Works of the Flesh: Envyings and Murders

1.   Envyings

      a.   In the Greek phthonos, probably from phteiros, meaning to pine or waste away. Primary usage is in the inner corruption of man.

      b.   The word so translated appears 9 times in the NT as envy, envies, and envyings. (3 “envy”’s in Acts = different word)

      c.   A difficult word to trace, study, and “flesh out,” but its essence is easily seen by its scriptural associations:

            i.   Romans 1:28-32

            ii.  1 Timothy 6:3-5

            iii. Titus 3:3-4

            iv. 2 Peter 2:1-2

      d.   “The distinction (b/w jealousy and envy - JTC) lies in this, that “envy” desires to deprive another of what he has, “jealousy”desires to have the same or the same sort of thing of itself.” Vine’s Expository Dictionary of NT Words, II, 37

2.   Murders

      a.   From the Greek phonos, found only in the KJV, NKJV. Not found in the ASV, NASB, RSV, NIV.

      b.   Various noun and verb forms of the word appear a total of 28 times in the NT. Translated kill (Jam 4:2), slaughter (Ac 9:1)

      c.   Can apply to the act of murder: Matt 19:18; Acts 9:1

      d.   Can apply to the transgressor: Barabbas

            i.   Mark 15:7; Luke 23:19, 25

            ii.  Acts 3:14

      e.   Is not to be named among Christians: 1 Peter 4:15

      f.   Was ascribed to Paul in Acts 28:4

      g.   Begins in the heart: Matthew 15:18-20

      h.   “Murderer” in 1 John 3:15 is much worse (cf John 8:44)

3.   The Fruit of Envy = Murder

      a.   Korah, Dathan, and Abiram:

            i.   Numbers 16:1-35

            ii.  Psalm 106:16-18

      b.   Pilate knew that because of envy the Jewish leaders had delivered Jesus: Matthew 27:18; Mark 15:10

      c.   James 4:1-10