Forewarn (foretell, tell in advance) (4302) prolego

Kept telling in advance (4302)(prolego from pró = before + lego = to say) means literally to say or tell beforehand (in advance and so to predict), to foretell or to forewarn (the idea is the to warn in advance). Forewarned is forearmed and that is what Paul and Barnabas sought to do to the new disciples in Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, Luke recording... And after they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening (episterizo - present tense = continually placing them firmly upon the Solid Rock of sound doctrine) the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:21, 22) He had plainly told them beforehand, in advance of its actual arrival, that suffering would be the inevitable result of accepting the gospel. Paul wisely followed the example of Christ Who warned His disciples that trouble awaited them From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. (John 13:19).. And now I have told you before it comes to pass, that when it comes to pass, you may believe. (John 14:29) Comment: Notice that these "appointments" with trouble serve a divine purpose of nurturing faith! And it is this kind of "eternal perspective" which allows us to practice the command to "in everything give thanks" - 1Th 5:18-note) There is an important principle to note for all those who would evangelize and then follow up (disciple) -- To leave converts unwarned of the possible adverse personal consequences of their acceptance of the gospel is to do them a serious injustice. Yes, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life, but that plan will always include suffering for the gospel! We must forewarn disciples so they are forearmed (cp Acts 14:22) In an ancient Greek secular use of prolego we read Gaius, an attorney, before his death expresses his thoughts in an epitaph for his tomb Notice that here in 1Thes 3:4, prolego is in the imperfect tense conveying the sense of "we were telling you (over and over)" or repeatedly. Paul warned them many times for he understood Jesus’ teachings and also had personal experience in God's "school of suffering". Prolego is used in 1 verse in the Septuagint (LXX) and 13 verses in the NT... Isaiah 41:26 Who has declared this from the beginning, that we might know? Or from former times, that we may say, "He is right!"? Surely there was no one who declared, Surely there was no one who proclaimed (LXX = prolego = "proclaimed beforehand"), Surely there was no one who heard your words. Matthew 24:25 Behold, I have told you in advance. Mark 13:23 But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance. Acts 1:16 Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. Romans 9:29 (note) And just as Isaiah foretold, "Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left to us a posterity, We would have become as Sodom, and would have resembled Gomorrah." 2 Corinthians 7:3 I do not speak to condemn you; for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together. 2 Corinthians 13:2 I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again, I will not spare anyone Galatians 1:9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed. Galatians 5:21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn (prolego) you just as I have forewarned (proeipon - AAI from prolego) you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 1Thessalonians 3:4 For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know. 1Thessalonians 4:6 (note) and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. Hebrews 4:7 (note) He again fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, "Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts." 2 Peter 3:2 (note) that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles. Jude 1:17 But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, We were going to (3195) (ginomai) means to come into existence, in this case continually being (present tense) in the state of suffering affliction. Paul knew what was coming and yet he pressed onward toward the goal. He calls all believers to be imitators of him as he is of Christ Jesus, Who for the joy set before endured the cross and despised the shame (He 12:2, 3-see notes He 12:2; 12:3) Jon Courson commenting on trials wrote that... A. W. Tozer was right when he said, “Before God can use a person greatly, He must allow that person to be hurt deeply.” This isn’t because God is mean, but because He knows we can’t comfort others unless we’ve been comforted ourselves. Trials not only enable us to comfort others, but they purify our own faith. That’s why Peter said, “Don’t think it strange concerning the fiery trials that come your way. They are sent to test and purify your faith” (1Peter 4:12-note). What happens when you are in a fiery trial? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego will tell you: Jesus shows up (Da 3:25). That’s why James tells us to count it all joy when we fall into trials (Jas 1:2-note). “Whoopee! A trial! How wonderful!” Crazy? Not really, because if you have this mind-set in your difficult times, you will see Jesus in a way that will blow your mind, warm your heart, and bless your socks off! Trials don’t make or break us, gang. They simply reveal what’s inside. When I’m driving and hit a bump, the tea that splashes out of the mug on my dashboard was there before the bump. The bump doesn’t put the tea in. It just shows what was already in the cup. That’s what trials do. (Courson, J: Jon Courson's Application Commentary: NT. Nelson. 2004 or Logos) Richison comments on affliction writing that... This pressure from without hems the believer in a situation like a mountain gorge. God puts conditions in our narrow way and presses us into distressing problems. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair… (2Corinthians 4:8) God puts us into a squeeze play. Compression produces gold and compression produces character in the Christian life. Christian suffering is inseparable from the Christian life. Christians face different kinds of affliction: persecution (1Th 1:6-note), imprisonment (Acts 20:23), derision (He 10:33-note), poverty (2Corinthians 5:13), sickness (Re 2:22-note), and inner distress (Php 1:17-note; 2Corinthians 7:5). Tribulation tests whether we will spread the gospel at the risk of life or limb and whether we will claim the promises of God (2Corinthians 1:8, 9). Faith accepts God’s discipline and patiently endures trial (2Thessalonians 1:4). A Christian has the assurance that the coming glory far overshadows present suffering (2Corinthians 4:17, 18). God’s promises give us hope in the face of suffering.

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Forewarn (foretell, tell in advance) (4302) prolego

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