Word Study: Receive, Accept, Well-pleasing

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njd83
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Word Study: Receive, Accept, Well-pleasing

Post by njd83 » Thu Sep 08, 2016 11:17 am

I had the thought this morning about this topic and did some research about whether it may be correct. Here's the conclusion I came up with, if anyone has any opinions or perspectives etc. thank you

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Word Study: receive, accept, well-pleasing:
λαμβάνω, δέχομαι, εὐάρεστος

λαμβάνω – receive
δέχομαι – accept (a deeper reception/accepting of something than λαμβάνω)
εὐάρεστος – well pleasing


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“Now accept(receive, λαμβάνω) the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted(receive, λαμβάνω) him.” (Romans 14:1–3, NASB95)
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“For he who in this way[merciful to the weak in faith] serves Christ is acceptable(well pleasing, εὐάρεστος) to God and approved(δέχομαι, δόκιμος, approved) by men.” (Romans 14:18, NASB95)
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““In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive(λαμβάνω) it with joy;” (Mark 4:16, NASB95)
““And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept(δέχομαι) it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”” (Mark 4:20, NASB95)
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“verily I say to you, whoever may not receive(accept, δέχομαι) the reign of God, as a child—he may not enter into it;’” (Mark 10:15, YLT)
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It seems to accept(δέχομαι) something is to really believe and act upon it, while just receiving(λαμβάνω) something seems more like a temporary “courting” status of a Christian (Romans 14:1-3). And well-pleasing(εὐάρεστος) is when a person is close with God.

Maybe a progression:
Receive → accept(fully) → (become) well-pleasing
λαμβάνω → δέχομαι → εὐάρεστος

Notice Jesus uses stronger words, being prophet of prophets, while Paul uses gentler language to nurture up believers in to strong faith eventually (the goal).

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