Epiphanies from Bible Study ...

     Epiphany.  Have you ever had one?  I always thought an

epiphany would be accompanied by a bright, shining light and the voice of God speaking from the heavens (not like in Monty Python’s Holy Grail).  The dictionary defines epiphany this way:  a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.  So when I speak of epiphany this is the meaning.  If you know me, you know I am a student of etymology (word origins), so click here to look at the etymology of epiphany.

      Often during Bible study I will get a brilliant flash of meaning from a word, phrase or passage.  I wish I could say it resolves issues and puts to rest any questions I have.  More often than knot it sends me into a cocoon as I try to process what I have learned.  Part of that process is writing about it.  Not writing on my blog, but journaling about it as I think it through.  Chuck Swindoll says: “over the lips and through the fingertips the mind disentangles our thoughts.”  If  you have never kept  a journal this won’t make sense, but if you do journal it will be crystal clear.

As part of the 6 weeks of deacon training we were asked to study 1 Timothy 3, Acts 6 and Romans 12.   I think Exodus 18 makes the case for small groups, but Moses did not appoint deacons, he appointed judges per se.   So I undertook an Inductive Bible Study of all three passages.  The first epiphany came in 1 Timothy 3.    The first part of the chapter talks about overseers (pastors, shepherds) and says they “should not be addicted to wine.”  The second part addresses the qualifications of a deacon and says they “should not be addicted to much wine.”  You probably focused on the the word “much” but that is not where the epiphany came.  You see the word translated addicted is different in both instances.  The word “addicted” in the qualifications for overseers means “not come near to” or “be near or close to”  or “given to.”   The word “addicted” in the qualifications for a deacon means to “not be dedicated to” or “given to” or “give attention to.”  Slightly different meanings.  I do not consume alcohol in case you are wondering.    Not because I believe the Bible forbids, but because it might impair my testimony or cause someone weak in that area to stumble.  With that said, I was intrigued by the two different words interpreted as “addicted.”

The second is a lot more intriguing and has definitely sent me into a cocoon.  Romans 12:1-2 says:

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

The focus is that word “transformed in verse 2.  Most Bible study folks can tell you about the word renewal (as in the “renewal of your mind).  That word transformed has as its root the Greek word metamorphoo.  You might recognize that as metamorphosis, which describes caterpillars becoming butterflies.  The word metamorphoo is only used four times in the New Testament:  Romans 12:2, Matthew 17:2, Mark 9:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18.  Each time it describe changing from something you are to something different, like a caterpillar to a butterfly.   What does that look like when we are being “transformed” by the “renewing”  of our minds.  Still in a cocoon on that one.

Finally let me lay this one on you.  Our focus here is Romans 6:3-4.

3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?

4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

Look closely at the words “baptized” and “baptism.”  They are not talking about the same thing.  The word “baptized” is the word baptizo.  No, that is not the ordinance of baptism.  It has the sense of being so immersed in something that you become part of it, and it affects permanent change.  The word baptism in verse 4 is the ordinance of baptism (Greek baptisma).  Baptisma is temporary change, as in being temporarily submerged.  Let me share with you an excerpt from Bible Study magazine I found on Bible Study Tools:

The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be 'dipped'(bapto) into boiling water and then 'baptised' (baptizo) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first is temporary. The second, the act of baptising the vegetable, produces a permanent change. When used in the New Testament, this word more often refers to our union and identification with Christ than to our water baptism. e.g.Mark 16:16. 'He that believes and is baptised shall be saved'.Christ is saying that mere intellectual assent is not enough. There must be a union with him, a real change, like the vegetable to the pickle! Bible Study Magazine, James Montgomery Boice, May 1989.

So with that let me further stir the pot.  The word used in Matthew 28:19 “Go, disciple and baptize …” is the permanent change and not the ordinance of submersion.  With that context, what is Jesus commanding us to do in addition to going and discipling?  My current thought is that we are to go, disciple, and in so doing so immerse someone in Christ and his teaching that it affects a permanent change in who they are, how they think and consequently how they conduct themselves.   One of my disciple guys (DGs) started to make a connection between the metamorphoo and baptizo.  The only connection for me so far is that God is trying to tell me something.  I covet your thoughts.