> General Discussions

God is no respecter of people?

(1/2) > >>

winner08:
What is meant by God is no respecter of people? I tried looking up the word respecters but I could not find it.

                                        Darren

Dave in Tenn:
G4381
προσωπολήπτης
prosōpolēptēs
pros-o-pol-ape'-tace
From G4383 and G2983; an accepter of a face (individual), that is, (specifically) one exhibiting partiality: - respecter of persons.

G4382
προσωποληψία
prosōpolēpsia
pros-o-pol-ape-see'-ah

From G4381; partiality, that is, favoritism: - respect of persons.

Two related words used in the NT Greek.

It should read God is no repspecter of PERSONS, rather than PEOPLE. 

It doesn't mean that God has no respect for people.  It means He shows no favoritism based on a person's 'face'. God may not have respect for people, but that's not what THIS word means. 

Ray talks quite a bit about this as it seems to contradict many passages where God does seem to show favoritism.  Somebody else will have to direct you there.

On a side note, I'm wondering if the FACE in the literal translation relates at all to the concept of 'FACE' in Eastern cultures.   

Roy Monis:

--- Quote from: winner08 on August 05, 2008, 11:21:06 PM ---What is meant by God is no respecter of people? I tried looking up the word respecters but I could not find it.

                                        Darren

--- End quote ---


Hi! Darren

To me it means that it makes no difference to Him (God) whether your the king of England or a down and out in the slums of India, you will be treated the same. So if we show more respect for the rich and famous and ignore or treat the lowly with less respect we are committing sin. "But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors."  (Jas.2:9).  "Not a respecter of persons," means that God is impartial, He treats everyone the same. Everyone receives the same judgment for the same sin regardless of status; no backhanders there, get the drift?

A very rare sight, if at all, here on earth, don't you think?

I hope this helps.

God bless you brother in our joint walk in Christ. 

Love in Christ Jesus.

Roy UK     

winner08:
God is not a respecter of people. Meaning that God show no favoritism. What about the elect these are special people to God ,is it not? Are not the Jews the chosen people? am I just not understanding this correctly?

                                  Darren

Dave in Tenn:
I think Roy explained it pretty well.  Obviously God DOES choose some people or groups of people over others for His purpose.  And in his Sovereignty He makes some beautiful, some less-than-beautiful, some highly intelligent, some less so...etc. etc.  That doesn't mean He chooses them BECAUSE they are beautiful, intelligent, etc.   He made them according to His purpose in the first place.

Niether the Elect or the Jews are special in any other way than that God chose them.  He didn't choose them because they are special.  He is no repecter of 'persons'.

I could go on, but I'll stop.  I wish I was more organized to point you to where Ray discusses this in depth, but I can't even remember whether it was in an article, and email, an audio or audio transcript.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page