103 Ergon

Remember! When I refer to person in the Godhead in any blog, I am referring either to singular person (one-of-three) or to the collective person (three-in-one) of the Triune.

Dear reader, it can truly be said that we live in a world of opposites, or more accurately, a world of spectrum behaviors. I have referred to this situation before, a situation where descriptives such as up—level— down; hot—tepid—cold, etc. apply. These are spectrum behaviors of opposites.

I have come back to spectrums today with special reference to ergon, the inclusive New Testament Greek term for work of either a positive or negative connotation. Blog 102 was devoted to this general definition of work with specific emphasis on the positive connotation of work (ergon) when used in reference to the Godhead and His supernatural work or accomplishment, otherwise known as divine accomplishment.

A simple spectrum diagram (though not necessarily exhaustive) of work as used in scripture is ergon—ma’aseh—ergon.

Let me explain. Scripture discusses work of many kinds throughout the pages of the Bible. In these pages, the opposite of divine accomplishment (ergon) in a world predicated on choice can be said to be demonic activity (Matthew 17:18) or the “works of darkness (Romans 13:12, 1 John 3:8, ergon).” So the translated Biblical spectrum diagram of ergon—ma’aseh—ergon becomes divine accomplishment—ma’aseh—demonic activity.

It is significant that in this choice dominated world, scripture calls all followers of good in Christ to avoid demonic activity and armor against all things occult (Spiritual Warfare, Luke 9: 1-2; Ephesians). Scripture further calls the believer to dwell on the divine accomplishments of the Godhead and on all things good (Philippians 4:8) and to let the peace of God control their life (Philippians 4:4-7). Other teachings include that the Godhead and His warriors battle against, regularly defeat (Daniel; Luke 10:17-20), and ultimately conquer and remove all activity of the demonic (1 John 3:8, ergon) in a New Creation not governed by spectrum behavior (Revelation). In this New Creation the governance is upon the shoulders of Jesus (Isaiah 9:2, 6, 7) and all citizens joyfully comply by choice and the power of Holy Spirit with the good will of the Godhead.

Now, natural accomplishment or human accomplishment, be it positive or negative, is something with which we all are very familiar. The Old Testament Ma’aseh is the earliest general term for human work and, in special cases, of the work of the Godhead (Genesis 5:29). Here work and toil are interchangeable. Superman though we may wish we are, we are not. Our level of accomplishment falls dramatically short of that. Therefore the spectrum diagram of ergon—ma’aseh—ergon now translates readily enough to divine accomplishment—human activity—demonic activity.

To be continued . . .