LAB138 Labour for the LORD is Never Lost
1 Corinthians 15:58
LAB138 The Inference that Leads to Meaningful Work
Audio from the author
#inference
#labourinChrist
Published October 31st, 2016
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1 Corinthians 15:58
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Ὥστε, ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί,
b Therefore, my beloved brothers,
see earlier 1 Cor 15:55-57 -- Because death is defeated, an inference "therefore" that 58b-e can happen
ἑδραῖοι γίνεσθε,
be steadfast,
It's interesting that the Greek word steadfast is the same word Paul uses in Colossians 1:23
ἀμετακίνητοι, (note: the only other time Paul uses this word in its root form, and in the negative as here is in Colossians 1:23 μὴ μετακινούμενοι). So on this basis, there can be a reasonable conclusion that these two uses help explain each other. That is in the sense of not shifting away from.
immovable,
Colossians 1:23 is the only other time Paul uses the root word for immoveable as here(see first column). There Paul says do not shift, move away from the hope of the gospel. It is reasonable to also consider that Paul has the same idea here.
περισσεύοντες
always abounding
Luke 14:13-14. That is being plentiful, doing a lot.
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ἐν τῷ ἔργῳ τοῦ κυρίου πάντοτε,
in c the work of the Lord,
Colossians 3:17, 1 Corinthians 10:31 -- work of the LORD is anything work that is done in the name of Jesus, that is for Jesus and by Jesus and all for the glory of God.
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εἰδότες ὅτι ὁ κόπος ὑμῶν οὐκ ἔστιν κενὸς
knowing that. . . d your labor is not in vain.
58f-g are a further elaboration of 58a
ἐν κυρίῳ.
. . .in the Lord. . .
As a result of 15a, when any work is done in this manner, to and by the LORD, the work, effort will not be useless.
Idea-Ground Action Explanation-Ground
restate
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Ac
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Interesting that only in Colossians 1:23 and 1 Corinthians 15:58 does Paul use the same Greek word for steadfast,ἑδραῖοι. And pairs this word with a similar root word for "immoveable." This pairing of steadfast and immoveable by Paul is only found in these two verses. I wonder if there is any signifcance to this coincidence?
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Study Notes: Refer to www.desiringgod.org/labs/labor-for-the-lord-is-never-lost LAB tip: inference -- an implication, consequence, entailment of a previous thought Questions: 1. Have you ever been discouraged because your labors for the Lord appear to have been in vain? Yes. 2. What do you think it means to “always abound in the work of the Lord” ( 1 Corinthians 15:58 )? I think it means to flourish, to do lots of it. I think this may refer both to quantity and to quality. I have a sense of it being overflowing from the truths of knowing death is defeated by Christ so all work is no longer in vain. 3. Why is our labor in the Lord not in vain? Is any labor that a Christian does in vain? Any labour done by a Christian could be in vain if it is not "in the LORD". But any labour done "in the LORD" is not in vain because the LORD Jesus has defeated death.
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