Advance (increase, make progress) (4298) prokopto

Will lead (4298) (prokopto from pró = before or forward + kópto = cut) means literally to cut forward or cut down in front. The idea is to remove the obstacles from a road so that straight and uninterrupted progress is possible. The derivative noun is prokope (3x in NAS = Php 1:12 Php 1:25 1Ti 4:15) which refers to forward movement of something often of armies in spite of obstacles, dangers, and distractions. Of used of an army of pioneer wood cutters which preceded the regular army, cutting a road through an impenetrable forest, thus making possible the pioneer advance of the latter into regions where otherwise it could not have gone. Comparing prokopto to the verb auxano, with auxano the growth is caused by factors outside oneself or by the element of life placed there by God Himself, whereas with prokopto the advance is by one's conscious effort. Thus the noun form auxesis is growth or increase brought about by God, while prokope, is a conscious advancement through exertion. Paul's use of prokopto in Gal 1:14 is the figure of a runner in a race cutting ahead of others - before his conversion Paul was a Hebrew of Hebrews (Php 3:5-note) in front of all his fellow countrymen in regard to his religion. Does this not encourage us to believe that no Jewish person (in fact no person period! No as yet unsaved relative! No as yet unsaved friend!, et al) is beyond the reach of God's amazing grace and His supernatural Gospel! Wuest writes that prokopto means... “to lengthen out by hammering,” (as a smith forges metals) metaphorically, “to promote, further, forward.” The word speaks of progress made in some activity. Vine... is used in a good sense in Luke 2:52, in an evil sense in 2 Timothy 2:16; 3:9, 13; in a neutral sense in Romans 13:12 and Galatians 1:14. (The derived noun prokope is always used in a good sense) Thayer adds 1. to lengthen out by hammering (as a smith forges metals); metaphorically, to promote, forward, further; 2. to go forward, advance, proceed; of time: the night is advanced (AV is far spent) (day is at hand) (Ro 13:12) BDAG... 1. to move forward to a final stage, of time be advanced, be far gone 2. to move forward to an improved state, progress, advance in what is good or in what is bad These false teachers are diligently "chopping forward", removing every obstacle in their relentless advance in ungodliness. Their behavior belies their message, for as Scripture and human experience testify, there is a close connection between doctrinal error and a lax, self-centered, godless lifestyle. So Paul says these senseless talkers progress further and further into the spiritual darkness and "miry clay" of ungodliness. Their progress is in spiritual reverse! The more they talk, the farther they move away from holiness and toward the worldly and profane. There is a powerful principle in this truth - the test of our talk is if at the end of the talking, we are closer to God, then all is well, but if we have erected barriers between one another and have moved further from God, then all is not well. The aim of all Christian discussion and action is to bring a man nearer to God and fellow believers. The Words and Works of men will reveal whether their heart is pure. Prokopto - 6x in 6v - NAS renders it - advancing(1), almost gone(1), increasing(1), lead(1), make...progress(1), proceed(1). Not used in Septuagint. Luke 2:52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Romans 13:12-note The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Galatians 1:14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. (Gal 1:14KJV reads "And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.") Comment by Wuest: The word profit (KJV translation) is from prokopto, which means “to blaze a way” through a forest, “to cut a pioneer path.” Paul means that he outstripped his Jewish contemporaries in distinctively Jewish culture, zeal, and activity. He pioneered in his studies, cutting new paths ahead of his fellow-students. He was a brilliant pupil of Gamaliel. John MacArthur comments: Advancing is from prokopto, which literally means to chop ahead, as in blazing a trail through a forest. Saul kept on blazing his trail in Judaism, which meant cutting down anything in his path such as Jewish Christians, who in his mind were arch traitors to their ancestral traditions. 2 Timothy 2:16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 2 Timothy 3:9-note But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes' and Jambres' folly was also. 2 Timothy 3:13-note But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. Will lead to further ungodliness - Sound doctrine when heeded always leads to growth in godliness (cf 1Ti 4:6, 2Ti 4:3, 4-note, Titus 1:9-note). Unsound, profane doctrine has the opposite effect. If you want to see how healthy a given church, godliness is a good measure. Paul reminds Titus of the integral association of truth (the Word of truth) and godliness... Paul, a bond-servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness (Titus 1:1-note) (NIV renders it "the knowledge of the truth that leads to a godly life", NLT has "the truth that shows them how to live godly lives") Mark Dever in his interesting treatise on Nine Marks of a Healthy Church (2004) reminds us of the timeless truth that... A healthy church is a church that hears the Word of God and continues to hear the Word of God. And such a church is composed of individual Christians who hear the Word of God and continue to hear the Word of God, always being refashioned and reshaped by it, constantly being washed in the Word and sanctified by God’s truth. For our own health, individually as Christians and corporately as a church, we must continue to be shaped in new and deeper ways by God’s agenda in our lives, rather than by our own agendas. God makes us more like Himself through His Word, washing over us, refreshing us, reshaping us. — Nine Marks of a Healthy Church Steven Cole gives us three tests of sound doctrine that will keep you from being taken in by false teaching: First, does it honor God and exalt Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord? Sound doctrine always lifts God up in His majesty and holiness. It exalts Jesus as fully God and fully man, who gave Himself for our sins and was raised bodily from the dead. Second, does it humble proud, fallen sinners? Sound doctrine always brings sinners to the foot of the cross where they come to the end of their own pride and self-sufficiency. Third, does it promote holiness? Sound teaching always results in obedience to the Word of God and progress in holy living. It leads to genuine love for God and love for others The fact that in four out of six verses here Paul presents the negative should alarm us enough to examine ourselves. Using the Bible is not enough! You can use the Bible to your own destruction! Using the Bible for knowledge without obedience, to promote worldly goals, or to teach half-truths as the entire truth will lead to spiritual ruin. We need to be careful to use the Bible to grow to know God and to grow in submission to Him. The Bible wasn’t given to satisfy our curiosity about the end times or to fill our heads with facts. It was given to help us grow in godliness. (Ibid) (Bolding added)

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Advance (increase, make progress) (4298) prokopto

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