Equipped (1822) (exartizo from ek = out or used to intensive meaning + artios = fit, complete, capable from root ar- which indicates appropriateness, suitability, usefulness, aptitude) means to completely outfit, fully furnish, fully equip or supply.
Exartizo was used of a wagon or rescue boat which was completely outfitted or of a machine sold in good condition and capable of performing the service expected of it.
Exartizo was used in secular Greek writings to describe documents, a wagon or a rescue boat, all of which were completely outfitted and needing nothing. Exartizo in one secular Greek described a machine that was sold in good condition or in other words was capable of performing the service expected of it! Now think of the man or woman of God as that "machine", made capable of performing the work it was created to carry out (Ep 2:10-note) and which is the perfect fulfillment of Jesus' exhortation to...
Let your light shine (aorist imperative = Command to carry this out effectively. Do it now. Don't delay!) before men in such a way that they may see your good works (God works = supernatural works, Jn 15:5 works), and glorify (give a proper opinion of) your Father who is in heaven. (Mt 5:16-note)
Comment: How will His works in and through you give a proper opinion? Because His works are supernatural works which give testimony to the supernatural God. Remember lighthouses work better when they shine brightly than when they sound off loudly. How is your "lighthouse" shining lately?
The famous missionary Hudson Taylor who was equipped and used by God in His "good (God) work" of opening inland China to the gospel echoed Paul's words in his declaration...
Depend upon it.
God's work,
done in God's way,
will never lack God's supply.
The only other use of exartizo is in Acts 21:5 where it conveys the sense of accomplishing the days, finishing the time (the seven days) during which they had to remain for the cargo to be unloaded and for other business. Thus Luke writes...
And when it came about that our days there were ended, we departed and started on our journey, while they all, with wives and children, escorted us until we were out of the city. And after kneeling down on the beach and praying, we said farewell to one another.
Exartizo and its root, ártios, appears redundant but actually convey a subtle nuance. Paul states that inspired Scripture can make the man of God ártios, competent, proficient, adept or capable. This is followed by a subordinate clause containing the perfect passive participle of exartízo which is not simply an intensive form of ártios, as though Paul were saying,
that the man of God may be competent having been made very competent.
Rather exartízo means to equip, outfit, furnish. The sentence therefore can be read
“that the man of God may be competent because he has been equipped [outfitted, furnished]”.
The perfect tense speaks of the abiding condition. There is to be no lack of proportion and balance in any area of the "man of God." The sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit taking His Holy Word and applying it to our hearts, transforming and renewing our minds will make us holy and wholly fit and furnished for this relatively brief sojourn in this present evil age.
Have you ever said, “I wish my life were more effective for Jesus Christ”? If so, what have you done to prepare yourself? Bible study is a primary means to becoming an effective servant of Jesus Christ. (1Pe 2:1, 2-see notes 1P 2:1; 2:2)
Matthew Henry...
If we consult the Scripture, which was given by inspiration of God, and follow its directions, we shall be made men of God, perfect, and thoroughly furnished to every good work.
Dr. Howard Hendricks once asked a group of businessmen,
If you didn’t know any more about your business or profession than you know about Christianity after the same number of years of exposure, what would happen?
One man replied
“They’d ship me!”
He was right. The reason God can’t use you more than He wants to may well be that you are not prepared. Maybe you’ve attended church for years, but you’ve never really got into the Bible so that it could get into you. You were not yet a
a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. (2Ti 2:21-note).
You must not just be under the Word (sound Biblical preaching and teaching) but not in the Word that you can than be trained in righteousness.
What does it mean to be adequate, equipped?...think of a painter going to job without tools, paint, ladder, etc. Or think of trying to put together a bicycle, a swing set, etc. without having all of the parts!
FOR EVERY GOOD WORK: pros pan ergon agathon: (Titus 2:7; 3:8; Numbers 25:13; Acts 9:36; Ephesians 2:10; 1Timothy 2:10; 6:18; Hebrews 10:24; 1Peter 2:12)
Every good work - AKA "every God work"! See related study on good deeds - see also Scriptures on good deeds) Neh. 2:18; Jn. 10:33; Phil 1:6; Col. 1:10; 2Thess. 2:17; 1Ti 5:10; 2Ti 2:21; 3:17, Mt. 5:16; Jn 10:32; Ep 2:10; 1Ti 2:10; 5:10; 6:18, Neh. 6:19; Jn. 5:29; Titus 2:7, 14" class="scriptRef">14; 3:8, 14; He 10:24; 1Pe 2:12
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Greek Word Studies ( - )
Read freely Greek Word Studies from the Austin Precept text commentary of the Bible in text and pdf format. Precept Austin is an online free dynamic bible commentary similar to wikipedia with updated content and many links to excellent biblical resources around the world. You can browse the entire collection of Commentaries by Verse on the Precept Austin website.We have been "bought with a price" to be "ambassadors for Christ" and our "salvation is nearer to us than when we believed" so let us "cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" "so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming." (1Cor 6:20, 2Cor 5:20, Ro 13:11, 2Cor 7:1, 1Jn 2:28)