап тұруы керек, әйтпесе олар қазіргі уақытта иеленген мәңгілік өмір тәжірибесін "жоғалтады" және "Құдайдың патшалығына кіруден шеттетіледі" және "тозақта мәңгілік жазаланады" (21:8, ISV). "Бір рет құтқарылған, әрқашан құтқарылатын" доктринасы "мұнда анық жоққа шығарылған". Аян 21:7–8: "Жеңіске жеткен ["жеңіске жеткен", ESV, NET] бұл игіліктерді мұраға алады. Мен оның Құдайы боламын, ал ол Менің ұлым болады. Бірақ қорқақ, сенімсіз, жиреншікті, кісі өлтіруші, жыныстық бұзық, сиқыршы, құмаршыл, жалғаншы және барлық жамандық жасайтындардың бәрі отты көлге тасталады, олардың үлесі – екінші өлім".
"To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God." (NASB 2020)
"To the one who conquers " (NET, ESV, CSB)
"To the one who is victorious " (NIV; EHV)
The Greek verb nikaō appears eight times (2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:7) as a present participle which is translated "literally [as] the one overcoming or conquering." "The present participle implies continuous victory, 'keeps on overcoming' or 'continues to be victorious.'" Thus, Christians are "in the process of conquering" and will receive the promises only if they "carry out the process to its completion." Overcoming/conquering in these verses refers to "Christians that hold fast their faith even unto death against the power of their foes, and their temptations and persecutions." Overcoming/Conquering simply "means persevering in faith," which entails an "active trust in God that leads to faithfulness in the difficult situations of life lived for Christ." Each of the seven churches are given a promise on the condition of overcoming/conquering that differs from one another, but "each contains in some form the anticipation of eternal life" or "final salvation [with God] in the time of the new Jerusalem." This is confirmed by the final promise found in Revelation 21:7, "The one overcoming will inherit these things, and I will be God to him and he will be a son to Me" (DLNT). "The pronoun . 'these things,' refers to the blessings of eschatological [i. e., future and final] salvation enumerated in v. 4 (i. e., no sorrow, death, mourning, tears, or pain)." Alexander Stewart states, "Each of the seven initial promises [proclaimed to the seven churches] point forward to the visions of final salvation at the end of the Apocalypse (Revelation 20–22). Altogether they illustrate one of John's primary motivational strategies: hearers should strive to overcome in order to gain final salvation. Final salvation is dependent upon a human response of overcoming." Christians must be conquering/overcoming, that is, "remaining faithful [to Jesus], even to death, in order to experience glorious, everlasting life with God, the Lamb, and all the redeemed in God's new heaven and earth." Of course, the "Failure to overcome necessarily entails failure to receive the promises and the resultant exclusion from God's new creation." Revelation 2:10–11 – "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I [Jesus] will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death." (NASB)
"The persecution would be a time for testing of the church's faith. The time of affliction would be brief ("ten days," that is, an indeterminate, short period) but may result in death for some of the faithful. They were not to fear," but "Keep on being faithful" in the midst of the devils efforts "to lead the faithful into apostasy." If they "Keep on proving faithful unto death" Christ will give them "the 'crown' which consists in eternal life," "eternal life in the coming Kingdom." Jesus calls "all [Christians] to faithfulness, which is what it means to conquer" in the book of Revelation. Therefore, those who "Continue to be faithful" to Jesus until death consist of those who are presently "conquering" "all the godless and antichristian powers" waring against them. Christians who are conquering (i. e., "persevering in faith") are promised to never experience "the second death" (2:11) which entails "exclusion from participation in God's final kingdom" and "eternal damnation in hell" (cf. 20:6, 14; 21:8). Revelation 3:10–11 – And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: "This is what the holy one, the true one, the one who has the key of David, the one who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one can open, says: I know your works (behold, I have put before you an opened door that no one is able to shut) that you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and did not deny my name. Behold, I am causing those of the synagogue of Satan, the ones who call themselves Jews and are not, but are lying—behold, I will make them come and kneel down before your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of my patient endurance [or "perseverance," NASB 1995] I also will keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole inhabited world, to put to the test those who live on the earth. I am coming quickly! Hold fast [or "Hold on," NET, NIV] to what you have, so that no one may take away your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never go outside again, and I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God, and my new name." (Lexham English Bible)
The Philadelphian Christians are praised by Jesus: they "did not deny my name" (3:9), but "kept my word" (3:8), and "kept the word of my patient endurance" or perseverance (3:10). "This passage assumes that those who identify with Jesus' 'name' are being pressured to deny their faith" "Despite Jesus' praises for the Philadelphian Christians' perseverance to this point, however, 'it's not over till it's over.' They must continue to hold fast what they have (3:11), that is, to continue to keep the message that demands their perseverance (3:10), lest their persecutors seize from them their crown (3:11; cf. 2:25)." "[T]he crown of life in Revelation 2:10 is eternal life itself" which Christ gives to those who remain faithful to Jesus until death. In 3:11, this "crown" also represents "eternal life," as a present possession that Christians must "be holding on to" (Disciples Literal New Testament) in light of Jesus's second coming. They must "'hold fast' to their present faith [in Christ] . in the face of coming difficulties" or else they will have their crown "taken away." This "is a metaphor for being disqualified in a contest." "The athletic metaphor is appropriate in this letter, since Philadelphia was noted for its [athletic] games and festivals (Mounce 104; Hemer, Letters 165)." The Christian athlete can become disqualified from keeping possession of the crown "of eternal life" through a variety of ways in the book of Revelation. Gwyn Pugh explains,
Jesus alerts believers [throughout the seven letters to the churches] to spiritual enemies that are aggressive, militant, and opportunistic. Believers must be on guard against any temptation, whether imperial pressure to deny Christ, social pressure to compromise with the pagan and idolatrous environment around them, or persecution from unbelieving Jews—not to mention false doctrine, indifference, and spiritual inertia within the churches. Any of these might overcome the believer and have the effect of taking one's crown. (The Book of Revelation, 196)
Christians are warned, they must be holding fast to one's faith in Christ despite present opposition or else they will find the crown of eternal life they currently possess being "forfeited." "Through unfaithfulness this crown, which includes the blessing of everlasting life, is lost," and one is excluded from entering the kingdom of God along with all the rest who are "unfaithful" (Rev. 21:8, ISV). The doctrine of once saved, always saved "is here clearly denied." Revelation 21:7–8 – The person who overcomes ["conquers," ESV, NET] will inherit these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son. But people who are cowardly, unfaithful, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will find themselves in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death. (ISV)
Revelation 21:8 concludes this section (vv. 1–8) with a "warning" to Christians about succumbing to temptations that could keep them from being faithful to Jesus until the end as overcomers/conquers. Since "cowardly" is the opposite of the "conqueror," Christians must "decide whether to be a 'conqueror' (21:7) or a 'coward' (21:8)" and share in each of their corresponding destines. In this context, "cowards" are Christians who lack the "courage to offer faithful witness in following the Lamb wherever he might go, specifically to death," and who ultimately relinquish "one's faith in the battle against evil," and become "apostates" (i. e., unbelievers) "The term unfaithful stands with the" term coward. Unfaithful [Greek: apistos] "is the opposite of faith [Greek: pistos], which includes loyalty to God and Christ (Rev 2:10; 17:14). If Jesus (1:5; 3:14; 19:11) and Antipas (2:13) were faithful and resist evil," the unfaithful "are the opposite" (cf. Luke 12:46). The book of Revelation calls "all [Christians] to faithfulness, which is what it means to conquer" (see Rev. 2:10 11). Therefore, for a Christian to become unfaithful to Jesus means that they have "turned their backs on him" and failed "to offer the faithful witness that reflects their Lord and his followers." Thus, "When Rev. 21:8 places" the cowardly and the unfaithful "in the lake of fire, it has in view Christians during times of persecution who, out of a fear of suffering, renounce their faith" and become "apostates" (i. e., unbelievers) Since "John's audience is Christians under pressure and threat of persecution, cowardice and faithlessness to the Lord, either spiritually or ethically," must be condemned in the strongest possible manner. "The intended rhetorical effect of this verse was to warn the faithful of the dangers of spiritual and moral apostasy." Revelation 22:18–19 – I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy contained in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book. (NET)
Whether it is Jesus or the author John who is speaking authoritatively as a prophet on behalf of God (commentators differ here), we have in these verses a "severe warning" against distorting or "falsifying the message of Revelation through one's teaching and manner of life." These warnings are meant for "everyone" who "hears" the message of Revelation and "especially for the seven churches" who were its original recipients. Craig Koester says,
Hearers have already been told to "keep" what is written in the book and that they are blessed through faithfulness to God and Christ (1:3; 22:7, 9). Since "keeping" means obeying the message, then "adding and taking away" are the opposite and connote disobedience. The words adding/taking away "echoes Moses' teaching in Deuteronomy" (4:2; 12:32), which in context, contain commands against committing idolatry and warn of false prophets who would encourage Israel to worship other gods (Deut. 13:1 5). Since false teachers/prophets are already active in at least two of these churches, enticing God's people to participate in idolatry and immorality (2:14 15, 20), Revelation 22:18 19 also serves as a "warning [to them] that God will punish interpretations of the Christian faith that allow the idolatry, immorality, and compromise with evil that Revelation condemns." Since the warning is addressed to "everyone who hears," it would therefore discourage both Christians and non Christians "from attempting to tamper with the book's contents." Nevertheless, it must be remembered that this warning was originally given to believers, and thus, if a believer adds/takes away, that is, "change[s] the message God has communicated in the book or prophecy of Revelation" to allow themselves or others to disobey God, they will commit "apostasy" (i. e., "the believer will become an unbeliever") and "will have the plagues of the book added to them; that is, they will be treated as unbelievers and suffer the punishments to be inflicted on the wicked." "Even more severe is the warning that they will lose their share in the tree of life" and the holy city which are references to final salvation with God and His people in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21–22). "Clearly, failure to keep the prophecy disqualifies one from the eternal life that awaits in New Jerusalem." In light of these verses, "It is hard to deny that the author believed that a person could commit apostasy and so have the privilege of eternal salvation taken away from him. John was not an advocate of 'once saved, always saved' theology."
Шартты қауіпсіздікті қолдауға арналған Жаңа Келісімдегі грек
Арминийшілдер шартты қауіпсіздікті көптеген Жазбалардан табады, онда "сену" етістігі грек тілінде қазіргі уақытта кездеседі. Грек ғалымдары мен түсіндірмешілері (кальвинистер де, кальвинистер емес те) гректің қазіргі заман етістіктері, әдетте, үздіксіз әрекетті, әсіресе қазіргі уақыттағы қатысуларды білдіреді. Мысалы, кальвинист Уильям Д. Монс өзінің "Библиялық грек грамматикасының негіздері" деген кітабында былай деп жазды: "Қазіргі кездегі қатысу етістіктің қазіргі кездегі түбіріне негізделген. Ол үздіксіз әрекетті сипаттайды. Бұл 'жалғасып келе жатқан' нюансты аудармаңызға енгізу қиынға соғуы мүмкін, бірақ бұл сіздің ойыңыздағы ең маңызды нәрсе болуы керек". Кальвинші Даниэль Уоллес Жохан 3:16-да "сену" деген сөздің қазіргі кездегі қатысы үшін "жалғасып келе жатқан" нюансты келтіреді: "Оған [үнемі] сенетіндердің ешқайсысы құрымайды. Бұл Евангелиеде сену әрекетінің өзі мен тек сенгендігінің арасында сапалық айырмашылық бар сияқты". Ол бұл түсінікті тек қана сену қазіргі уақытта болғандықтан емес, "бірақ қазіргі уақыттағы сенудің [pisteuōn, сену] қатысуын, әсіресе Жаңа өсиеттегі құтқарылу контекстінде қолдану үшін" деп дәлелдейді. Уоллес былай түсіндіреді: "Қазіргі [қатысушы] ὁ πιστεύων [сенуші] деген сөздің аспектілік күші [аористік қатысу] ὁ πιστεύσας [сенген] деген сөзбен қарама-қарсы келеді. Қазіргі [сенушіге қатысты принцип] аористен алты есе жиі (43 рет) кездеседі, көбінесе құтқарылу контекстінде (сағ. 1:12; 3:15, 16, 18; 3:36; 6:35, 47, 64; 7:38; 11:25; 12:46; Әрекеттер 2:44; 10:43; 13:39; Римдіктер 1:16; 3:22; 4:11, 24; 9:33; 10:4, 11; 1 Коринфтіктер 1:21; 14:22 [екі рет]; Ғалаттықтар 3:22; Ефестіктер 1:19; 1 Тессалоникалықтар 1:7; 2:10, 13; 1 Петір 2:6, 7; 1 Жохан 5:1, 5, 10, 13). Осылайша, аористік қатысу "сенушіні" сипаттау үшін қолдануға болатын нұсқа болғандықтан, қазіргі уақыт қолданылғанда, ол аспектілік жағынан тегіс болмауы мүмкін. Қазіргі заман таңдалған, өйткені Жаңа өсиет авторлары, негізінен, үздіксіз сенуді құтқарылудың қажетті шарты деп қарастырды. Осыған байланысты құтқарылу уәдесі әрқашан ὁ πιστεύων [сенушіге] (жоғарыда келтірілген мәтіндердің бірнешесін қараңыз), ὁ πιστεύσας [сенгенге] (Марк 16:16, Жохан 7:39 және Еврейлерге 4:3-тен басқа) емес. Арминийлік грек ғалымы Дж. Гарольд Гринли "сену" деп аударылған грек сөзінің (қазіргі аудармаларымызда) жалғасып келе жатқан әрекет уақытында кездесетін бірнеше тармақтарының сөзбе-сөз аудармасын ұсынады. Жохан 3:15: "Осылайша, Оған сенетін әркім Онда мәңгілік өмірге ие болады". Жохан 3:16: "Оған сенетін әркім құрымай, мәңгілік өмірге ие болады". Жохан 3:36: "Ұлға сенетін әркім мәңгілік өмірге ие болады". Жохан 5:24: "Менің сөзімді тыңдап, Мені жібергенге сенетін әркім мәңгілік өмірге ие болады". Жохан 6:35: "Маған сенгендер ешқашан шөлдемейді". Жохан 6:40: "Ұлды көріп, Оған сенетін әркім мәңгілік өмірге ие болады". Жохан 6:47: "Маған сенген әркім мәңгілік өмірге ие болады". Жохан 11:25, 26: "Маған сенетін әркім өлгенде де тіріледі; және тірі және Маған сенетін әркім ешқашан өлмейді". Жохан 20:31: "Оған сеніп, Оның аты арқылы өмірге ие болулары үшін". Римдіктерге 1:16: "Ол - әр сенген адамды құтқару үшін Құдайдың күші". 1 Коринфтіктерге 1:21: "Құдайға әр сенгенді құтқару ұнады". Көп жағдайда сенудің нәтижесі де үздіксіз уақытта беріледі. Біз сенуді жалғастырамыз, мәңгілік өмірге ие боламыз (Жохан 3:15, 16, 36; 20:31). Осы дәлелдер арминиялықтарды "мәңгілік қауіпсіздік 'сенушіге' - Мәсіхке сенуді жалғастыратын адамға - уәделенгенін, бірақ 'сенгенге' - бұрынғы уақытта тек бір сенім актісін жасаған адамға емес деп қорытуға итермелейді". Шындығында, "құтқарылу сеніммен шартталғандай, құтқарылуды сақтау да сенуді жалғастырумен шартталған".
The aspectual force of the present [participle] ὁ πιστεύων [the one believing] seems to be in contrast with [the aorist participle] ὁ πιστεύσας [the one having believed]. The present [participle for the one believing] occurs six times as often (43 times) [in comparison to the aorist], most often in soteriological contexts (cf. John 1:12; 3:15, 16, 18; 3:36; 6:35, 47, 64; 7:38; 11:25; 12:46; Acts 2:44; 10:43; 13:39; Rom 1:16; 3:22; 4:11, 24; 9:33; 10:4, 11; 1 Cor 1:21; 1 Cor 14:22 [bis]; Gal 3:22; Eph 1:19; 1 Thess 1:7; 2:10, 13; 1 Pet 2:6, 7; 1 John 5:1, 5, 10, 13). Thus, it seems that since the aorist participle was a live option to describe a "believer," it is unlikely that when the present was used, it was aspectually flat. The present was the tense of choice most likely because the New Testament writers by and large saw continual belief as a necessary condition of salvation. Along these lines, it seems significant that the promise of salvation is almost always given to ὁ πιστεύων [the one believing] (cf. several of the above cited texts), almost never to ὁ πιστεύσας [the one having believed] (apart from Mark 16:16, John 7:39 and Heb 4:3 come the closest . . ). Arminian Greek scholar J. Harold Greenlee supplies the following literal translation of several verses where the Greek word translated "believes" (in our modern translations) occurs in the tense of continuous action. John 3:15, " in order that everyone believing may have eternal life in him." John 3:16, " in order that everyone believing in him should not perish but should have eternal life." John 3:36, "The one believing on the Son has eternal life." John 5:24, "The one hearing my word and believing him who sent me has eternal life." John 6:35, "the one believing in me shall never thirst." John 6:40, " that everyone beholding the Son and believing in him should have eternal life." John 6:47, "The one believing has eternal life." John 11:25, 26, "The one believing in me, even though he dies he shall live; and everyone living and believing in me shall never die." John 20:31, " in order that by means of believing you may have life in his name." Romans 1:16, "it is the power of God to salvation to everyone believing." 1 Corinthians 1:21, "it pleased God to save the one believing. "|
Of further significance is that "In many cases the results of the believing are also given in a continuous tense. As we keep believing, we keep on having eternal life (John 3:15, 16, 36; 20:31)." It is this type of evidence which leads Arminians to conclude that "eternal security is firmly promised to 'the one believing'—the person who continues to believe in Christ—but not to "the one having believed,"—the person who has merely exercised one single act of faith some time in the past." Indeed, "Just as becoming saved is conditioned upon faith, staying saved is conditioned upon continuing to believe."
Шартты қауіпсіздікке қайшы келетін тармақтар
Киелілердің табандылығына сенетіндер өз көзқарастарын растайтын бірнеше аяттарды келтіреді. Мыналар ең көп келтірілетіндері:
Жохан 5:24 – Расында, расында, Мен сіздерге айтамын, Менің Сөзімді тыңдап, Мені жіберген Құдайға сенетін әркім мәңгілік өмірге ие. Ол сотқа түспейді, бірақ өлімнен өмірге өтті. (ESV)
Жохан 6:35, 37–40 – Иса оларға: «Мен – Өмір нанымын. Менің жанымға келетін ешқашан аш болмайды, Мені сенген ешқашан шөлдемейді. Әкем Маған бергеннің бәрі Менің жанымға келеді, Мен де Менің жанымға келгенді ешқашан қумаймын. Өйткені Мен көктен Өзімнің еркімді емес, Мені жіберген Әкемнің еркін орындау үшін түстім. Ал Мені жіберген Әкемнің еркі – Оның Маған бергендерінің ешқайсысын жоғалтпау, сонымен қатар соңғы күні оларды тірілту. Өйткені Әкемнің еркі – Ұлына қарап, Оған сенген әркім мәңгілік өмірге ие болуы, Мен де оны соңғы күні тірілтемін». (ESV)
Жохан 10:27–29 – Менің қойларым Менің дауысымды естиді, Мен оларды білемін, олар Менің артымнан келеді. Мен оларға мәңгілік өмір беремін, олар ешқашан жойылмайды, ешкім оларды Менің қолымнан тартып ала алмайды. Мені оларға берген Әкем бәрінен де ұлы, ешкім оларды Әкемнің қолынан тартып ала алмайды. (ESV)
Жохан 17:12 – Мен олармен болғанда, Сен Маған берген атыңмен оларды сақтап қалдым. Мен оларды сақтадым, Сенің жібергеніңнен басқа біреуі де жоғалған жоқ, осылай кітапта жазылған сөз орындалады. (ESV)
Римдіктерге 8:1 – Иса Мәсіхтегілерге енді еш айыптау жоқ. (ESV)
Римдіктерге 8:35, 37–39 – Мәсіхтің махаббатынан бізді не бөледі? Қайғы-қасірет пе, қиыншылық пе, қуғын пе, ашаршылық пе, жалаңаяқтық пе, қауіп пе, қылыш пе? Жоқ, бәрінде де бізді бізді сүйген Оның арқасында жеңіске жеткізілгендерміз. Өйткені мен сенімдімін, өлім де, өмір де, періштелер де, билеушілер де, қазіргі де, болашақ нәрселер де, күш-қуат та, биіктік те, тереңдік те, жаратылыстағы ешбір нәрсе де бізді Құдайдың Иса Мәсіхтегі махаббатынан бөле алмайды. (ESV)
1 Коринттіктерге 1:8–9 – [Құдай] сіздерді Иеміз Иса Мәсіх күнінде кінәсіз күйінде аяқтауға дейін сақтайтын болады. Құдай адал, Ол сіздерді Өзінің Ұлы Иса Мәсіхпен қарым-қатынасқа шақырды. (ESV)
1 Коринттіктерге 10:13 – Сіздерге адамдарға ортақ емес бір сынақ келген жоқ. Құдай адал, Ол сіздерді қабілетіңізден асырып сынамайды, бірақ сынақпен бірге шығудың жолын да береді, осылайша сіздер оған төтеп бере аласыздар. (ESV)
Ефестіктерге 1:13–14 – Сендер де, шындықтың сөзін, яғни сіздерді құтқаратын Ізгі хабарды естіп, Оған сенгенде, уәде етілген Киелі Рухпен мөрлендіңдер, Ол біздің мұрамыздың кепілі, оған ие болғанша. Оның даңқына мадақ болсын. (ESV)
Філіпіліктерге 1:6 – Мен осыған сенімдімін, Ол сіздерде жақсылықты бастаған, оны Иса Мәсіх күнінде аяқтайтын болады. (ESV)
2 Тімотейге 4:18 – Иеміз мені барлық жамандықтан құтқарып, Өзінің көктегі Патшалығына аман-есен жеткізеді. Оған мәңгілік даңқ болсын. Әмин. (ESV)
Еврейлерге 7:25 – Сондықтан Ол, Өзі арқылы Құдайға жақындағандарды толық құтқара алады, өйткені Ол олар үшін әрдайым жалтартады. (NASB)
1 Петірге 1:5 – Құдайдың күшімен иман арқылы қорғалған, соңғы уақытта ашылатын құтқарылуға дайындалғандар. (NASB)
1 Жоханға 3:9 – Құдайдан туған ешкім күнә жасауды жалғастыра алмайды, өйткені Құдайдың тұқымы оның ішінде қалады; ол күнә жасай алмайды, өйткені ол Құдайдан туған. (NIV)
Яһудаға 24–25 – Сіздерді құлап түсуден сақтап, Өзінің даңқты алдында кінәсіз, қуанышпен ұлықтай алатын Құдайға – біздің жалғыз құтқарушымыз Иса Мәсіх арқылы даңқ, салтанат, күш және билік мәңгілікке болсын! Әмин. (NIV)
John 5:24 – Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (ESV)
John 6:35, 37–40 – Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. . All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. (ESV)
John 10:27–29 – My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. (ESV)
John 17:12 – While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. (ESV)
Romans 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (ESV)
Romans 8:35, 37–39 – Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)
1 Corinthians 1:8–9 – [God] who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (ESV)
1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (ESV)
Ephesians 1:13–14 – In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (ESV)
Philippians 1:6 – And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (ESV)
2 Timothy 4:18 – The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (ESV)
Hebrews 7:25 – Therefore, He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (NASB)
1 Peter 1:5 – who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (NASB)
1 John 3:9 – No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. (NIV)
Jude 24–25 – To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. (NIV)
Арминийлер бұл аяттар мен басқа да аяттарды шартты қауіпсіздікпен оңай үйлестіруге болатындығын жеткілікті түрде түсіндірді деп айтады.
Қарсы пікірлермен келісу және келіспеушіліктер
Дәстүрлі кальвинистер мен арминиандар арасындағы маңызды айырмашылық – олардың мүрттікке қалай анықтама берулерінде (осы жерде қолданылған анықтамасы үшін қасиеттілердің табандылығын қараңыз).
Дәстүрлі кальвинистік көзқарас
Дәстүрлі кальвинистердің пікірінше, жолдан таюшылық – сенімін білдірген, бірақ Мәсіх арқылы Құдаймен құтқарушылық қарым-қатынасқа ешқашан кірмеген адамдарға қатысты. Жоғарыда айтылғандай, арминийлер жолдан таюшылықты Құдаймен шынайы құтқарылу қарым-қатынасынан "жаман, сенімсіз жүрек" дамытып, алысқан сенушінің жағдайы деп түсінеді (Еврейлерге 3:12). Дәстүрлі кальвинизмде әулиелердің тұрақтылығының доктринасы "жеке тұрған емес, кальвинистік теология жүйесінің қажетті бөлігі болып табылады". Кальвинистердің "Шартсыз таңдау" және "Қарсы келуге болмайтын инаят" доктриналары "осы нығметтерді алғандардың міндетті түрде құтқарылатындығын логикалық тұрғыдан білдіреді".
In traditional Calvinism the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints "does not stand alone but is a necessary part of the Calvinistic system of theology." The Calvinist doctrines of Unconditional Election and Irresistible Grace "logically imply the certain salvation of those who receive these blessings."
Free Grace көрінісі
Еркін рақым көзқарасы дәстүрлі кальвинистермен және арминиандармен келіспейді, адамның Құдаймен құтқару қарым-қатынасында қалуы үшін Мәсіхке деген құтқарушы сенімнің жалғасуы қажет екендігін айтуда. Мысалы, Зейне Ходжес былай дейді: «Шынайы құтқаратын сенім міндетті түрде жалғасуы керек деп талап етудің мәнін жоғалтамыз. Әрине, Мәсіхке деген сеніміміз жалғасуы керек. Бірақ оның міндетті түрде жалғасуы керек дегенге Құдай Сөзінде ешқандай негіз жоқ» – деп жазады Джозеф Диллоу: Роберт Шенк келіспесе де, құтқарушы сенім – «Мәсіхтің өмірінің, өлімінің және қайта тірілуінің барлық игіліктері бір сәтте адамның қайтарылмайтын иелігіне өтетін бір сәттік іс-әрекет» екені даусыз. Кез келген және барлық жағдайларға христиандық сенімнен бас тарту немесе одан алыстау, яғни «сенуді тоқтату» жатады. Христиан жолдан тайып кетсе, ол Құдаймен құтқару қарым-қатынасын жоғалтпайды, бірақ Мәсіхпен бірге оның болашақ патшалығында билік ету мүмкіндігінен айырылады. Льюис Сперри Чейфер өзінің «Құтқарылу» кітабында «Еркін рақым» ұстанымын қысқаша былай түсіндіреді: «Құтқарушы сенім – әрекет, мінез емес. Оның жұмысы мақсатына жеткенде аяқталады».
Even though Robert Shank would not agree, it is definitely true that saving faith is "the act of a single moment whereby all the benefits of Christ's life, death, and resurrection suddenly become the irrevocable possession of the individual, per se, despite any and all eventualities." Any and all eventualities would include apostasy—falling away or walking away from the Christian faith and to "cease believing." What a Christian forfeits when he falls away is not his saving relationship with God but the opportunity to reign with Christ in his coming kingdom. Lewis Sperry Chafer, in his book Salvation, provides a concise summary of the Free Grace position: "Saving faith is an act: not an attitude. Its work is accomplished when its object has been gained."
Дәстүрлі кальвинистер Арминийлермен еркін рақымға қарсы пікірде келіседі
Дәстүрлі кальвинистер мен арминиандар еркін рақым көзқарасымен библиялық және теологиялық негізде келіспейді. Мысалы, кальвинист Тони Лейн былай жазады:
«Бұған дейін талқыланған екі тарихи көзқарас [дәстүрлі кальвинизм және арминиандық] құтқарылу үшін табандылық қажет екендігіне келіседі. Алайда, соңғы кезде үшінші көзқарас пайда болды [яғни, еркін рақым], оған сәйкес, сенімге келгеннің бәрі, қалай өмір сүргеніне қарамастан құтқарылады. Олар тіпті бірден сенімінен бас тартып, атеистікпен күнәлі өмір сүрсе де құтқарылады. Көптеген адамдар бүгін бұл көзқарасты тартымды деп санайды, бірақ ол айқын түрде Библияға қайшы келеді. Жаңа өсиетте шәкірттік міндетті емес екендігі және адал болудың құтқарылу шарттары екендігі туралы көптеген нәрселер бар. Еврейлерге арналған хаттың негізгі мақсаты – еврей сенушілерін Мәсіхті тастап, құтқарылудан айырылып қалмаулары үшін ескерту. Исаның көптеген үйретімдері сенімімізді өмірімізбен қолдамасақ, сенімнің ешқандай пайдасы жоқ екенін ескертеді. Бұл көзқарас Библияға қайшы ғана емес, сонымен қатар бірнеше себептерге байланысты қауіпті. Ол жалған тыныштыққа, шәкірттіксіз құтқарылуға болатындығы туралы ойға шақырады. Сондай-ақ, ол адамдарды тек «шешім қабылдауға» итермелейтін, ал осы «сенгендердің» қалай өмір сүретініне аз көңіл бөлетін евангелизмге «жылдам қашып кету» тәсілін қолдануға ынталандырады. Бұл апостол Пауылдың көзқарасынан мүлдем өзгеше. Галатиялықтарға және 1-Қорынттықтарға арналған хаттарды оқысаңыз, ол осы жаңа көзқарасқа келіспегенін көресіз. Еврейлерге арналған хаттың авторы оқырмандары Мәсіхтен бас тартып, құтқарылудан айырылып қалмауына қатты алаңдады. Егер құтқарылуға бір ғана «Мәсіхке деген шешім» кепілдік берсе, онда бұл үш хаттың мәні қалмайды. Бұл көзқарас пасторлық тұрғыдан қауіпті. Скот Макнайт және Дж. Родман Уильямс арминиандардың осы көзқарасын былай түсіндіреді: «Барлық христиандар осы мәселеде келіседі: ақыр соңында құтқарылу үшін, Құдайдың алдына мәңгілікке кіру үшін, жаңа аспан мен жаңа жерге және [соңғы мәңгілік] «демалысқа» кіру үшін адам табандылық танытуы керек. Бірақ евангелизмде таңғажайып нәрсе болды. Ол [яғни, еркін рақым] «бір рет сенгеннен кейін мәңгілікке құтқарыласың» деген ілімді үйретті, бұл табандылықтың қажет еместігін білдіреді. Бұл кальвинизм де, арминиандық та емес, екеуінің де ерекше және Библияға қайшы келетін қоспасы. [Еркін рақым] егер адам Мәсіхке сеніп, оның алдына келсе, бірақ кейін оған қызмет етуді тоқтатса, онда ол мәңгілікке құтқарылатынын үйретті. Бұл дұрыс емес теология, өйткені Жаңа өсиетте қауіпсіздік туралы мұндай бейжазым түсінік жоқ». «Мәсіхте біздің құтқарылуымыздың ұлылығына сүйеніп, сенімде жалғасу қажеттігіне назар аудармайынша қауіпсіздік туралы кез келген талап мүлдем қате және оның салдары трагикалық болуы мүмкін. Сенім арқылы орын алатынын растамайтын «әулиелердің табандылығы» туралы ілім Киелі кітапқа жат, теологиялық тұрғыдан қате түсінік және христиандық өмірге кедергі келтіреді». Гарри Джессоп арминиандық ұстанымды былай қысқаша түсіндіреді: «Құтқарылу, сенім арқылы жанда алғашқы кезеңінде нақтыланған кезде, адалдықпен көрінетін сеніммен өмір сүру арқылы жанда сақталады».
"Christians of all sorts tend to agree on this point: to be finally saved, to enter eternally into the presence of God, the new heavens and the new earth, and into the [final eternal] 'rest,' a person needs to persevere. The oddest thing has happened in evangelicalism though. It [i. e., Free Grace] has taught the idea of 'once saved, always saved' as if perseverance were not needed. This is neither Calvinism nor Arminianism but a strange and unbiblical hybrid of both. [Free Grace] have taught that if a person has crossed the threshold by receiving Christ, but then decides to abandon living for him, that person is eternally secure. This is rubbish theology because the New Testament does not hold such cavalier notions of security." "Any claim to security by virtue of the great salvation we have in Christ without regard to the need for continuing in faith is totally mistaken and possibly tragic in its results. A doctrine of 'perseverance of the saints' that does not affirm its occurrence through faith is foreign to Scripture, a serious theological misunderstanding, and a liability to Christian existence." Harry Jessop succinctly states the Arminian position: "Salvation, while in its initial stages made real in the soul through an act of faith, is maintained within the soul by a life of faith, manifested in faithfulness."
Жалпы
Арминий, Джеймс. Арминийдің еңбектері, Джеймс және Уильям Николс аударған (Гранд-Рапидс: Бейкер кітап үйі, 1986). Аррингтон, Френч Л. Мәңгілік қауіпсіздік: Миф пе Шындық? (Теннесси: Pathway Press, 2005). Эшби, Стивен М. "Реформацияланған арминиандық", Мәңгілік қауіпсіздік туралы төрт көзқарас, редактор Дж. Мэтью Пинсон (Гранд-Рапидс: Зондерван, 2002). Атвуд, Крейг Д., Хилл, Сэмюэл С. және Мид, Фрэнк С. Америка Құрама Штаттарындағы конфессиялар туралы нұсқаулық, 12-ші басылым (Нэшвилл: Abingdon Press, 2005). Берко, Дэвид В., редактор. Алғашқы христиандық нанымдар сөздігі: Алғашқы шіркеу әкелері талқылаған 700-ден астам тақырыпқа арналған анықтамалық (Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 1998). Берко, Дэвид В. Нағыз еретиктер тұрсын: Ертедегі христиандықтың жарығында бүгінгі евангелистік шіркеуге жаңа көзқарас (Amberson: Scroll Publishing Company, 1989). Боттнер, Лорейн. Реформацияланған тағдыр туралы ілім (Phillipsburg: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing House, 1932). Браун, Колин, редактор. Жаңа Келісім теологиясының жаңа халықаралық сөздігі, 3 томдық (Гранд-Рапидс: Regency Reference Library/Zondervan, 1975–1978). Клейбрук, Фредерик У. кіші. "Апостасия туралы Жаңа Келісім зерттеуі" (Lanham: University Press of America, 2003). Дэвис, Джон Джефферсон. "Қасиеттілердің табандылығы: Ілімнің тарихы", Евангелистік теологиялық қоғам журналы 34:2 (1991 жылғы маусым), 213–228. ДеДжон, Питер И. Реформацияланған шіркеулердегі дағдарыс: Дордт Ұлы Синодының 1618–1619 жылдардағы мерейтойына арналған эсселер (Гранд-Рапидс: Reformed Fellowship, Inc., 1968). Диллоу, Джозеф. Қызметші патшалардың билігі: Мәңгілік қауіпсіздік және адамның соңғы маңызы туралы зерттеу (Hayesville: Schoettle Publishing Co., 1992). Эллис, Марк А, аудармашы және редактор. 1621 жылғы Арминийлік мойындауы (Eugene: Pickwick Publications, 2005). Гринли, Дж. Гарольд. Сөзден алынған сөздер: Түпнұсқа Жаңа Келісім грек тілінен 52 сөздік зерттеу (Salem: Schmul Publishing, 2000). Хоикема, Энтони. Рақыммен құтқарылған (Гранд-Рапидс: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989). Джессоп, Гарри Э. Соңғы табандылық туралы маңызды сұрақ (Indiana: Light and Life Press, 1942). Маршалл, И. Ховард. Құдайдың күшімен сақталғандар: Табандылық және жолдан тайғандық туралы зерттеу (Minneapolis: Bethany Fellowship, Inc., 1969). Мюллер, Ричард А. Грек және латын теологиялық терминдер сөздігі: Көбінесе протестанттық схоластикалық теологиядан алынған (Гранд-Рапидс: Baker Book House, 1985). Мюррей, Джон. Ақталу орындалды және қолданылды (Гранд-Рапидс: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1955). Оропеза, Б. Ж. Павел және жолдан тайғандық: Эсхатология, табандылық және Коринф қауымында жолдан тайғандық (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2000). Паусон, Дэвид. Бір рет құтқарылсаң, әрқашан құтқарыласың ба? Табандылық және мұрагерлік туралы зерттеу (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1996). Пицирилли, Роберт. Рақым, сенім, ерік бостандығы. Құтқарылудың қарама-қарсы көзқарастары: Кальвинизм және Арминиандық (Nashville: Randall House Publications, 2002). Пуркизер, В. Т. Қауіпсіздік: Жалған және шынайы (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 1956). Шафф, Филип, редактор. Христиандық сенімдері III том: Евангелистік протестанттық сенімдері (Гранд-Рапидс: Baker Book House, 1984). Шенк, Роберт. Ұлдың өмірінде: Табандылық ілімін зерттеу (Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers, 1960, 1961, 1989). Стенли, Чарльз. Мәңгілік қауіпсіздік: Сен сенімді бола аласың ба? (Nashville: Oliver Nelson Books, 1990). Стил, Дэниел. Майл Стоун қағаздары: Христиандық прогресс туралы доктриналық, этикалық және тәжірибелік (New York: Nelson and Phillips, 1878). Уэсли, Джон. Джон Уэслидің еңбектері, үшінші басылым толық және қысқартылмаған, 14 томдық (Гранд-Рапидс: Baker Book House, 2001). Уильямс, Дж. Родман. Жаңару теологиясы: Харизматикалық перспективадан жүйелі теология, 3 томдық (Гранд-Рапидс: Zondervan, 1996). Уэрингтон, Бен. Иоаннның даналығы: Төртінші Ізгі хабарға түсініктеме (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1995). Йокум, Дэйл. Қарсылықтағы сенімдер: Кальвинизм және Арминиандық туралы зерттеу (Salem: Schmul Publishing Co., 1986).
Бірнеше көріністер
Дж. Мэттью Пинсон, ред. (2002). Мәңгілік құтқарылғандық туралы төрт көзқарас. Зондерван. Герберт В. Бейтман IV, ред. (2007). Еврейлерге арналған хаттағы ескерту туралы төрт көзқарас. Крейгел баспасы.
Арминийлік көзқарас
В. Т. Пуркизер (1956, 1974 ж. 2-ші басылым). Қауіпсіздік: Ақиқат емес және Ақиқат. Beacon Hill Press баспасы. Роберт Шенк (1960). Ұлдың өмірі: Табандылық доктринасын зерттеу. Bethany House Publishers баспасы. I. Говард Маршалл (1969, 1995 ж. қайта қарастырылған басылым). Құдайдың күшімен сақталғандар: Табандылық және жолдан тайып кету туралы зерттеу. Paternoster Press баспасы. Дейл М. Йокум (1986). Көзқарастардағы қарама-қайшылық: Кальвинизм және Арминиандық туралы зерттеу. Schmul Publishing Co. Дэвид Паусон (1996). Бір рет құтқарылсаң, әрқашан құтқарыласың ба? Табандылық және мұра туралы зерттеу. Hodder & Stoughton баспасы. Б. Ж. Оропеза (2000, 2007). Пауыл және жолдан тайып кету: Эсхатология, табандылық және Коринф қауымындағы жолдан тайып кету. Wipf & Stock Publishers баспасы. Б. Ж. Оропеза (2011). Яһуданың және басқа да жолдан тайғандардың ізімен: Жаңа Өсиет қауымдастықтарындағы жолдан тайып кету, 1-том: Ізгі хабарлар, Елшілердің істері және Иоанн хаттары. Wipf & Stock Publishers баспасы. Б. Ж. Оропеза (2012). Яһудилер, жұрттар және Пауылдың қарсыластары: Жаңа Өсиет қауымдастықтарындағы жолдан тайып кету, 2-том: Пауыл хаттары. Wipf & Stock Publishers баспасы. Б. Ж. Оропеза (2012). Қудалау мен ассимиляция қоршауындағы шіркеулер: Жаңа Өсиет қауымдастықтарындағы жолдан тайып кету, 3-том: Жалпы хаттар және Аян кітабы. Wipf & Stock Publishers баспасы. Скотт Макнайт (2013). Ұзақ адалдық: Христиандық табандылыққа қатысты мәселе, Patheos Press баспасы. Роберт Э. Пицирилли (2002). Рақым, сенім, ерік бостандығы. Құтқарылу туралы әртүрлі көзқарастар: Кальвинизм және Арминиандық. Randall House Publications баспасы. Фредерик У. Клейбрук кіші (2003). Бір рет құтқарылсаң, әрқашан құтқарыласың ба? Жаңа Өсиеттегі жолдан тайып кетуді зерттеу. University Press of America баспасы. French L. Arrington (2005). Шартсыз мәңгілік қауіпсіздік: Аңыз ба, әлде шындық па? Pathway Press баспасы.
David Pawson (1996). Once Saved, Always Saved? A Study in Perseverance and Inheritance. Hodder & Stoughton. B. J. Oropeza (2000, 2007). Paul and Apostasy: Eschatology, Perseverance, and Falling Away in the Corinthian Congregation. Wipf & Stock Publishers. B. J. Oropeza (2011). In the Footsteps of Judas and Other Defectors: Apostasy in the New Testament Communities, Volume 1: The Gospels, Acts, and Johannine Letters. Wipf & Stock Publishers. B. J. Oropeza (2012). Jews, Gentiles, and the Opponents of Paul: Apostasy in the New Testament Communities, Volume 2: The Pauline Letters. Wipf & Stock Publishers. B. J. Oropeza (2012). Churches under Siege of Persecution and Assimilation: Apostasy in the New Testament Communities, Volume 3: The General Epistles and Revelation. Wipf & Stock Publishers. Scot McKnight (2013). A Long Faithfulness: The Case for Christian Perseverance, Patheos Press. Robert E. Picirilli (2002). Grace, Faith, Free Will. Contrasting Views of Salvation: Calvinism and Arminianism. Randall House Publications. Frederick W. Claybrook Jr. (2003) Once Saved, Always Saved? A New Testament Study of Apostasy. University Press of America. French L. Arrington (2005). Unconditional Eternal Security: Myth or Truth? Pathway Press.
Дәстүрлі кальвинистік көзқарас
Г. К. Беркувер (1958). Догматикадағы зерттеулер: сенім және табандылық. Wm. B. Eerdmans баспа компаниясы. Д. Мартин Ллойд-Джонс (1976). Римдіктерге 8:17–39: Әулиелердің соңғы табандылығы. Ақиқат байрағы. Джудит М. Гандри (1991). Пауыл және табандылық: сақталу және адасу. Вестминстер/Джон Нокс. Энтони А. Хокема (1994). Ғайыптан құтқарылу. Wm. B. Eerdmans. А. В. Пинк (2001). Мәңгілік қауіпсіздік. Sovereign Grace Publishers. Томас Р. Шрайнер және Ардель Б. Кандей (2001). Алдымыздағы жарыс: табандылық және сенімділіктің Киелі кітаптағы теологиясы. InterVarsity Press. Алан П. Стэнли (2007). Құтқарылу сен ойлағаннан да күрделі: Исаның үйретістерін зерттеу. Authentic Publishing.
Дәстүрлі емес кальвинистік немесе еркін рақым көзқарасы
Р. Т. Кендалл (1983, 1995). Бір рет құтқарылсаң, мәңгі құтқарыласың. Authentic Media. Зэйн К. Ходжес (1989). Толығымен тегін! Иемдену арқылы құтқарылуға қатысты Киелі кітаптағы жауап. Zondervan Publishers. Чарльз С. Райри (1989, 1997). Ұлы құтқарылу: Иса Мәсіхке сенудің мағынасы. Moody Publishers. Чарльз Стэнли (1990). Мәңгілік қауіпсіздік: Сіздің сенімділігіңізді білуге бола ма? Oliver Nelson Books. Джозеф С. Диллоу (1992). Қызметші патшалардың билігі: мәңгілік қауіпсіздік және адамның соңғы маңызы туралы зерттеу. Schoettle Publishing Company. Норман Л. Гейслер (1999, 2001). Таңдалған, бірақ еркін: Құдайдың таңдауы туралы тепе-теңдік көзқарас, 2-ші басылым. Bethany House Publishers. Тони Эванс (2004). Толығымен құтқарылды. Moody Publishers.