Bible Words You Should Know

Fellowship – koinonia – κοινωνία

1. Koinonia: 1 Close association involving mutual interests an sharing, association, communion, fellowship, close relationship 2 attitude of good will that manifests an interest in a close relationship, generosity, fellow-feeling, altruism 3 sign of fellowship, proof of brotherly unity, gift, contribution 4 participation, sharing (in something)
2. Koinonos One who takes part in something with someone, companion, partner, sharer
3. Sunkoinoneo: to be associated with someone in some activity, be connected.

Guarantee – arrabon – ἀρραβών

The KJV word was earnest. Translations also include down payment, deposit, and first installment

Holy Spirit as Arrabon is mentioned in 2 Corinthians 2:2, 2 Corinthians 5:5, and Ephesians 1:14. The NLT, in questionable paraphrase, supplies the word in Ephesians 4:30

Vines originally, “earnest-money” deposited by the purchaser and forfeited if the purchase was not completed, was probably a Phoenician word, introduced into Greece. In general usage it came to denote “a pledge” or “earnest” of any sort; in the NT it is used only of that which is assured by God to believers; it is said of the Holy Spirit as the Divine “pledge” of all their future blessedness, 2Cr 1:22; 5:5; in Eph 1:14, particularly of their eternal inheritance. In the Sept., Gen 38:17, 18, 20. In modern Greek arrabona is an “engagement ring.”

BDAG payment of part of a purchase price in advance, first installment, deposit, down payment, pledge which secures a legal claim to the article in question, or makes a contract valid [examples]; in any case, arrabon is a payment that obligates  the contracting party to make further payments. It is also used figuratively…

Seal – sphragis, sphragizo – σφραγίζω

BDAG noun 1. An instrument used for sealing or stamping, signet. 2 the substance which bears the imprint of a sigment and seals a document, seal. 3 the impression made by a signet, mark. 4 that which confirms or authenticates, attestation, confirmation, certification

BDAG verb 1 to provide  with a seal as a security measure, seal. 2 to close something up tight, seal up 3 to mark with a seal as a means of identification, mark. 4 to certify that something is so, attest, certify, acknowledge 5 to seal something for delivery, seal

Predestine – pro-orizo – προορἰζω

BDAG Acts 4:28; Romans 8:29,30; 1 Cor 2:7; Eph 1:5,11 Decide upon before hand, predetermine

Robert Shank argues, persuasively in my opinion, that in biblical usage predestination should be distinguished from election or choosing. (His book is “Elect in the Son“)Predestination emphasizes the “destination”–what    God will bring about. Election or choosing emphasizes the selection or choice of people for himself.

Choose, Chosen, Elect – eklegomai – ἐκλέγομαι

BDAG verb To pick out someone or something, choose (for oneself)  2. To make a choice in accordance with significant preference, select someone/something for oneself. 3 Gather in a crop, gather

Sexual Immorality – porneia – πορνεία

1. Porneia: Unlawful sexual intercourse, prostitution, inchastity, fornication
2. Pornos: One who practices sexual immorality, fornicator
3. Porne: One engaged in sexual relations for hire, prostitute

Bearing With, Forbearance – anecho – ἀνέχω

Bearing with others in our various relationships is part of walking in love, and gentleness. (Ephesians 4:1-3, Colossians 3:12-13) It has to do with accepting or not resenting things that may irritate us or annoy us.

Bearing with applies, even when others are doing the right thing. It is not like forgiveness which implies that someone wronged us. It simply involves some kind of difficulty that needs to be endured. ἀνέχω is sometimes used to encourage people to pay attention to teaching that may seem long or difficult to listen to (Hebrews 13:22, 2 Timothy 4:3-4). In 2 Corinthians 11-20, Paul makes repeated use of this word (variously translated) to ask the Corinthians to indulge his way of making a point and to describe how they have put up with arrogant false teachers.

ἀνέχω is also used to describe endurance in the face of persecution (I Corinthians 4:12-13, 2 Thessalonians 1:4).

Covetousness – pleonexia – πληονεξία

1. Pleonexia: The state of desiring to have more than one’s due, greediness, insatiableness, avarice, covetousness
2. Pleonektes: One who desires to have more than is due, a greedy person