South Featherstone Gospel Hall

  Biblical Words & Their Meaning: ἐπίσκοπος (episkopos) In our 1 Timothy chapter 3 study, Paul turns his attention to leadership in the church and introduces the important office of ἐπίσκοπος (episkopos). This Greek word is translated in different English Bibles as: Elder (highlighting spiritual maturity and wisdom) Overseer (emphasising the task of watching over and caring for the flock) Bishop (an older term carried over from the Greek through Latin) Literal Meaning ἐπίσκοπος literally means one who has the responsibility of safeguarding or seeing to it that something is done in the correct way — a guardian, a supervisor, a watchful protector. In the church context, an episkopos is a man called and equipped by the Holy Spirit to guard the flock, ensure sound doctrine is taught, maintain order, and lead God’s people in godliness. He is not a distant ruler but a shepherd who watches over the congregation with care and accountability. Paul describes aspiring to this office as ...

  Biblical Words & Their Meaning: γάγγραινα (gangraina) Last Tuesday evening in our 1 Timothy study, Paul used a word that stopped us in our tracks... the Greek word is γάγγραινα (gangraina). In English Bibles it is usually translated as “gangrene” (or “cancer” in some versions). It describes a disease involving severe inflammation that, if left unchecked, becomes a destructive, ulcerous condition — literally eating away at healthy tissue and spreading rapidly through the body. Paul uses this striking medical image in 2 Timothy 2:17 when warning about false teachers (including Hymenaeus): “Their talk will spread like gangrene…” Why This Word is So Powerful:  In the ancient world, gangrene was a terrifying and well-known reality. Once it took hold, it didn’t stay contained — it spread, rotting flesh and threatening life itself. Doctors often had to amputate quickly and decisively to save the patient. Shaun shared a very personal and moving story from his own family: his gr...

  Biblical Words & Their Meaning: παρατίθημι (paratithemi) One of the most powerful and tender words in the New Testament appears in 1 Timothy 1:18 when Paul writes to his young protégé:  “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy…” The Greek word behind “commit” (or “entrust” in many modern translations) is παρατίθημι ( paratithemi ). What does it actually mean? Literally, paratithemi means to place something alongside or to entrust for safekeeping. It carries the rich picture of depositing a valuable treasure into the care of a trusted person — like placing precious items in a secure bank or handing over something of great worth with the expectation that it will be guarded and stewarded faithfully. In everyday Greek it could simply mean “to give over,” “to commend,” or “to entrust.” But in Paul’s hands, it takes on deep apostolic weight. He is not casually asking Timothy to do a job. He is solemnly depositing something precious — the gospel, the care of the church at ...

  A Word That Overflowed Just Once: The Beauty of Hyperpleonazō Friends, during tonight’s study in 1 Timothy 1:12-15 we paused over one of the most powerful little words in the whole New Testament — and it only appears once in all 27 books. The word is ὑπερπλεονάζω ( hyperpleonazō ). In our English Bibles it is usually translated “overflowed” (or “exceedingly abundant” in the NIV). But the Greek paints a far more vivid picture.  Literally, it means super-abundance — to experience extraordinary abundance, to abound so richly that it overflows. It carries the image of a vessel filled to the brim and then running over, spilling out in every direction because there is simply too much to contain. Paul could have chosen any number of Greek words to describe God’s grace toward him. Instead, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he reached for this unique, never-used-again term: “And the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” (1 Timoth...

  The Koine Greek Word: ποιέω (poieō) Pronunciation: poy-EH-oh (the “oi” sounds like the “oi” in “coin”, and the stress is on the second syllable). Meaning in the New Testament: The verb ποιέω is one of the most common and versatile words in the Greek New Testament. It basically means “to do,” “to make,” “to practise,” or “to carry out.” In everyday Greek it could simply mean:      • To do something      • To make something      • To cause something to happen      • To prepare or accomplish In 1 John 3:4–9 the apostle John uses ποιέω in a very important way when he talks about sin and righteousness: “Whoever practises sin also practises lawlessness” (1 John 3:4) “He who practises righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous” (1 John 3:7) John is not just talking about committing a single act of sin. He is talking about the ongoing practice or habit of sinning — living in a settled pattern of sin without repentance....

  Wilful Sin vs. the Sin We Stumble Into: What the Bible Really Says about the meaning of the word "Practice" We all know sin is serious—Christians aren’t pretending otherwise. But Scripture draws a line between two very different experiences of sin in the believer’s life, and understanding that line can bring both sobering clarity and real comfort. In 1 John 3:4–9, John uses strong language about those who “practice” sin (the Greek poieō in the present continuous tense). He’s describing a settled pattern, a lifestyle of deliberate, ongoing rebellion against God—sin that is not occasional but habitual and unrepentant. John says the one who keeps on practising sin “has neither seen Him nor known Him” (v6). That’s not a casual slip; it’s a life that refuses to bow to Christ’s lordship. It’s pride in its purest form: “I know what God says, but I’m going to live my way anyway.” The heart is hardened, the conscience seared, and repentance is absent. Contrast that with the honest s...

μῦθος: Fiction in Contrast to God’s Truth In the original Koine Greek of the New Testament, words carry precise shades of meaning that enrich our understanding of Scripture. In last night's Bible Study Group we considered one such word - μῦθος (mythos), often translated as “myths” or “fables.” As explained in this thoughtful graphic from South Featherstone Gospel Hall, μῦθος refers to speech, conversation, narrative, or story without distinction of fact—essentially fiction or fictional narrative. It stands in deliberate contrast to λόγος (logos), which signifies the word of truth, often associated with historical reality and, ultimately, with Christ Himself as the Word. The apostles, particularly Paul, use μῦθος as a warning against teachings that distract from the gospel. In 1 Timothy 1:4, Paul urges Timothy to charge certain persons not to devote themselves to “myths and endless genealogies,” which promote speculations rather than godly edification. Again in 1 Timothy 4:7, he adv...

ἐπιταγή: The Authoritative Command in the New Testament One of the joys of studying the New Testament in its original Koine Greek is discovering words that carry a particular weight and nuance—words that reveal the depth of divine authority and human responsibility. A striking example is ἐπιταγή (epitagē), translated variously as “command,” “order,” “authoritative directive,” or “injunction.” This term appears several times in the Pauline epistles, and its usage underscores the solemn nature of God’s directives. In Romans 16:26, Paul concludes his magnificent letter by describing the mystery of the gospel as now “made known to all nations… according to the command (ἐπιταγή) of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith.” Here, the word emphasises that the proclamation of the gospel is no mere suggestion; it is rooted in the sovereign, eternal command of God Himself. Similarly, in 1 Timothy 1:1 and Titus 1:3, Paul grounds his own apostolic ministry in “the command of God our...

That One Greek Word That Changes Everything   Have you ever met someone who is exhaustingly busy… but somehow never gets anything useful done?  That’s exactly what the Apostle Paul nails with a single, rarely-used Greek word in 2 Thessalonians 3:11. The verse says (in most English translations) that some in the church were “idle… busy-bodies.”  But when you look at the original language, Paul is far more precise – and far more piercing. The word he chooses is περιεργαζόμενοι  (periergazomenoi). - Ergazomai = to work, to labour, to be actively engaged.   - Peri (the prefix) = around, about, excessively, or in the wrong place. Put them together and you get a brilliant, almost sarcastic picture:   “working around” – people who are frantically busy, expending huge amounts of energy, but always in the wrong direction.   They’re not lazy in the couch-potato sense. They’re the ones stirring gossip, meddling in other people’s affairs, speculatin...

  When Love Means Keeping Your Distance   The Tough Grace of στέλλω in 2 Thessalonians 3:6 We had a really searching Bible study this week at South Featherstone Gospel Hall on 2 Thessalonians 3:1-6, and one Greek word stopped us all in our tracks: στέλλω (stellō). Paul uses it in verse 6 when he says (in the most literal sense): “keep away from… stand aloof from… shun every brother who is walking disorderly.” Shun... t hat word lands like a slap.   It feels cold, unloving, the opposite of everything we’ve just read in verse 5 about the Lord directing our hearts into the love of God and the patience of Christ. How can the same Holy Spirit who inspires “love one another” also inspire “keep away from one another”? Here’s the beautiful, uncomfortable truth the group wrestled with together:   Sometimes the most loving thing you can do for someone is let them feel the chill of being outside the warmth of fellowship. στέλλω isn’t rejection.  It’s rescu...

Biblical Words & Their Meaning... ἄτοπος (atopos) – “Out of Place or Wicked" This week’s Greek word comes straight out of our recent study in 2 Thessalonians 3:6 – ἄτοπος (atopos). At first glance, many English translations give us “wicked" or "evil” but dig into the original Koine Greek and it’s richer than that. ἄτοπος literally means “out of place” – from **a** (not) + **topos** (place). It’s the idea of something (or someone) behaving in a way that is wrong, improper, or even evil because it’s completely out of line with where it should be. Think of a chess piece suddenly playing by football rules – that’s atopos. Behaviourally off the rails. Paul uses it for believers who are walking in a way that doesn’t fit the gospel pattern they’ve received. It’s not just laziness; it’s living in a way that’s improper for a child of God. Next time we’re tempted to shrug off a habit or attitude with “it’s not that bad,” remember ἄτοπος. Ask yourself: is this in its proper pla...

  The Greek word παράδοσις (paradosis) carries a beautiful meaning often lost in translation. It literally means “instruction handed down as a gift.” The word itself is a compound of para, meaning “to hand down or over,” and dosis, meaning “gift.” So at its heart, paradosis speaks of truth and wisdom deliberately entrusted from one person to another—something sacred, meant to be preserved and shared. In the ancient world, paradosis described the careful passing on of teaching with purpose and reverence. It implied continuity—each generation receiving what was precious and passing it on intact. It’s the language of stewardship, not ceremony. Seen this way, paradosis reminds us that genuine teaching is a gift, not an invention. What is handed down in faith, truth, and love is meant to build, guide, and bless those who receive it—and to be passed on just as faithfully to others. Article written by Shaun Fereday,  Prison Chaplain (Sessional) and Leader @SFGH Church 

The Greek word most often translated as power in the New Testament is dunamis. It’s a rich, layered word that carries far more weight than the English equivalent. When early Christians heard dunamis, they didn’t think of authority or dominance; they thought of divine energy — something alive, creative, and unstoppable. Dunamis speaks of inherent power — the kind of strength that comes from within rather than something borrowed or imposed. It’s the root of our English words dynamic, dynamo, and even dynamite, yet it’s far deeper than raw force or explosion. It’s the God-breathed capacity to bring about real change — spiritual, moral, and physical. When the New Testament writers used dunamis, they were describing the very activity of God at work in the world: the power that creates, heals, restores, and transforms. It’s not simply strength to resist; it’s strength to renew. It’s the life-giving essence of the Holy Spirit moving through ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Dunamis ...

The Greek word τέρας (teras), meaning a wonder or a marvel, carries the sense of something that leaves people astonished — an act or event that seems to transcend the natural order. In Scripture, this term is often paired with σημεῖον (sēmeion, “sign”) to describe divine acts that reveal God’s power and glory. However, in passages like 2 Thessalonians 2:9, the same word is used to describe the false wonders performed by the Antichrist — miracles that imitate the divine but are rooted in deception. This distinction is vital: a wonder in itself simply evokes awe, but it is the source behind it — God or Satan — that determines whether that wonder leads people toward truth or away from it. In our study, we reflected on how Paul warned believers that “the coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders.” The frightening truth is that these “wonders” will not be illusions or stage tricks, but genuine supernatural acts permitted by God’s sovere...

The Mystery of Lawlessness – Unveiling What 2 Thessalonians 2:7 Really Means “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains it will do so until he is taken out of the way.” — 2 Thessalonians 2:7 (ESV) What Does ‘Mystery’ Mean in Scripture? In English, when we hear the word mystery, we often think of something puzzling or unsolved — a riddle waiting to be cracked. But in the original Greek, the word Paul used here is μυστήριον (mystērion) — a word that doesn’t mean unsolvable, but rather something once hidden that is now being revealed. A mystērion is a divine truth known only to God until He chooses to make it known to His people. In the New Testament, mysteries are not unknowable; they are unfolded truths that God discloses at the right time. So when Paul speaks about “the mystery of lawlessness,” he’s saying that evil’s hidden plan is already working beneath the surface — quietly shaping the world toward the final rebellion against God. Lawlessness with...

Sometimes a single Greek word opens a door into a deeper understanding of Scripture. In 2 Thessalonians 2:4, Paul describes the “man of lawlessness” who will one day exalt himself “so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.” The word behind “proclaiming” here is the Greek verb ἀποδείκνυμι (apodeiknymi). At first glance, it seems simple—“to show” or “to point out.” But in the New Testament and wider Greek usage, it carries the stronger sense of publicly declaring, proving, or setting forth something with authority. Paul is not saying the Antichrist will merely suggest that he is God—he will demonstrate, insist, and present himself as such, demanding recognition from the world. This makes the warning all the more sobering. The Antichrist won’t simply be a loud pretender shouting empty boasts; he will seek to establish himself in the eyes of the nations with persuasive force. The verb ἀποδείκνυμι is also used elsewhere of showing something to be genuine...

Last night at our Bible study we paused over one striking Greek word: ἀποστασία ( apostasia ) . Paul uses it in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 to describe the “rebellion” that must come before the return of Christ. It isn’t a casual drift—it means a deliberate defiance against authority , an abandonment of truth , a breach of faith . In other words, a turning away that is active, not accidental. Why does it matter? Because Paul’s warning reminds us that faith isn’t something we inherit and then keep on autopilot. In every generation there are pressures to step back from God’s Word, to treat compromise as harmless. Understanding apostasia calls us to the opposite action: to stay awake, anchored in Christ, holding fast to the gospel even when the culture urges us to let go. Article written by Shaun Fereday, Prison Chaplain  (Sessional) and Leader @SFGH Church 

The Meaning of “Lawful” in 1 Corinthians 10:23. In 1 Corinthians 10:23 (ESV) Paul writes, “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. The NIV renders "lawful" as "beneficial", or "constructive". The key word translated here as “lawful” comes from the Greek word ἔξεστιν (exestin). At its root, it literally means “it is permitted,” “it is allowed,” or “it is within one’s power.” In other words, Paul acknowledges that many actions are technically lawful—there is no strict rule or command against them. But the question isn’t simply, “Am I allowed to do this?” The deeper question is, “Does this build up? Does this edify?” Paul’s point is crystal clear: just because something is lawful doesn’t mean it’s spiritually beneficial. Christian freedom isn’t a license to do as we please—it’s the freedom to live for Christ, guided by love, wisdom, and responsibility toward others. So, ἔξεστιν reminds us t...

In Mark 13:31, Jesus says: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” The Greek verb translated “pass away” is παρέρχομαι (parerchomai). It carries the sense of something moving along, coming to an end, or ceasing to exist. When applied to “heaven and earth,” it means the created order as we know it is temporary—it will one day reach its appointed end. But when Jesus contrasts that with “my words will not pass away”, the phrase is just as important. The same verb is used, but with the strong negative: οὐ μὴ παρέλθωσιν—literally “shall never, by no means, pass away.” In other words, everything else is subject to change, decay, and eventual ending… but the words of Christ are permanent, unchangeable, enduring beyond creation itself. The contrast is striking. What feels most solid to us—the earth beneath our feet, the sky above our heads—is actually fragile and fleeting. Meanwhile, what can seem intangible—Jesus’ words—is the only thing that will never dissolve or...