In the pursuit of his Christian ministry, the Apostle Paul had a keen sense of teamwork, teamwork with God and with his brothers and sisters. This awareness he expresses by using compound Greek words that begin with the prepositional prefix, sun-. With an object in the dative case, sun means "together" or "with." This same prepositional prefix has carried over into English, occurring in such words as "symbiotic," "symphony," "synergy" (the Greek sun-, represented by sym- or syn-). What follows is a brief survey of the words Paul employed to express this sharing of ministry. You will discover that such sharing continues among 21st-century Christians.
Paul calls us "co-citizens" and "joint heirs" and says we will "co-reign." Because we are bound up with Christ, we share in His city, His inheritance, and His rule. But we also share the expectation of these future blessings with each other. Because of this, we "co-rejoice."
Meanwhile, the struggle continues, and we "suffer together." To endure such suffering, we "co-console" each other, and we live and die together.
But through it all, we are "co-workers." Paul says that he and his associates are "God's coworkers," an amazing testimony both to the condescension of God--willing to stoop so low to work with the likes of us--and the corresponding elevation of Christians.
Paul's letters yield for us an amazing number of men and women that Paul calls his "co-workers": Timothy, "everyone," the Corinthian Christians, Titus, Priscilla and Aquila, Urbanus, Epaphroditus, Clement and others, Mark and Aristarchus, Jesus Justus, Philemon, Demas and Luke. One brother Paul calls "my yoke-fellow," a term synonymous with coworker (though it could be the man's name).
Others Paul describes as if they are team members with him in an athletic competition--contending, striving, or struggling together. Two brothers Paul calls his "co-slaves." Two he names as his "co-soldiers." Because Paul considers himself a worker, a slave, a soldier, and an athlete for Christ, those who share the load with him also share these descriptions. This includes those of us who are laboring in the kingdom in modern times.
As a frequent prisoner for Christ, Paul appreciated those who ministered to him in prison, even if they themselves were free to come and go. Four he describes as "co-prisoners." It could be that at least some of these voluntarily served Paul so constantly that their imprisonment was self-imposed.
All of these first-century Christians, as well as Christians alive today, are "partakers" or "partners" in the work of the kingdom. We share, have fellowship with, participate with, and keep company with other believers. Paul uses several compound terms to describe Christian unity. He says we must be united, of one accord, literally, "co-souls." We are "conformed together" and "fitted together." We cooperate and assist one another. We are "built together" and made "co-members of the same body."
All of this togetherness, we must remember, is not a natural state--far from it! If left to ourselves, we human beings split apart at every seam, whether it is race, ethnicity, gender, or class. It is only Christ that binds us together. Only in Him can it be possible to say that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, neither barbarian or Scythian, male or female; all are one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28; 1 Cor. 12:13; Col. 3:11).
Paul expresses the Christian's union with Christ using the prepositional phrase, together with Christ. He reinforces this by employing compound verbs in which sun- is added to the beginning of the verb. This occurs in several of the key passages in Paul's writings.
In Gal. 2:20, Paul uses "co-crucified" to describe how becoming united with Christ's death changes the believer. Compare Matt. 27:44, Mark 15:32, and John 19:32, where the same verb describes the literal crucifixion of the thieves who died with Jesus. Paul says that as a result of his union with Christ's death, he has died to the law, in order to live to God (v. 19). In the next verse he adds that he is no longer the one living, but Christ is living in him. True, he still lives "in flesh," but it is a life of trusting in the Son of God, who loved him and gave himself up in his behalf. Note that this happens for the individual, not just for believers as a group. Christ died, not for humanity, but for you and me and everyone else as individuals, and only as individuals can we respond to Him.
This concept of "co-crucified" recurs in Rom. 6:6. Paul says, "Having known this, that the old man was co-crucified." Although Christ goes unmentioned, the connection is definitely between the believer and Christ-He was the one crucified.
The consequence of this death of the old man is a burial, for Paul earlier says, we were buried together with Him" through baptism into death (v. 4). As a result of this union with Christ's crucifixion and his burial, we also share in the new life of His resurrection: "we believe that also we will live with him" (suzēsomen, v. 8). Paul uses these same verbs in the parallel passage in Colossians (co-buried and co-raised, 2:12; co-made alive, 2:13; see also 3:1).
Because we belong to Christ, we belong to each other. Our union with Him unites us with every other person who is also united with Him in a grand and eternal fellowship.
* * *
Copyright © 2005 Steve Singleton, All rights reserved.
Steve Singleton has written and edited several books and numerous articles on subjects of interest to Bible students. He has taught Greek, Bible, and religious studies courses Bible college, university, and adult education programs. He has taught seminars and workshops in 11 states and the Caribbean.
Go to his DeeperStudy.com for Bible study resources, no matter what your level of expertise. Explore "The Shallows," plumb "The Depths," or use the well-organized "Study Links" for original sources in English translation. Sign up for Steve's free "DeeperStudy Newsletter."
Once we become a new creature in Christ, we are... Read More
Upon the death of the Pope, a monumental sequence of... Read More
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the... Read More
Last time I wrote a message on Islam, a Catholic... Read More
God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.(Genesis... Read More
Hindus are concentrated in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka and... Read More
Who said religion has to last a lifetime?When I was... Read More
Some may ask what is a calling and what shall... Read More
The Greek language had three words for "Love" First there... Read More
The western church is seen by the world as anything... Read More
1. Where is the Rapture in all of this? There... Read More
This will be last and final event of the Great... Read More
Church building is a term used to designate both the... Read More
There's another "move of God" that's sweeping the nations. Have... Read More
Surely, Not All Evils!(circa 2000)St. Paul wrote a letter to... Read More
Matt. 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25.In my view, the significance... Read More
More and more today people are showing an obsession about... Read More
For those of you who have entered into a true... Read More
DEAD SEA SCROLLS: - Dr Norman Golb is a top... Read More
These next two verses are extreme - and I mean... Read More
A few days ago, I was watching TV, and I... Read More
Romans 1:16-1:32. Can there be a compromise between the two:... Read More
The Bible teaches that Christians ought to practice a single... Read More
Many have asked why people need a God to cope... Read More
Actually he was more appropriately called a Cynic, but that... Read More
What does your church teach regarding the subject of Widows... Read More
There are hundreds of named men and women in the... Read More
Clothing says a great deal about one's profession, and this... Read More
Down through the centuries and all over the world, the... Read More
As the clock ticks down to the fateful day of... Read More
Who are these new Urban Christians? What's up with the... Read More
This article was inspired by a book by E. W.... Read More
And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit... Read More
PART 1: Another Gospel?The influence of the occult upon our... Read More
I was meditating the other day and contemplating the thousands... Read More
Divine power is so great, Paul an apostle of Christ... Read More
1. Faith is a "spiritual substance" on the inside of... Read More
Some may ask, why can't I have a lot of... Read More
Dear Readers, I received a letter this week that is... Read More
The second chapter of John's Gospel offers a most interesting... Read More
Why does every one believe that Jesus is the son... Read More
Revelation 20:8-20:9 Jesus warned us of a time of great... Read More
Information many have been looking for!On Franklin Graham's website for... Read More
1. Where is the Rapture in all of this? There... Read More
Helping others was something Jesus did on a daily basis.... Read More
Once we become a new creature in Christ, we are... Read More
Chronically-ill Christians who do not believe in spiritual healing of... Read More
The new Pope is not expected to break ranks with... Read More
The shapeless and formless Tao brings about various elements and... Read More
After the 1000 years are up in the Millennium Kingdom,... Read More
Don't worry I'm not going off into religious rantings. ?Having... Read More
Why did the founding fathers of the United States consider... Read More
Revelation 8:8-8:9What will you be doing? How many people have... Read More
About forty women squatted in small clusters on the floor... Read More
Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel.....it is the city... Read More
Following are 30 questions that relate to Christian Unity that... Read More
There's another "move of God" that's sweeping the nations. Have... Read More
IT IS WRITTEN. Satanic Panic and the Alien Connection -... Read More
With the passing of Arafat, the Middle East will take... Read More
Rebuilding society and the tax protest movement: A Biblical Opinion... Read More
In a time when public scrutiny is becoming tighter and... Read More
Who said religion has to last a lifetime?When I was... Read More
If the Church is raptured off the face of the... Read More
Clue Number 2: You Have Spiritual GiftsIn part 1 you... Read More
"We desperately need to recognize that we are the guests... Read More
The one key central message of the entire Bible is... Read More
Religion |