BIBLE STUDY – THEREFORE
Thursday, September 17, 2015
2Timothy
1:7-9 For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of
love and of a sound mind. Therefore you should not be ashamed of the testimony
of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner. But be partaker of the afflictions of the
gospel according to the power of God, 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 given us in Christ Jesus before the eternal times.
There at times
when a single word can open up great understanding. In studying Scripture
“therefore” is just such a word.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/therefore
says – adverb: in consequence of that; as a result;
consequently: I think; therefore I am.
Origin: 1125–75; ME ther ( e
)
fore, var. of therfor therefor [KJV is dated
1611.]
Synonyms: hence, whence. Therefore, wherefore, accordingly,
consequently, so, then all introduce a statement resulting from,
or caused by, what immediately precedes. Therefore
(for this or that reason) and wherefore
(for which reason) imply exactness of reasoning; they are esp.
used in logic, law, mathematics, etc., and in a formal style of speaking or
writing. Accordingly (in
conformity with the preceding) and consequently
(as a result, or sequence, or effect of the preceding), although
also somewhat formal, occur mainly in less technical contexts. So (because the
preceding is true or this being the case) and then
(since the preceding is true) are informal or conversational in tone.
In seriously reading
and studying God’s Word, every time we see “therefore” we should backup and
read the why of “therefore”, and then look at what follows that is
substantially consequential.
One friend, in
his personal way of saying, would read and talk about the passage leading up to
a “therefore” and then say of the “therefore” verse, “And now here’s the thing
…”
Though today
we’re looking at just one word in Bible study, it is often seen in KJV: 1237
times in 1220 verses. 881 times in 870 verses in OT, 356 times in 350 verses in
NT.
Looking at the
numbers above some of you may now be moaning “God help me.” Here’s the thing .
. . if you do the exercise, He will.
EBB4
PS. “therefore “is in 2Timothy 7 times in 7 verses; a
good brief place to first exercise.
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