Stop Complaining
Stop Complaining
This is a discussion of the topic and a study of a few of the Greek Words used in the text.
WE find ourselves frequently complaining about something. A group of employees have a break time, frequent talk is about their complaints. Some might classify it as an ‘acceptable’ sin, but sin is sin. The source scripture is Philippians 2:14-16:
Today many people are seldom satisfied. (We might take stock of your day when you slip into dissatisfaction… When we find ourselves going down that negative path of complaining it might be want to consider stopping ourselves from that train of thought. We can mentally yell “STOP” in our brain and then switch to something else or just end the thought(s). Afterward one can turn to thinking positive, God enhancing type of thinking. Either turn it into a positive one or just acknowledge that you don’t want to be thinking in that sinful way. One might say a brief prayer for God’s help or request God’s reminding you of His Glory.
The unrealistic expectations for today might be spoken of as “plastic perfection” – These unrealistic images that the TV world generates can be termed generate a ‘plastic society’. The media fuels the enchantment and a conviction that personal happiness, though elusive and unattained, is the supreme objective of life.
Look at our youth of today. Would you say they are mostly involved in a life of sullen discontentment and feel constantly dissatisfied? Today there seems to be a large contingency of our youth that selfish, self-indulgent and are never content? Instead of bending to the family needs, the family is to bend to them. When discontentment occurs, then frustration follows. When there is Frustration then it brings on anger, anxiety and complaining.
SOLUTION is? – Many apply the ‘quick fix’ method of giving into their demands. We frequently cater to their whims or ways. What now happens is that when our youth face the ‘real world’ there is a reality check that doesn’t always bode well for their outcome.
Discontentment also breeds ‘impatience’. When impatient we tend to be hostile and explosive. (Road rage is frequent and often due to a person slowing us down or impeding our way. It can also be because of inconsiderate behavior or too much consideration for one and failing to see the others. ) With a improper mind set (attitude) we will find many drivers on the road that generates frustration to us and inward complaining.
When we reach our 40s we sometime find ourselves in a situation termed as a ‘mid-life crisis’. During that time people consider the past as wasted and the future reduced. They view their ‘strength of youth’ and the future as ‘waning strength’. Our viewpoint on life plays a part in this situation? It might be that our attitude or viewpoint has generated and housed a mound of disappointments. Having not learned to be satisfied we have filed this long list of dissatisfactions? We had placed unrealistic goals for where we saw ourselves while in school. Where we saw ourselves in the stations of life? Where we saw ourselves with ownership?
What is the Bible’s stand on complaining?
Philippians 2:14–16 (NASB95) – 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
First, we are to do all things without grumbling or disputing. This scripture text also shows that the early church was not without those who complained and that found themselves in a state of discontentment.
The Bible speaks out against ‘grumbling’:
James 5:9 (NKJV) – 9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
1 Peter 4:9 (NKJV) 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
In any church that we attend it is important that we take a position of ‘not complaining’. When we do we are stating that if it was done my way, all would be well. However, did we ever think that if we were in charge and did it our way, then there would be others saying that they could do it better? We find ourselves asking ‘why” and frequently it is a form of complaining. i.e. Why did the music Pastor pick such and such a song when there was another one that would have worked better in that spot and even easier to sing? (Besides I like that one better.) Why did he start off with the choir singing, when I like to sing a song early in the service? Thus, “why” is a form of complaining!
The point is that we are the ones that allow ourselves to go into ‘discontentment’ or ‘dissatisfaction’. Instead of looking to God and thinking Him for being in His House we are busy injecting ‘our ways’. ‘our selfishness’, our plans and our methods. In essence we are letting our pride take control and have failed to recognize that we are there to worship and honor God. No doubt why the scriptures say “to put off self”…. Colossians 3:9-10(ESV)
9Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self£ with its practices
10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
We have a history of complainers in the Bible:
The First was Adam who complained: …”it was the woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I age”
Some three days in the wilderness after the miraculously delivered Israelites from Egypt by killing those in pursuit by the Red Sea returning over them they complained because the water was not fit to drink at Morah. They grumbled against Moses and Aaron asking why God would bring them into a land that the enemies would kill and enslave them as in Egypt. The list would go on and on…
A reference to that time in the wilderness:
1 Corinthians 10:9-10(ESV)
9We must not put Christ£ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,
10nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
Is God not our maker? If so, do we have control of the outcome? Romans 9:18-20 counsels us:
18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. 19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—
Verse 20 shows the purpose of God forming us.
As believers we need to understand that a failure to willingly, even joyfully, submit to God’s providential will is a deep-seated and serious sin. This sin arises out of an improper attitude. One’s attitude is developed or expressed by how we view the world around us. It is a result of our mental constructs. We have developed the attitude that we portray.
When we complain then it comes forth from the paradigms of our thinking and exposing our attitude. When we complain we are displaying what is really inside us. Complaining frequently it springs from an issue of pride and selfish view on what God has placed before us. God allows situation and conditions to occur in our ‘sanctification process’ . Some of these are pleasant and others might be unpleasant to deal with. Yet God expects us to act upon it with a proper viewpoint and reliance on Him to provide the strength to pass through it.
Note: Philippians 2:14(ESV) – 14Do all things without grumbling or questioning,
“All things” refers back to the previous two verses: Philippians 2:12-13(ESV)
12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
13for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Paul gives us advise that we are to ‘rejoice in the Lord always’ – do we? – Philippians 4:4 reads: 4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
Looking at the Greek words found in the text:
Grumbling if from ‘gongusmos’ –and is a word that sounds like the guttural, muttering sounds people often make when they are disgruntled. It would be a negative response to something we deem to be unpleasant. It may be unpleasant, but how do we endure it?
It may be unpleasant to sit in an airplane next to someone who has failed to bath regularly. How we look at the person and the situation is determined by our Christian love for others. Maybe God placed us there so we might demonstrate a Godly attitude, say kind things, even witness to them about God’s plan of salvation or just be one of many events of God provisions for that person to be soften to His Word. (I’m sure you can come up with a lot of situations that will put your spirit of grace into effect while dealing with unpleasant situations.)
Gaining a better understanding of the Greek Word that is translated by the translation teach of every Bible we read. English and Greek are not perfect word-for-word translation. The Greek language is one that is more precise. Or in the Greek language one can say their vocabulary is more economical to amount of wards to explain and idea. The Greek language is one that provides more of an ‘image’ with one word. To provide the same meaning it may very well take several words to have the accurate mental understanding of what was being stated.
Going to the original Greek words and dictionaries help us to get a more rounded view point of what was being stated in a verse or phrase. It helps to generate increased mental images to convey the intent of the speaker being quoted in the Bible. There, to understand the words used in the text here are the Greek Word(s) and the dictionaries for each.
In Philippians 2:14 (without grumbling) –
Below is a clipping showing the English translation (surface) and then the Lemma or Greek word. Under that is the Limma Tri(translated) and the Greek work is placed in English. The fourth line is the Morph or showing that it is a NGPM (Noun, genitive, plural, masculine) . The fifth line down is the Strong’s numbering for the Greek Word (G1112). The sixty line is the Louw Nida identification # of LN33.382 . The bottom (6th) line is the sense of the meaning for the Greek word. In this case it is (grumbling (murmuring)) which is one of the words used for the translating of the Greek word.
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In Matthew 20:11 (NASB95) a form of the same word is used. Therefore a different Strong’s # has been assigned to the Greek word. “When they received it, they grumbled (G1111) at the landowner,
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In Phil. 2:14 (above) for “grumbling” it is the Strong’s #G1112. With the number being only +1 it gives us a clue that G1111 and G1112 are closely connected in meaning.
The definitions of the words as found in two systems of identifying the original Greek words in the Bible. In Strong’s G1112 and G111 are showed and for the purpose of seeing the nuance of each word.
Strong’s G1112γογγυσμός[goggusmos /gong·goos·mos/] n m. From 1111; TDNT 1:735; TDNTA 125; GK 1198; Four occurrences; AV translates as “murmuring” three times, and “grudging” once. 1a murmur, murmuring, muttering. 1aa secret debate. 1ba secret displeasure not openly avowed.
Strong’s G1111γογγύζω[gogguzo /gong·good·zo/] v. Of uncertain derivation; TDNT 1:728; TDNTA 125; GK 1197; Eight occurrences; AV translates as “murmur” eight times. 1to murmur, mutter, grumble, say anything against in a low tone. 1aof the cooing of doves. 1bof those who confer secretly together. 1cof those who discontentedly complain.
The Louw Nida “LN33.382 in their I.D. system they choice to use only one I.D. number (LN33.382) – but the explanation seems to cover both concepts of Strong’s G1111 and G1112. Louw Nida uses a system of give numbers from a ‘root’ word and then the supporting sub words. LN33 is the BASE with under the heading of “Communication” – moving to Language 33.1-33.8, then Word, passage 33.9-33.10, Discourse, Types 33.11 – 33.25 – etc…. Complain (33.382–33.386) (out section of 33.382) (I’ll print out this section after the LN 33.382 specific one below:
Louw Nida: 33.382γογγύζω; γογγυσμός,οῦ m: to express one’s discontent—‘to complain, to grumble, complaint.’
γογγύζω: ἐγόγγυζον οὖν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι περὶ αὐτοῦ ὅτι εἶπεν ‘the Jews started complaining about him because he said …’ Jn 6:41.
γογγυσμός: ἐγένετο γογγυσμὸς τῶν Ελληνιστῶν πρὸς τοὺς Εβραίους ‘a complaint arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews against the native Jews’ Ac 6:1. In a number of languages it may be necessary to restructure ‘complaint’ as a verb rather than as a noun, and therefore this expression in Ac 6:1 may be rendered as ‘Greek-speaking Jews complained against what the local Jews were doing.’
The Category (Complain 33.382 – 33.386) – Read down to see how the nuances of the base word changes. The next Category is “P” Prime: P’ Insult, Slander (33.387–33.403) …. (I hope this was interesting to you?)
O’ Complain (33.382–33.386)
33.382γογγύζω; γογγυσμός,οῦ m: to express one’s discontent—‘to complain, to grumble, complaint.’
γογγύζω: ἐγόγγυζον οὖν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι περὶ αὐτοῦ ὅτι εἶπεν ‘the Jews started complaining about him because he said …’ Jn 6:41.
γογγυσμός: ἐγένετο γογγυσμὸς τῶν Ελληνιστῶν πρὸς τοὺς Εβραίους ‘a complaint arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews against the native Jews’ Ac 6:1. In a number of languages it may be necessary to restructure ‘complaint’ as a verb rather than as a noun, and therefore this expression in Ac 6:1 may be rendered as ‘Greek-speaking Jews complained against what the local Jews were doing.’
33.383διαγογγύζω: to express discontent in an emphatic way—‘to complain, to grumble.’ ἰδόντες πάντες διεγόγγυζον ‘all the people who saw it started grumbling’ Lk 19:7.
33.384στενάζωb: (a figurative extension of meaning of στενάζωa‘to groan, to sigh,’ 25.143) to complain in an intensive and excessive manner—‘to complain strongly.’ μὴ στενάζετε,ἀδελφοί,κατ’ α’λλήλων,ἵνα μὴ κριθῆτε ‘do not complain against one another, fellow believers, so that you will not be judged’ Jas 5:9. It may even be possible to retain something of the figurative meaning of στενάζω in Jas 5:9 by translating ‘do not complain with moaning’ or ‘do not moan and complain against.’
33.385μομφή,ῆς f: a complaint which implies blame—‘complaint.’ χαριζόμενοι ἑαυτοῖς ἐάν τις πρός τινα ἔχῃ μομφήν ‘forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else’ Col 3:13.
33.386γογγυστής,οῦ m: (derivative of γογγύζω ‘to complain,’ 33.382) one who has a habit of complaining or grumbling—‘complainer, grumbler.’ οὗτοί εἰσιν γογγυσταί,μεμψίμοιροι ‘these men are grumblers who blame others’ Jd 16.[1]
John 6:61(ESV) (Here the Strong Word i.d. as G1111 was used and spelled as “gongyzo”.
61But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling (G1111) about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Here it was G1111 and LN 33.382
Disputingis from dialogismos, which has the basic meaning of inner reasoning and is the term from which the English word dialogue derives. Thus, we reason out things by use of God’s Word. Ideas are developed to understand the truth of a matter. Phil. 2:14 below: (Note the LAST column for “disputing’ (dialogismos)
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The sense of the word is ‘debate’ where one would enter such between self and ideas or via conversation.
Romans 14:1 – the word is used of passing judgment on another believer’s opinions Romans 14:1 (NKJV)14 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.
Below are different Bible translations for the same 1 Timothy 2:8 verse. This will aid us in seeing that different translators used different English words for the same Greek word. Therefore, if you don’t have a Greek dictionary you can get a wider understanding of a text when reading the same one in different versions of the Bible.
1 Timothy 2:8 the Greek word (dialogismos) is translated to English as: ‘dissension’ NASB – ‘quarreling’ ESV – ‘doubting’ NKJ – ‘disputing’ NIV
(NKJV) 8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;
(ESV) – 8I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;
(NASB) 8 – Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.
(NIV) – 8Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.
THEREFORE, whereas grumbling is fundamentally emotional, disputing is principally intellectual.
Paul provided an example of a person who had much before his conversion and gave it all up for the sake of the ministry by counting them as ‘nothing’.
Philippians 3:4-7(ESV)
4though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness, under the law£ blameless. 7But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
One would conclude that we need to be a person that will handle every circumstance of life as being willingly and joyfully accepted without murmuring, complain, or disappointment, much less resentment. There isn’t really any exception to that requirement in the Bible or as Christians.
Therefore, we would not want to be involved in emotional grumbling or intellectual disputing because it is a sin for believers to complain about anything the Lord calls us to do or about any circumstance which He sovereignly allows. This applies even if the task is difficult or easy. It means we take this attitude even if the situation involves a blessing or a trail because negative attitudes are forbidden.
What reason do we have to stop complaining?
Phil. 2:15-16 NASV – so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
We do this for our own sake, itself: V.15a “so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach…”
We are children of a Holy God by faith and by spiritual birth. John 1:13 (NKJV) 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
We are to be imitators of God – Ephesians 5:1 (NKJV) Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. We are to become more like Christ and in that process we are to become more ‘blameless and innocent’.
Philippians 2:15 (NASB95)
15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless (amemptos) and innocent (akeraios) , children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,
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This Greek Word is under LN88 heading: “88 Moral and Ethical Qualities and Related Behavior”
Blameless is from ‘amemptos’ with a root meaning of being without defect or blemish. That word is also used in 1 Thessalonians 3:13 (NKJV) 13 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
Louw Nida 88.317ἄμεμπτος,ον; ἀμέμπτως: pertaining to being without fault or blame—‘blameless, without blame, innocent, guiltless.’ …‘that our conduct toward you who believe was pure and right and without blame’ 1 Th 2:10.
Innocent is from ‘akeraios’ which has the basic meaning of being unmixed or unadulterated. The word was also used in having a pure metal without impurities. Jesus said we are to be ‘innocent as doves’ (Matthew 10:16) where Paul admonished the Romans “to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil” (Romans 16:19). The believer’s life is to be absolutely pure and not mixed with sin or any evil.
Louw Nida 88.32ἀκέραιος,ον: pertaining to being without a mixture of evil and hence to being pure—‘pure, untainted.’ …‘I want you to be wise about what is good and untainted with what is evil’ Ro 16:19.
We are to be as “children of God above reproach” . Like the sacrificial lamb offered as a burnt offering each year to represent a cleansing of sin for the nation of Israel. We need to be above reproach. Even if this state is impossible to occur without God’s power, we need to willingly submit to God’s molding of our lives to His standards. We need to pursue that holy standard in our practice today.
Instruction is provided at Titus 2:10-14 (NASB):
…not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect. for the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a peoplefor His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
We do this for the sake of the unsaved:
Philippians 2:15 “Crooked (skolios) and Perverse (diastrepho) Generation”
This term was used metaphorically for anything that deviates from a standard or norm. it was often used when there is morally corruption. When spoken of as people with perverse evil and their paths are crooked (skolios).
NASB – “Crooked and perverse generation” (a phrase used in Deut.32:5 and Acts 2:40)
NASB – The same phrase in Deut. 32:5 They have acted corruptly toward Him, They are not His children, because of their defect; But are a perverse and crooked generation. (NASB)
In other translations there are slightly different English Words are used..
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ESV – in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation,
ESV – quoting Deut. 32:5 – they are a crooked and twisted generation.
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NKJV – in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
NKJV – quoting Deut. 32:5 – A perverse and crooked generation.
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Note the Strong’s number G4646 and G1294 are consistent via translations, just that the translators chose a different word.
Crookedis from skolios– thus meaning of the G4646 and LN 88.268:
Strong’s 4646σκολιός[skolios /skol·ee·os/] adj. From the base of 4628; TDNT 7:403; TDNTA 1046; GK 5021; Four occurrences; AV translates as “crooked” twice, “untoward” once, and “froward” once. 1crooked, curved. 2metaph. 2aperverse, wicked. 2bunfair, surly, froward.
Louw Nida88.268σκολιόςb,ά,όν: (a figurative extension of meaning of σκολιόςa‘crooked,’ 79.90) pertaining to being unscrupulous and dishonest—‘crooked, unscrupulous, dishonest.’ σώθητε ἀπὸ τῆς γενεᾶς τῆς σκολιᾶς ταύτης ‘save yourselves from this crooked generation’ Ac 2:40.
For your enhancement I’ve included two additional dictionaries. These take the Greek word(s) and provides the explanation.
VINES: CROOKED – skolios(σκολιός, 4646), “curved, crooked,” was especially used (a) of a way, Luke 3:5, with spiritual import (see Prov. 28:18, Sept.); it is set in contrast to orthos and euthus, “straight”; (b) metaphorically, of what is morally “crooked,” perverse, froward, of people belonging to a particular generation, Acts 2:40 (kjv, “untoward”); Phil. 2:15; of tyrannical or unjust masters, 1 Pet. 2:18, “froward”; in this sense it is set in contrast to agathos, “good.”
LittleKittel: skoliós [crooked]
A. Secular Greek.
1. Used literally of rivers and roads, this term, meaning “winding,” “twisted,” relates also to the movements of snakes, and may refer, too, to a labyrinth or to ringlets or matted hair.
2. In a transferred sense the term denotes what is “crooked.” Deceit spoils things, bondage leads to crooked action, and an ambiguous oracle is skoliós.
B. The Greek OT.
1. Of 28 instances of skoliós in the OT, 14 are in Proverbs, and three each in Job, Isaiah, and Wisdom of Solomon. The term is used for various Hebrew roots, especially ʿqs and hpk.
2. The literal use occurs in Is. 27:1, but the word is poetic in Ps. 125:5 and also in Is. 40:3ff., where the road is uneven rather than crooked (cf. 42:16; 57:14). The free rendering in Hos. 9:8 refers to the nets that are set on the prophet’s path.
3. The transferred sense is common in Proverbs. Thus 2:15 warns against crooked paths, which people of little moral worth tread in 28:18. Crookedness is associated with dishonesty in 14:2 and with slander in 10:8. In the main the term in the Greek OT expresses the nature of those who do not walk in the straightness and uprightness that God commands but walk in a cramped and crooked way that merits punishment.
C. The NT.
1. In Lk. 3:5, based on Is. 40:3ff., saving from corruption is the decisive work of God or Christ for which the Baptist prepares by calling for repentance. Carrying an ethical nuance, the term skoliós denotes here the social misconduct that has its root in unbelief and that will be set right when the Messiah comes with salvation that all can see.
2. Acts 2:40 and Phil. 2:15 adopt the OT expression “crooked generation” with reference either to contemporary Judaism or to the whole human race. Based on Jesus’ own teaching in Mk. 9:19; Mt. 17:17; Lk. 9:41, the phrase describes those among whom believers must live blameless lives and to whom they must bring the light.
3. In 1 Pet. 2:18 the term is perhaps a general ethical concept denoting the perverse master to whom slaves must still show respect. Yet there may also be a specific reference to pagan masters who are still enslaved in idolatry.
D. The Early Church. 1 Clem. 39 quotes Job 4:18, Hermas Visions 3.9.1 uses skoliótēs as a general term for sin, Barn. 20.1 uses the figure of the crooked way, and Justin Dialogue 50.3 quotes Is. 40:3ff. [G. Bertram, VII, 403–08]
Perverse or twistedis from the verb (diastrepho) which has the same basic idea as (skolios) but in a more active and dynamic form.
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Strong’s1294διαστρέφω[diastrepho /dee·as·tref·o/] v. From 1223 and 4762; TDNT 7:717; TDNTA 1093; GK 1406; Seven occurrences; AV translates as “perverse” four times, “pervert” twice, and “turn away” once. 1to distort, turn aside. 1ato oppose, plot against the saving purposes and plans of God. 2to turn aside from the right path, to pervert, corrupt.
LouwNida: 88.264ἀποστρέφωb; διαστρέφωb: to cause someone to depart from correct behavior and thus engage in serious wrongdoing—‘to lead astray, to pervert, to mislead.’ ἀποστρέφωb: προσηνέγκατέ μοι τὸν ἄνθρωπον τοῦτον ὡς ἀποστρέφοντα τὸν λαόν ‘you brought this man to me and said that he was misleading the people’ Lk 23:14. For another interpretation of ἀποστρέφωin Lk 23:14, see 31.70.
διαστρέφωb: ὦ γενεὰ ἄπιστος καὶ διεστραμμένη ‘unbelieving and perverted generation’ Mt 17:17; τοῦτον εὕραμεν διαστρέφοντα τὸ ἔθνος ἡμῶν ‘we caught this man perverting our people’ Lk 23:2. For another interpretation of διαστρέφωin Lk 23:2, see 31.71. In rendering διαστρέφωas ‘to pervert,’ one should not understand the meaning in terms of ‘sexual perversion.’ In speaking of ‘perverting our people’ in Lk 23:2, it would be better in most languages to translate ‘to cause our people to go astray’ or ‘to cause them to do what they certainly should not do.’
Little Kittel: diastréphō.
1. This verb means “to twist,” “to dislocate,” “to confuse.” Inner defects lead to confusion of action. Moral corruption is sometimes denoted. Human nature, which is originally good, is twisted by bad teaching, example, etc.
2. The compound occurs 36 times in the OT with no fixed original. Human nature is warped (Dt. 32:5), ways are crooked (Prov. 8:13), Moses and Aaron, and also Elijah, are accused of confusing the people (Ex. 5:4; 1 Kgs. 18:17–18), right is perverted (Mic. 3:9), and those whom God has smitten with confusion cannot make ordinances (Eccl. 7:13; Hebrew text different).
3. The OT controls NT usage. Jesus refers to a perverse as well as a faithless generation in Mt. 17:17; this judgment extends to the whole unbelieving world. Phil. 2:15 quotes the saying in Dt. 32:5 about a crooked and perverse generation. The accusation against Jesus in Lk. 23:2 is the political one that he perverts the people. Paul tells Elymas in Acts 13:10 that he perverts the right ways of God. Acts 20:30 refers to those who speak crooked things (cf. Ezek. 14:5); apostasy is at issue.
4. In the early church the verb is used as in the NT in 1 Clem. 46.3, 9; 47.5. The simile of the potter who can fix a warped vessel so long as it is not yet fired occurs in 2 Clem. 8.2. “To twist the lips (in scorn)” is a phrase in Justin Dialogue 101.3 (based on Ps. 22:7).
Jesus used this word (diastrepho) when he spoke of the ‘perverted generation’.
Matthew 17:17 (NASB95) – And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted (diastrepho) generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.”
Acts 13:10 (NASB95) – and said, “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked (diastrepho) the straight ways of the Lord?
The point is that people need to be save from this ‘perverse and crooked generation’.
Acts 2:40 (NASB95) – And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse (skolios) generation!”
How will they see ‘the light’ if we are not living as we are instructed to be ‘the light of the world’?
Philippians 2:15 (NASB95) so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights (phoster) in the world,
Lights (phoster) is most often used of the stars. In this verse Paul is declaring that Christians are to be moral and spiritual luminaries who radiate God’s truth, ‘the word of life’, into an otherwise sinful world.
Paul again brings this principle out that the Jews are to be a witness to the world in Romans 2:17-20
Romans 2:17–20 (NASB95) – 17 But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely upon the Law and boast in God, 18 and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth,
We will have an impact on the world around us. In fact, because of this impact the world tries to shut our light off. They don’t want to be reminded of their sinful condition or of their need for a Savior.
The HOW is that we as Christians are to be ‘holding fast to the word of life”
Philippians 2:16 (NASB95) holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
The ‘word of life’ is essentially ‘the Gospel’. It is the message of up and life.
(The above study was done using several sources; however, John MacArthur commentary was used for a greater portion of the content ideas.)
To cap this discussion off please take the time to read this quotation taken from “Nelson’s Annual Preacher’s Sourcebook”:
Introduction:Ed McMahon was best known as Johnny Carson’s sidekick, but he has more recently hosted “Star Search,” a program where aspiring actors and musicians perform before a live audience, hoping for stardom. In Philippians 2, Paul tells us how we can become stars. It has nothing to do with musical ability or acting skills, but everything to do with how we live. According to verse 15, God wants us to be lights in the world, or, as in some translations, “stars in the universe.” The word “lights” refers to heavenly luminaries. U?
1. Conquer Complaining (v. 14a). Most of us tend to be negative, and some are so negative they even have negative blood! One commentator said, “I’ve been around Christians long enough to know that telling us not to complain is a like telling us not to breathe. It is so commonplace to grumble.” Yet we’re commanded to do all things without grumbling, to do everything without complaining. How can we do that?
A. Recognize complaining as a sin. Grumbling/murmuring was one of the fundamental sins that kept the Israelites out of the Promised Land. It is a variety of rebellion against God (1 Cor. 10:10, 11), a questioning of His wisdom in running the universe, a doubting of His care.
B. Acknowledge that complaining is a problem for you. In the words of the hymn, “It’s not my brother, not my sister, but it’s me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.”
C. Recognize that God uses difficulties to change us. We don’t always change when we see the light, but we usually do when we feel the heat. We tend to grumble when things get difficult, but we should recognize that God uses difficulties in life to mature us (James 1:2–4).
D. Work on your heart attitude (Matt. 12:34).
2. Avoid Arguing (v. 14b: “. . . and disputing”). The word “disputing” implies a questioning mind. It suggests an arrogant attitude by those who assume they’re always right. Arguing with others in the body of Christ is disruptive. That’s why Paul spent the first part of chapter 2 on humility. “To dwell above, with saints we love, that will be grace and glory; / But to live below with saints we know, now that’s a different story!” Why avoid arguing? Verse 15 says: “…that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.” Over the centuries, Christians have related to the world in 4 ways:
A. Total separation. Monastery; no contact.
B. Total immersion. Lots of contact, but no impact.
C. Split adaptation. Sunday-only Christian; “hypocrite.”
D. Transformation. “in but not of the world.” With God’s help (v. 13), it is possible to conquer complaining and avoid arguing, that we prove blameless and innocent, above reproach, in a fallen world.
3. Recover Rejoicing (v. 17, 18). The “drink offering” was a libation poured out completely as part of the ritual of sacrifice. It pictures complete consecration. Observe Paul’s response to suffering. He is writing from a prison cell, yet refuses to let his circumstances dictate his attitude. Joy and rejoicing ring through his book.
Conclusion:How do we have the perspective and power to do all this? Verse 16 tells us to focus on the Word! Memorize verses on problem areas. If you struggle with complaining, learn Philippians 2:14. When you begin to complain, the Holy Spirit will use that verse to help you.
Our culture is so negative that when it sees someone positive, that person shines like the North Star on a dark night. A complaining Christian is a poor witness. A disputing church is a poor witness. Rejoicing Christians and joyful churches are powerful witnesses. Jesus said they are like a city on a hill which cannot be hidden—it can be seen from great distances. A church should stand out in a community as a beacon. There are two kinds of Christians: those who “whine” and those who “shine.” Are you seeking to let your light shine to others around you? Then conquer complaining. Avoid arguing. Regain rejoicing.[2]