My beloved brethren is suggestive of close personal relationships (Phil. 4:1; James 1:16, 19; 2:5).

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1 1 Corinthians 15:58 By Mark Mayberry 10/5/2014 INTRODUCTION In this lesson, let us consider Paul s admonition at the end of 1 st Corinthians Chapter Fifteen, making relevant application to our daily lives (1 Cor. 15:58). 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NASB95) 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in THEREFORE, MY BELOVED BRETHREN The Greek word hōste, translated therefore, is a logical, inferential conjunction, joining together the preceding and present discussions, urging specific action and application. My beloved brethren is suggestive of close personal relationships (Phil. 4:1; James 1:16, 19; 2:5). 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NASB95) 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in Philippians 4:1 (NASB95) 1 Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. James 1:16 (NASB95) 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. James 1:19 (NASB95) 19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; James 2:5 (NASB95) 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? The expression "blood is thicker than water" suggests that family ties (blood) are more important (thicker) than friendships (water). However, Jesus taught that spiritual bonds exceed those of physical kinship (Luke 8:19-21). Hence, Paul described the Macedonian disciples as his joy and crown (Phil. 4:1; cf. 1 Thess. 2:17-20).

2 Luke 8:19-21 (NASB95) 19 And His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd. 20 And it was reported to Him, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You. 21 But He answered and said to them, My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it. Philippians 4:1 (NASB95) 1 Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 (NASB95) 17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while in person, not in spirit were all the more eager with great desire to see your face. 18 For we wanted to come to you I, Paul, more than once and yet Satan hindered us. 19 For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy. BE STEADFAST The Greek adjective hedraios, translated be steadfast, derived from hedra [a seat], describes one who is sitting or steadfast [Thomas #1476]. BDAG say it pertains to being firmly or solidly in place, firm, steadfast. It occurs 3x in the NT (1 Cor. 7:37; 15:58; Col. 1:23). Additionally, it is found in a variant reading of 1 Peter 5:9 as preserved in the Papyrus Bodmer VII-IX (P72). 1 Corinthians 7:37 (NASB95) 37 But he who stands *firm in his heart, being under no constraint, but has authority over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, he will do well. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NASB95) 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be *steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in Colossians 1:23 (NASB95) 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and *steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NASB95) 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm [steadfast] in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. Steadfastness may be suggested by various postures: sitting down (as in the aforementioned passages), or standing up (Eph. 6:11-17).

3 Ephesians 6:11-17 (NASB95) 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Consider the positive example of faithful Ruth (Ruth 1:15-18), the negative example of faithless Israel (Psa. 78:36-37), and Paul s challenge to the Colossians (Col. 1:21-23). Ruth 1:15-18 (NASB95) 15 Then she said, Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law. 16 But Ruth said, Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me. 18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. Psalm 78:36-37 (NASB95) 36 But they deceived Him with their mouth And lied to Him with their tongue. 37 For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant. Colossians 1:21-23 (NASB95) 21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. (BE) IMMOVABLE The Greek adjective ametakinētos, translated immovable, a compound of the negative prefix and metakineō [to move away, remove, shift], refers to someone or something that is immovable, i.e., that which cannot be moved or shaken [Thomas & BDAG 277]. It occurs only here in the NT (1 Cor. 15:58). The same concept is communicated in Paul s letter to the Colossians, where he employs mē metakineō in urging disciples to not be moved away from the hope of the gospel (Col. 1:23).

4 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NASB95) 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, *immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in Colossians 1:23 (NASB95) 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. Normally, we think of mountains as immovable, yet they are shaken at the Word and Will of God (Psa. 18:7; Isa. 54:10; Rev. 6:14). Psalm 18:7 (NASB95) 7 Then the earth shook and quaked; And the foundations of the mountains were trembling And were shaken, because He was angry. Isaiah 54:10 (NASB95) 10 For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken, Says the Lord who has compassion on you. Revelation 6:14 (NASB95) 14 The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. The wicked may proudly boast I will not be moved (Psa. 10:3-6), but only the righteous have such stability (Prov. 12:1-3). Jesus said, Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock (Matt. 7:24-27). Psalm 10:3-6 (NASB95) 3 For the wicked boasts of his heart s desire, And the greedy man curses and spurns the Lord. 4 The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his thoughts are, There is no God. 5 His ways prosper at all times; Your judgments are on high, out of his sight; As for all his adversaries, he snorts at them. 6 He says to himself, I will not be moved; Throughout all generations I will not be in adversity. Proverbs 12:1-3 (NASB95) 1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid. 2 A good man will obtain favor from the Lord, But He will condemn a man who devises evil. 3 A man will not be established by wickedness, But the root of the righteous will not be moved. Matthew 7:24-27 (NASB95) 24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell and great was its fall.

5 Let us, therefore, stand firm in the faith (1 Cor. 16:13-14) and not be shaken (Psa. 16:7-11; 62:5-8). 1 Cor. 16:13-14 (NASB95) 13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love. Psalm 16:7-11 (NASB95) 7 I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. 8 I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. 10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. 11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalm 62:5-8 (NASB95) 5 My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken. 7 On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. 8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah. (BE) ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD The Greek verb perisseuō, translated abounding, means to be over and above, to abound [Thomas #4052]. BDAG say it means (1) to be in abundance, abound; (a) of things; (b) of persons; (2) to cause something to exist in abundance, cause to abound; (a) of things that one greatly increases; (b) of persons who receive something in great abundance. This word occurs 38x in the NT, more than can be considered in this lesson. However, let us focus upon several relevant passages. Jesus said, unless your righteousness *surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:20). Matthew 5: For I say to you that unless your righteousness *surpasses [4052] that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. (NASB95) Paul admonished the Corinthians to *abound in their efforts at edification (1 Cor. 14:12),in the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58), and in generosity (2 Cor. 8:7). 1 Corinthians 14: So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to *abound [4052] for the edification of the church. (NASB95) 1 Corinthians 15: Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always *abounding [4052] in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. (NASB95)

6 2 Corinthians 8: But just as you *abound [4052] in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you *abound [4052] in this gracious work also. (NASB95) Similarly, he exhorted the Thessalonians to *abound in love and faithfulness (1 Thess. 3:11-13; 4:1, 9-12). 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 (NASB95) 11 Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; 12 and may the Lord *cause you to increase and *abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; 13 so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. 1 Thessalonians 4: Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you *excel still more. (NASB95) 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 (NASB95) 9 Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to *excel still more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, 12 so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need. KNOWING THAT YOUR TOIL IS NOT IN VAIN IN THE LORD The Greek word kopos, translated toil refers to laborious toil [Thomas #2873]. BDAG say it refers to (1) a state of discomfort or distress, trouble, difficulty, a transferred sense of κόπος= beating ; (2) to engage in activity that is burdensome, work, labor, toil. This word occurs 18x in the NT. Since we cannot consider them all in this lesson, let us focus upon a few relevant passages. Disciples should actively seek to save the lost (John 4:34-38). John 4:34-38 (NASB95) 34 Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. 35 Do you not say, There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. 36 Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this case the saying is true, One sows and another reaps. 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their *labor.

7 We should harmoniously labor together in the Lord s service (1 Cor. 3:5-9). 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 (NASB95) 5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own *labor. 9 For we are God s fellow workers; you are God s field, God s building. Like Paul, we should be thankful for the work of faith and *labor of love and steadfastness of hope manifested by faithful Christians (1 Thess. 1:2-7). 1 Thessalonians 1:2-7 (NASB95) 2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and *labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, 4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; 5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. CONCLUSION We should count one another as beloved brethren. Let us be steadfast and immovable. May we consistently and constantly abound in the Lord s work. Exercising foresight, let us recognize that our toil is not in