Stumble (4417) ptaio by Greek Word Studies

Stumble (4417) (ptaio) means literally to loose one's footing and so to fall, stumble or “to be tripped up”. To lose one’s footing. Wuest notes that ptaio was used in secular Greek writings to refer to a “sure-footed as a horse that does not stumble” (Xenophon), and thus of a good man (Epictetus, Marcus Antoninus) (Robertson). (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans or Logos) All the NT uses of ptaio are figurative and mean to err (wander from the right way; miss the right way; to commit error). To sin. To make a mistake. To "slip". To fail to keep the law of God. In the Septuagint, ptaio is used for the defeat of an army, e.g., 1Sa 4:2 ("defeated before the Philistines" - Lxx translates defeated with ptaio = "men of Israel fell before the Philistines"), 1Sa 4:10, 2Sa 10:15 (defeated translated with ptaio). Peter uses ptaio figuratively meaning to experience disaster, be ruined, fall into misery, become wretched, be lost. Peter's point is that such a disaster simply cannot ever happen to a genuine believer. Peter uses a strong double negative (ou me, where ou = absolute negation; me = relative negation) with the aorist subjunctive has the force of an categorical denial. In addition the fact that the double negative is placed first in the Greek sentence adds even further emphasis. In sum, in this section, Peter is not teaching that a genuine believer can lose their salvation. He is talking about the added assurance that a genuine believer will have if they live a holy life. Ptaio - 5x in 4v - Romans 11:11 I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. Comment: Stumble in this verse means to make a mistake, to go astray, to sin. Denny writes that "The subject is the mass of the Jewish nation, all but the elect remnant. The contrast here between stumbling and falling shows that by the latter is meant an irremediable fall from which there is no rising." TDNT - In Rom. 11:11 the basic sense “to stumble” is plain, and there is perhaps a distinction from falling inasmuch as those who merely stumble may regain their balance, but falling has the greater finality of eternal ruin. Such a fall is not the purpose of the stumbling of the Jews. Rienecker adds that "A man who stumbles may recover himself, or he may fall completely. The word is used here of a completely irrevocable fall—to fall to rise no more—as the sprawling on one’s face puts a runner out of the race (New Linguistic & Exegetical Key to the Greek New Testament) James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. Comment: James is speaking particularly about the tongue (vv. 1-12). Honesty compels us to say that in our speech "we all stumble in many ways" (NASB, NIV). Connecting this verse with the admonition of the previous verse, J. H. Ropes makes this interesting observation: "All men stumble, and of all faults those of the tongue are the hardest to avoid. Hence the profession of teacher is the most difficult mode of life conceivable" (ICC, James, 228). James 3:2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. 2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; Ptaio - 11 uses in the Septuagint (LXX) - Deut 7:25; 1 Sam 4:2, 3, 10; 7:10; 2 Sam 2:17; 10:15, 19; 18:7; 1 Kgs 8:33; 2 Kgs 14:12; 1 Chr 19:19 Deuteronomy 7:25 "The graven images of their gods you are to burn with fire; you shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, or you will be snared (Heb = yaqos - to catch by means of bait, in context being the desire for other gods; Lxx = ptaio) by it, for it is an abomination to the LORD your God. Spurgeon reminds us to Mark the difference between falling and falling away. The true believer can never fall away and perish; but he may fall and injure himself. To reiterate, understand what Peter is not saying. He is not saying that a believer's efforts merit salvation (the price was paid in full at Calvary). On the other hand Peter is saying that a saint's good works, good deeds, application of diligence in their faith, disciplining of themselves for godliness, pursuit of holiness, etc (all of these terms are essentially synonymous, and all speak of progressive sanctification or being setting apart more & more from the world and more & more unto God)...all of these are a visible manifestation to other men and an internal confirmation to the believer that they are genuine. By manifesting the fruit of the Spirit, we can provide unmistakable evidence that we truly belong to Him. A holy life proves the reality of our salvation. Below are thoughts by seasoned expositors (although you may not be as familiar with Hiebert...you might want to purchase one of his excellent commentaries on 1Peter, 2 Peter, Jude, James, 1Thess to supplement your inductive study of those books - Click list of highly recommended books from Grace Books International's Timothy Library) on what Peter means to "never stumble" Hiebert writes that The aorist tense here points to a stumbling that is final, a fall from which there is no arising ((Ro 11:11, Heb 6:6, 10:26; 1Jn 5:16 "sin to death"). This does not mean that those who are "DILIGENT TO MAKE CERTAIN" will “never sin,” but that they will be kept from an irretrievable fall, they will complete their journey to their destination. [Ed note: they will hold fast to the end as in Heb 3:6,14 & this fact proves they are saved...if one falls away he can have no such assurance] They are assured spiritual “surefootedness” on their way to the eternal kingdom. John MacArthur offers another thought on "never stumble" writing that this means... "You will never fall into doubt, despair, depression, grief, fear about your spiritual condition. You'll always have confidence, you'll always have assurance. Why? Because your calling and election will be sure in your mind. Why? Because you're pursuing these virtues, you see them on the increase, you know God is producing them in your life and because you can see it and it's visible and it's evidence, you know your spiritual condition, you know you've been saved, you know you've been called by God, you know you've been elected before the foundation of the world. And in the confident knowledge of that you enjoy the fullness of assurance. Beloved, what Peter is saying and what I'm saying to you is that assurance is directly tied to how you live your life. Everybody would like to be sure about their salvation, nobody wants to live their life in doubt. And yet I would guess that many, if not most, Christians do live in doubt. Some people say, "Well, all you have to do to be assured is to go way back to some point in time when you signed on the dotted line, that's all the assurance you ever need," that's not what the Scripture says. If you want to make your calling and election sure, you're going to make it sure by virtues that are visible in your life, produced by the Spirit of God as you pursue those virtues. And as you pursue those things and you see that you are useful to God and fruitful and these are increasing in your life, you'll never stumble in to doubt, despair, fear, and questioning." In another note, MacArthur writes that 2Pe 1:10 expresses the bull’s-eye Peter has been shooting at in 2Pe 1:5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Though God is “sure” who His elect are and has given them an eternally secure salvation, the Christian might not always have assurance of his salvation. Security is the Holy Spirit revealed fact that salvation is forever. Assurance is one’s confidence that he possesses that eternal salvation. In other words, the believer who pursues the spiritual qualities mentioned above guarantees to himself by spiritual fruit that he was called (cf. 2Pe 1:3) and chosen by God to salvation." (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word Pub) J Vernon McGee has some insightful thoughts on this passage writing that... Give diligence to make your calling and election sure”—he means, of course, more sure. In other words, the security of the believer is objective; it is something that cannot be disturbed. However, your assurance can certainly be disturbed by the life you live. If your life is not lived in sincerity and truth, you are bound to lie on your bed at night and wonder if you really have been born again. While it is true that Christ has done everything necessary to save you and keep you saved, your Christian life to be meaningful is something that you have to work at. I have been married for a long time, and I never have to lie awake at night and wonder whether or not I am married; but to make my marriage meaningful, I have to work at it, and I have been working at it for a long, long time. Likewise in your Christian life, “make your calling and election more sure.” That is, let it become subjective in your own heart—to know that you are a child of God. “For if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” I have talked with many Christians who have gotten into sin. It is very interesting to me that I have never yet talked to one who had the assurance of his salvation before he got into sin. You see, the person who lacks assurance lacks a solid foundation under him." (McGee, J V: Thru the Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson) (Bolding added) (Listen to Dr McGee's Mp3) Warren Wiersbe also gives his usual wise counsel on this this passage... Peter also pointed out that election is no excuse for spiritual immaturity or for lack of effort in the Christian life. Some believers say, “What is going to be is going to be. There is nothing we can do.” But Peter admonishes us to “be diligent.” This means “make every effort.” (He used this same verb in 2Peter 1:5.) While it is true that God must work in us before we can do His will (Php 2:12, 13-see note Php 2:12; 13), it is also true that we must be willing for God to work, and we must cooperate with Him. Divine election must never be an excuse for human laziness. The Christian who is sure of his election and calling will never “stumble” but will prove by a consistent life that he is truly a child of God. He will not always be on the mountaintop, but he will always be climbing higher. If we do “these things” (the things listed in 2Peter 1:5–7, cf. 2Pe 1:8), if we display Christian growth and character in our daily lives, then we can be sure we are converted and will one day be in heaven." (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor) (Bolding added) ><> ><> ><> Regarding "Make your calling and election sure" C H Spurgeon wrote... When Mr. Whitefield was once asked to use his influence at a general election, he returned answer to his lordship who requested him that he knew very little about general elections, but that if his lordship took his advice, he would make his own particular "calling and election sure." It was a very proper remark. I beseech you, give no sleep to your eyes till you have read your title clear to mansions in the skies. Shall your eternal destiny be a matter of uncertainty to you? What! Is heaven or hell involved in this matter, and will you rest until you know which of these shall be your everlasting portion? Are you content while it is a question whether God loves you or is angry with you? ><> ><> ><> David W. Folsom, author of the book Assets Unknown, estimates that there are over one trillion dollars worth of unclaimed property in the United States held in federal and state accounts, waiting to be claimed by the rightful owners. These assets include stocks and bonds, unclaimed pension and insurance benefits, and uncashed dividend checks. This staggering figure illustrates the “high cost of forgetting what you own.” As Christians we are “co-heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:17); we can’t afford to lose sight of what God is holding in store for us. For-getting spiritually costs more than forgetting financially. Peter desired that his readers not forget what they learned. To the apostle, faith in Christ was far too “precious” (v. 1) to be allowed to slip away. The challenge for believers--then and now--is to make our “calling and election sure.” This entails both God’s choice of His own and His action in bringing His chosen ones to Himself. Rather than forgetting who we are and where we have come from, we need to do the things that will spiritually strengthen us. In this way, we can guard ourselves against falling into temptation or believing the lies of the deceivers. Peter knew these believers in Asia Minor were well-established in the faith. But he also realized how powerful the lure of false teaching would be for them, especially after he and the other apostles were gone. This was a critical issue for Peter; when he wrote this letter he knew that he was not going to live much longer. Jesus had revealed this to the faithful disciple who had loved and served Him for so long. The Lord had predicted Peter’s martyrdom years earlier (John 21:18-19). Many historians believe that Peter was put to death in Rome shortly after 2 Peter was written. (Today in the Word) ><> ><> ><> Preparing Or Enjoying? - When you're 9 years old, you don't want to think a lot about the future. That's why it sometimes doesn't do any good to explain to my son Steven the long-term advantages of struggling through long division and practicing the piano. While I'm trying to convince him that he needs to be preparing for his future, his mind is set on enjoying the present. All of us have that tension in our lives. Like children basking in the freedom of a summer day, we would prefer to spend our time enjoying life--playing, engaging in recreation, even savoring the joys of working at a job we love--instead of doing the hard work of preparing for our future. If you have put your wholehearted faith in Jesus Christ to save you, you have the assurance of a future with Him in heaven. That might cause you to sit back and relax, thinking that the rest of life is just a vacation. Yet that's not what the Bible teaches. In Philippians 2:12, Paul said to "work out" our salvation. And in 2 Peter 1:8, the call is to add godly character qualities to our lives. As we do these things, we are preparing for the time when we will be with our Lord. Coasting is not an option. Let's prepare ourselves for service here on earth and for eternity with God in heaven. --J D Brannon (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) All things of earth are but a mist That soon will fade away; What lasts throughout eternity Is what we do today. --DJD Now is the time to invest in eternity. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. - 2 Peter 1:10-11 ><>><>><> Octavius Winslow - Evening Thoughts - The doctrine of an assured belief of the pardon of sin, of acceptance in Christ, and of adoption into the family of God, has been, and yet is, regarded by many as an attainment never to be expected in the present life; and when it is expressed, it is viewed with a suspicion unfavorable to the character of the work. But this is contrary to the Divine word, and to the concurrent experience of millions who have lived and died in the full assurance of hope. The doctrine of assurance is a doctrine of undoubted revelation, implied and expressed. That it is enforced as a state of mind essential to the salvation of the believer, we cannot admit; but that it is insisted upon as essential to his comfortable and holy walk, and as greatly involving the glory of God, we must strenuously maintain. Else why these marked references to the doctrine? In Col. 2:1, 2, Paul expresses "great conflict" for the saints, that their "hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding." In the Epistle to the Hebrews, 7:11, he says, "We desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end." In chap. 10:22, he exhorts them, "Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith." And to crown all, the apostle Peter thus earnestly exhorts, "Why the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure." We trust no further proof from the sacred word is required to authenticate the doctrine. It is written as with a sunbeam, "The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." It is the duty and the privilege of every believer diligently and prayerfully to seek the sealing of the Spirit. He rests short of his great privilege, if he slights or undervalues this blessing. Do not be satisfied with the faint impression, which you received in conversion. In other words, rest not content with a past experience. Many are satisfied with a mere hope that they once passed from death unto life, and with this feeble and, in many cases, doubtful evidence, they are content to pass all their days, and to go down to the grave. Ah, reader, if you are really converted, and your soul is in a healthy, growing, spiritual state, you will want more than this. And especially, too, if you are led into deeper self-knowledge-a more intimate acquaintance with the roughness of the rough way, the straitness of the strait path, you will want a present Christ to lean upon, and to live upon. Past experience will not do for you, save only as it confirms your soul in the faithfulness of God. "Forgetting those things that are behind," you will seek a present pardon, a present sense of acceptance; and the daily question, as you near your eternal home, will be, "how do I now stand with God?-is Jesus precious to my soul now?-is He my daily food?-what do I experience of daily visits from and to Him?-do I more and more see my own vileness, emptiness, and poverty, and His righteousness, grace, and fullness?-and should the summons now come, am I ready to depart and to be with Christ?" As you value a happy and a holy walk-as you would be jealous for the honor and glory of the Lord-as you wish to be the "salt of the earth," the "light of the world"-to be a savor of Christ in every place-oh, seek the sealing of the Spirit. Rest not short of it-reach after it-press towards it: it is your duty-oh that the duty may be your privilege; then shall you exclaim with an unfaltering tongue, "Abba; Father," "my Lord my God!" (Evening Thoughts or Daily Walking With God November) 2 Peter 1:11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. (NASB: Lockman) Greek: houtos gar plousios epichoregeqesetai (3SFPI) humin e eisodos eis ten aionion basileian tou kuriou hemon kai soteros Iesou Christou. Amplified: Thus there will be richly and abundantly provided for you entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Amplified Bible - Lockman) KJV: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. NLT: And God will open wide the gates of heaven for you to enter into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (NLT - Tyndale House) Phillips: and if you have lived the sort of life I have recommended God will open wide to you the gates of the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (Phillips: Touchstone) Wuest: for in this way the entrance shall be richly provided for you into the eternal kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eerdmans) Young's Literal: for so, richly shall be superadded to you the entrance into the age-during reign of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. FOR IN THIS WAY THE ENTRANCE: houtos gar plousios epichoregethesetai (3SFPI) humin e eisodos: (Mt 25:34 2Co 5:1 2Ti 4:8 Rev 3:21) What "way"? By diligent pursuit of the virtues and the blessing of assurance that accompany them as you pursue diligently. Peter is saying that in the future when you enter in to the eternal kingdom, you will receive an abundant reward. So Peter is saying that If you pursue virtue in your life, you'll not only enjoy assurance here but you'll enjoy reward in the life to come. Paul instructed Timothy is a parallel passage to "discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness" for "godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." (see notes 1Timothy 4:7; 4:8). And so the entrance into the eternal Kingdom looks at our hope in the future. Entrance (1529) (eisodos from eis = into + hodos =road, highway) means the way in or the road into. The definite article appear before the eisodos in the Greek text, pointing to a particular road. Our Lord said that "I am the (definite article = the one and only) way" (John 14:6). The writer of Hebrews describes how the way was opened initially saying "Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh" (Heb 10:19, 20) Our Lord Jesus Christ then is "the Road" and the "Entrance" into the eternal kingdom by virtue of His precious blood. Peter had just said we won't stumble...we are on the highway of holiness [Isa 35:8] so to speak. INTO THE ETERNAL KINGDOM: eis ten aionion basileian: (Isa 9:7 Da 7:14,27 Rev 5:10) Eternal (166) (aionios from aion = age) means perpetual, eternal, everlasting, without beginning or end, that which always. It comes as near to the idea of eternal as the Greek can put it in one word. It is a difficult idea to put into language. Sometimes we have "ages of ages" (aiônes tôn aiônôn). Kingdom (932) (basileia from basileus = a sovereign, king, monarch) denotes sovereignty, royal power, dominion and then the territory or people over whom the king rules. In this present evil age, the Kingdom of God is the sphere in which God is acknowledged as King. Is He your King? Is He King of your heart, which shows forth in loving obedience? Every believer entered into the "eternal kingdom" when God "rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son" (Col 1:13-note) by "opening (our) eyes so that (we might) turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God". (cf John 3:1-15) Therefore we are now living in the present form of God's Kingdom under the rule of Christ. The present phase of God's kingdom involves suffering for those who enter it. (2Th 1:3, 4, 5, Acts 14:22) but the future aspect of this eternal kingdom is associated with rewards for the faithful. At the moment of salvation the fact of our entrance into the eternal Kingdom was settled, but the manner of that entrance was not settled. How grandiose our eternal reward is will be related to how diligent we pursue the virtues in the previous section. APPLICATION: Beloved, it is worthwhile to be diligent to see to it that the qualities discussed earlier are increasing for as someone has well said by so doing we have Assurance in this life Abundance in the life to come Both "eternal" and "kingdom" are common in the NT, but this combination ("eternal kingdom") occurs only here in the NT. In other words, this kingdom has the quality of being “eternal,” which means more than endless duration. It is beyond time. It is beyond space and is in the presence of our Lord and Savior at which time there will be an abundant supply to us because we have diligently and faithfully pursued these virtues. “Eternity will not be endless sequence as much as it will be the presence of the One in whom time ceases to have significance.” (Mounce) Vincent adds that "In the first epistle, Peter designated the believer’s future as an inheritance; here he calls it a kingdom. Eternal is better than everlasting, since the word includes more than duration of time." OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST: tou kuriou hemon kai soteros Iesou Christou: (2Pe 1:1) Our is confessional. Believers acclaim Him as Lord of their lives since He first came into their lives as Savior. The risen Christ is now enthroned at the Father’s right hand and when He returns to earth, His kingdom will be visibly manifest for all (Mt 13:40,41;42-43 25:31). His return will mark the end of the present phase of the eternal kingdom and will inaugurate the earthly messianic phase of the "eternal kingdom" (Rev 20:1ff- note, see simple prophetic timeline). In His mediatorial capacity, Christ must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet (1Cor 15:25), and when that glorious end shall have come, He will deliver up the kingdom to God the Father and this eternal kingdom will continue forever. WILL BE ABUNDANTLY SUPPLIED TO YOU : epichoregethesetai (3SFPI) plousios: (Ps 36:8 Song 5:1 Isa 35:2 Jn 10:10 Eph 3:20 Heb 6:17) You supply the virtues above and God will supply the entrance. We are to furnish in our faith (albeit also a gift from God): the reward shall be furnished unto us. Abundantly (4146) (plousios) means richly, copiously and suggests a warm welcome, as of a son returning in triumph. Plousios - 4x in 4v - Col 3:16; 1Ti 6:17; Titus 3:6; 2Pe 1:11. NAS = abundantly(1), richly(3). It has been suggested that the underlying picture may be that of the return of a victor in the Olympic games. When the victor returned home, the people of the town would welcome him with honor and escort him into the city through a specially prepared entrance through the city wall! Dearly beloved, the believer who is diligent to pursue godliness and holiness is not the one who will barely "make it" into the kingdom or "be saved only as one escaping through the flames". There is herein is an intimation that heaven’s society will not be "classless" but to speculate at this time would not be wise. Suffice it to say that good stewardship of Christ’s riches will bear eternal proceeds. The Christian, endowed with wealth through Christ’s provision, invests and saves for future wealth (1Ti 6:19). The thought of God’s lavish reward should spur every saint to set their mind to seek "lavish living" for Him. Abundant sowing will be followed by abundant reaping as Jesus taught in (Lk 6:38). Jamieson has an interesting thought that that "the reward of grace hereafter shall correspond to the work of grace here." Caffin observes that Peter seems to imply that there will be degrees of glory hereafter proportioned to our faithfulness in the use of God's gifts here." (cf 1Cor 3:12-15, 2Cor 5:10) (quoted by Hiebert) "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/2_peter_110-11.htm#s

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Stumble (4417) ptaio

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