Purpose (4286) prothesis by Greek Word Studies

Purpose (4286) (prothesis from protithemai = set before oneself to be looked at or exposed to view and then to purpose or plan) is literally placing before or setting before and so means the setting forth of a thing or placing of it in view, a putting forward openly -- a presentation, setting forth, plan, design, purpose, resolve, will. Prothesis has a secular Greek use meaning setting forth of something in public and in a similar NT use refers to the name give to the shewbread ("loaves of presentation") in the Temple which is "exposed before God". The bread before the Presence of the Lord consisted of twelve loaves of wheat bread offered every Sabbath (12 = number of the tribes of Israel) and arranged in two rows on the table before the Holy of Holies and to remain there for seven days. (See topics: Vincent's note below, The Shewbread; shewbread; table of shewbread or showbread). The 11 non-apocryphal uses in the Septuagint (LXX) apply prothesis only to the shewbread (see Ex. 39:36; 40:4, 23; 1 Sa 21:6; 1 Chr. 9:32; 23:29; 28:16; 2 Chr. 2:4; 4:19; 13:11; 29:18). Prothesis meaning intention, purpose, plan, is found only in the apocryphal books of 2 Macc 3:8; 3 Macc. 1:22; 2:26; 5:12, 29. The other major NT meaning of prothesis is purpose, which is something set up as an object or end to be attained. Purpose describes fixed intention in doing something or the reason for which something is done or for which something exists. It describes what one intends to accomplish or attain and suggests a settled determination (this is going to happen - see uses below that especially relate to God's purpose). Richards observes that... God's sovereignty is affirmed in both OT and NT. An important NT aspect of this affirmation is found in the repeated emphasis on that which God has purposed, planned, and decreed. Two Greek words, prothesis and boule, are particularly significant. Prothesis means "a plan" or "a resolve," denoting a decision that has been made. The NIV renders this word "purpose" in four of the twelve places where it appears in the NT (Ro 8:28; 9:11; Eph 1:11; 3:11). Boule is a strong term, indicating God's fixed intention. That which is his purpose stands utterly fixed and cannot be changed by any action of others. (Richards, L O: Expository Dictionary of Bible Words: Regency) Prothesis speaks of the action of an individual setting before himself a proposed action. Thus, it presupposes deliberation upon a course of conduct, and then the determination to carry it through. Prothesis was also used to denote the public lying in state of the dead (Plato, Leg., 12, 947b), public announcements (Aristot., Pol., 6, 8, p. 1322a 9), and later an intention (Polyb., 5, 35, 2). From Aristotle on prothesis was used to express purpose and as shown below Paul uses it of 'the Divine purpose of God for the salvation of mankind,' the 'purpose of the ages' determined in the Divine mind before the creation of the world". (Adapted in part from Brown, Colin, Editor. New International Dictionary of NT Theology. 1986. Zondervan) Vincent writes that prothesis originally referred to... a placing in public or setting before. Hence of the shew-bread, the loaves set forth before the Lord (see Mark 2:26). Something set before one as an object of attainment: a purpose. Here in 2 Timothy God's purpose refers to His plan and grace is the means of accomplishing His plan (cf similar truth in 2Ti 1:1 "according to the will of God"). Note that several other passages also refer to God's purpose (cp Ro 8:28- note, Ro 9:11-note, Ep 1:11-note, Ep 3:11-note). Clearly one thing we learn from these "divine" uses of prothesis is that God is a very "purposeful" God, which should be a source of great comfort to our soul. He is not haphazard, hit or miss, but always on target and on time. Prothesis is used 12 times in the NT... Matthew 12:4 how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? Mark 2:26 how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he gave it also to those who were with him?" Vincent's Note on prothesis in this passage: The shewbread (tous artous tes protheseos). Literally, the loaves of proposition, i.e., the loaves which were set forth before the Lord. The Jews called them the loaves of the face, i.e., of the presence of God. The bread was made of the finest wheaten flour that had been passed through eleven sieves. There were twelve loaves, or cakes, according to the number of tribes, ranged in two piles of six each. Each cake was made of about five pints of wheat. They were anointed in the middle with oil, in the form of a cross. According to tradition, each cake was five hand-breadths broad and ten long, but turned up at either end, two hand-breadths on each side, to resemble in outline the ark of the covenant. The shewbread was prepared on Friday, unless that day happened to be a feast-day that required sabbatical rest; in which case it was prepared on Thursday afternoon. The renewal of the shewbread was the first of the priestly functions on the commencement of the Sabbath. The bread which was taken off was deposited on the golden table in the porch of the sanctuary, and distributed among the outgoing and incoming courses of priests (compare save for the priests). It was eaten during the Sabbath, and in the temple itself, but only by such priests as were Levitically pure. This old bread, removed on the Sabbath morning, was that which David ate. (Word Studies in the New Testament 1:173-174) Luke 6:4 how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the consecrated bread which is not lawful for any to eat except the priests alone, and gave it to his companions?" Acts 11:23 Then when he had come and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart (Literally = with purpose of heart) to remain true to the Lord; (Here prothesis means purpose of heart, that is, with determination and/or devotion - compare to the Stoic use of this word) Acts 27:13 And when a moderate south wind came up, supposing that they had gained their purpose, they weighed anchor and began sailing along Crete, close inshore. Romans 8:28 (note) And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 9:11 (note) for though the twins were not yet born, and had not done anything good or bad, in order that God's purpose according to His choice might stand (God's purpose which operates by selection), not because of works, but because of Him Who calls (Here purpose speaks of God's doctrine of Predestination - see passage in Ephesians. Cp notes Romans 8:29, 30 and Ephesians 1:5.) Ephesians 1:11 (note) also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose (God's "grand design") Who works all things after the counsel of His will, Ephesians 3:11 (note) This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 2 Timothy 1:9 (note) who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 2 Timothy 3:10 (note) But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose (the guiding motive of Paul's life and work), faith, patience, love, perseverance, Hebrews 9:2 (note) For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place. MacDonald adds this thought worth pondering: "Why should God have so loved ungodly sinners that He was willing to send His only Son to die for them? Why should He go to such a cost to save them from hell and to bring them to heaven so that they could spend eternity with Him? The only possible answer is: according to His own purpose and grace. The reason for His action did not lie in us. Rather, it lay in His own great heart of love. He loved us because He loved us!" Along this same line of reasoning note that the word “own” warrants special attention, signifying that God’s purpose sprang solely from His good will and love and not from anything external to Himself. Wuest adds that salvation "is dominated by God’s purpose...that of glorifying Himself in the bestowal of salvation and in the life of the person who is the recipient of that salvation. Salvation, therefore, can never be earned. If it could, the sinner would be glorified. Salvation must be a free gift with no strings tied to it. And that is grace, the act of God giving salvation as a free gift to one who does not only not deserve it, but who deserves punishment for his sins. This grace is given us in Christ Jesus in the sense that He made the gift of salvation possible through His death on the Cross by which He satisfied the just requirements of the law which sinners broke, thus making it possible for a righteous God to show mercy to a hell-deserving sinner on the basis of justice satisfied. This grace was given us before the world began." (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans or Logos Dwight Edwards has some excellent thoughts regarding God's purpose One of the greatest pursuits of our day is the pursuit for purpose in life. I remember reading a few years back about a man named Isaac Singer, Nobel Peace Prize winner for literature. In the article his very successful life was described in some detail and it appeared that he had lived a very full and rewarding life. But at the end of the article, Isaac Singer made a statement which I've never forgotten. He said, "But you know the same questions bother me today which bothered me fifty years ago." And number one among these questions was, "Why was I born?" No doubt Mr. Singer is not alone in his unfulfilled quest for purpose and meaning in life...Yet God has provided a totally satisfying answer to the question of purpose. But it is important to note that this answer is "according to HIS OWN purpose." Until we are willing to live life for HIS purpose then we will chafe at His answer for it cuts across the grain of our natural desire for personal HAPPINESS. God's purpose for our lives is not personal HAPPINESS but personal HOLINESS (Christ-likeness) (Ro 8:28ff-note) God's great goal for our lives is to "conform us to the image of His Son" (Ro 8:29-note). He will stop at nothing to bring about this holy task. Thus, the great purpose "set before" us is to be consumed with the calling of Christ-likeness and to unrelentlessly pursue this great goal, no matter what the cost. Like the apostle Paul, we should set as our primary purpose in life "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Php 3:10,11-note) AND GRACE WHICH WAS GRANTED US: kai charin ten dotheisan (APPFSA) hemin: (Grace - Acts 15:11) (Which was granted us - Jn 6:37; 10:28,29; 17:9; 1Cor 1:4, 3:21,22; Eph 1:3) "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/2_timothy_19.htm#purpose

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Purpose (4286) prothesis

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