{"id":630,"date":"2020-11-23T13:36:21","date_gmt":"2020-11-23T13:36:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/?p=630"},"modified":"2024-01-17T13:20:47","modified_gmt":"2024-01-17T13:20:47","slug":"using-literary-context-to-better-define-terms-how-does-the-usage-of-agathon-in-the-book-of-romans-clarify-its-usage-in-romans-134a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/?p=630","title":{"rendered":"Using Literary Context to Better Define Terms: How Does the Usage of agathon in the Book of Romans Clarify Its Usage in Romans 13:4a?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A Change is Gonna Come<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Consistent with the title of Sam Cooke\u2019s song \u201cA Change is Gonna Come,\u201d if the Biden-Harris ticket wins the election, \u201ca change is gonna come.\u201d  In fact, with a Biden-Harris win there will be a seismic change in the political landscape for Christians.  If along with a Biden-Harris win the Democrats wind up with control of the U.S. Senate via victories in the Georgia runoff races for two Senate seats, there will be a catastrophic earthquake for Christians in the United States. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer made chilling remarks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer made chilling remarks about America\u2019s future as reported in an article entitled \u201cIT BEGINS: Schumer Declares Democrats will \u2018Change America\u2019 If They \u2018Take Georgia\u2019 Senate Seats\u201d in the Daily Wire (link: https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/it-begins-schumer-declares-democrats-will-change-america-if-they-take-georgia-senate-seats<\/a>  :<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cNow we take Georgia, and then we change the world,\u201d Schumer said at a political event in New York City following the media\u2019s declaration that Democrat Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election. \u201cNow we take Georgia, then we change America.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s a Christian to do? – \u201cGet\u2019n Ready\u201d by Studying Romans 13:1-7<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s a Christian to do?  What I\u2019m doing is studying Romans 13:1-7 to better determine the nature and scope of a believer\u2019s obligation, IF ANY, to obey a government like what the Biden-Harris administration will most likely implement.  While my study is still ongoing, one interesting facet of this text is Romans 13:4a (NASB95) which reads that the \u201cauthority [i.e., the \u201cgoverning authorities\u201d]:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2026 is a minister of God to you for good [agathon<\/em>]. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Here, Paul intended to convey that the government was to govern in such a way that it was for the \u201cgood\u201d [Greek adjective agathon<\/em>]  of \u201cevery person.\u201d  One important question becomes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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what did Paul intend to convey when he used the Greek adjective agathon<\/em> in the context of how a government is supposed to govern?  <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

While there may be additional steps, for this analysis I took four steps to better comprehend what Paul intended to convey through verse 4a.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first step to determine the meaning of a New Testament word is to look to a lexicon (Greek-English dictionary).  One popular lexicon gives the following definition, \u201cpositive moral qualities of the most general nature\u2014\u2018good, goodness, good act.\u2019\u201d  See Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 741). New York: United Bible Societies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While this definition better defines the term, is there another place to look that unpacks agathon<\/em> [the lexical form is agathos<\/em>] even more?  This is especially the case when trying to determine what Paul meant by the government governing for \u201cgood\u201d in Romans 13:4a.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another important source to determine the meaning of a word is the literary context.  In the very helpful book entitled \u201cA Handbook of New Testament Exegesis,\u201d Blomberg et al. describes the impact of the literary context, i.e., the text that surrounds the primary text, using concentric circles.  See Figures 4.1 at page 95.  Email me and I\u2019ll send you a copy of the diagram.  The surrounding text that is closer to the primary text is more relevant than text farther away.  This principle makes common sense. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It appears that Paul used agathos<\/em> twenty times in the book of Romans.  A look at these usages reveals the following factors that impact the interpretation of Romans 13:4a.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, in Romans 10:15, Paul wrote that the saving gospel of Jesus Christ is \u201cGOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS.\u201d  Paul expressed the complete process in Romans 10-14-15 (NASB95):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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14<\/sup> How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15<\/sup> How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, \u201cHow beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Since proclamation of the gospel and the gospel itself are \u201cgood,\u201d the government ought to govern in such a way so as to facilitate the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The connection between this factor and the historical-cultural context of A.D. 56-57 when Paul wrote Romans is remarkable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, Paul wrote that God\u2019s will was \u201cgood.\u201d  In Romans 12:2, he wrote that, \u201c\u2026 you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.\u201d  Paul appears to have advanced the same teaching in Romans 8:28.  The impact on interpretation is that God\u2019s will is \u201cgood\u201d so that the government is to govern consistent with God\u2019s will.  God\u2019s will includes the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third, Paul made a contrast between what is \u201cgood\u201d and what is \u201cevil.\u201d  To do \u201cgood\u201d was cast in a positive light and to do \u201cevil\u201d was cast in a negative light.  See Romans 7:18-19; 9:11; 12:9, 21; 14:16; 16:19.  The interpretative gloss is that if the government is to govern for \u201cgood\u201d then it is NOT to govern for \u201cevil.\u201d  The proclamation of the gospel is \u201cgood\u201d and the hinderance of the gospel is \u201cevil.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fourth, Paul wrote that, \u201cthe commandment is \u2026 good.\u201d  See Romans 7:12-13.  What God\u2019s Word affirms is good and what God\u2019s Word condemns is evil.  A government ought to govern so as to be consistent with what God\u2019s Word affirms and with what God\u2019s Word condemns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The literary context unpacks the meaning of Romans 13:4a to a significant extent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another good source to help better understand the meaning of a word is a theological dictionary.  One theological dictionary is the \u201cLittle Kittel\u201d (Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1985). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (pp. 3\u20134). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans).  In reference to agathos<\/em>, Little Kittel reads [in part]:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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a. The basic approach is again religious. Only God is truly good (Mt. 19:17). His goodness is the \u201ckindness\u201d which through Christ confers the \u201cgood things\u201d of salvation (Heb. 9:11). Apostles are thus preachers of \u201cgood news\u201d (Rom. 10:15; cf. Is. 52:7). \u2026 The law is good, but even through the law sin works death (7:12\u201313). Distinctions can be made between good and bad people (Mt. 5:45), or speaking good and being evil (Mt. 12:34). Government can also be called a servant for good (Rom. 13:4). \u2026 Yet the good of salvation is still the determinative goal (Rom. 8:28). The \u201cgood work\u201d that God has begun will come to \u201ccompletion at the day of Jesus Christ\u201d (Phil. 1:6).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLittle Kittel\u201d appears to reinforce the principle that a government is supposed to be God\u2019s servant that governs in a way consistent with Gods will which includes facilitation of the spread of the gospek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The final \u201csanity check\u201d step is to refer to commentaries just to make sure my interpretation is not \u201cout in left field.\u201d   One commentary (Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 463). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press) reads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The ruler\u2019s function concerns the individual subject. And this function is \u201cfor good\u201d. The authority is God\u2019s servant to bring about good and not something else, but this \u201cgood\u201d can be understood in more ways than one. Some hold it to mean the good of the individual, his prosperity. Or, bearing in mind 8:28 where God works everything for good, it is possible to see the words as meaning that what the ruler does will in the end promote God\u2019s purpose for the blessing of his people, that is, their salvation<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Paul intended to teach his audience that a government must govern in such a way so as to facilitate the spread of the saving gospel of Jesus Christ.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Morris seems to support the interpretation that through what he wrote in Romans 13:4a, Paul intended to teach his audience that a government must govern in such a way so as to facilitate the spread of the saving gospel of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope this article has been helpful to better appreciate the value of the literary context in the interpretation process.  My goal is to compete my analysis of Romans 13:1-7 in the near future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are reading this post and are not a Christian, unless God intervenes, your eternal destination is hell.  But, your destiny can change.  Today can be the day of your salvation.  Please see my blog (https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/2020\/04\/20\/for-god-so-loves-you-2\/<\/a>) for a description of how you can be saved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOTICE OF PERMISSIONS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am mindful of and respect the rights other authors and\/or publishers possess in their works.  I thus try my best to not violate any copyright rights other authors and\/or publishers possess in their works.  The below copyright permission statement is the result of my best efforts to understand that limited usage or \u201cfair use\u201d is available and\/or to secure direct permission for specific works.  The quotations from commentaries are considered to be \u201cfair use.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture quotations marked \u201cESV\u201d are from the ESV\u00ae Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved. Scripture marked \u201cNASB95\u201d are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE\u00ae, Copyright \u00a9 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971, 1972,1973,1975, 1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.”  Scripture marked \u201cNCV\u201d is taken from the New Century Version. Copyright \u00a9 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”  The Scriptures marked \u201cNET\u201d are quoted are from the NET Bible\u00ae  http:\/\/netbible.com copyright \u00a91996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved”. Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright \u00a9 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture marked \u201cGW\u201d is taken from the God\u2019s Word Bible that is a copyrighted work of God’s Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Change is Gonna Come Consistent with the title of Sam Cooke\u2019s song \u201cA Change is Gonna Come,\u201d if the Biden-Harris ticket wins the election, \u201ca change is gonna come.\u201d  In fact, with a Biden-Harris win there will be a seismic change in the political landscape for Christians.  If along with a Biden-Harris win the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[323],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-630","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-government"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/630","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=630"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/630\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2152,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/630\/revisions\/2152"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=630"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=630"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=630"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}