SPECIAL TOPIC: CONSIDER

SPECIAL TOPIC: CONSIDER (from 2 Cor. 3:5)

This term, logizomai, is used thirty-four times by Paul but less than
seven in the rest of the NT (cf. 2 Cor. 3:5; 5:19; 10:2,7; 11:5; 12:6). It
reflects Paul’s logical presentation of truths and then as encouragement to
think through the issues clearly.

The term is a major theological word because of:

1. its use in the Septuagint for personalized truth (cf. the New
International Dictionary of NT Theology, vol. 3, p. 823)

2. its use in Gen. 15:6, which Paul uses to justify OT righteousness based on
a free gift of God through faith (cf. Rom. 4:3)

3. it may have been a technical term used by Sophists in their rhetorical
presentations (see Bruce W. Winter,
Philo and Paul Among the Sophists)

Modern believers should also carefully consider what they believe about the
faith and why. Our mental and verbal abilities are part of the image of God in
mankind. We must worship God with our minds (cf. LXX, Deut. 6:5; Matt. 22:37).
We need to be able to give an account of the hope that is in us (cf. 1 Pet.
3:15). We must think through our faith beliefs for our own stability and for
evangelism. See the three videos on the trustworthiness of Scripture and
Christianity online at www.freebiblecommentary.org, on
the home page in the first paragraph.